Ruby B. Jorgensen, 98

Ruby B. Jorgensen, 98, of Pierre, passed away at Mary House in Pierre on Dec. 3, 2016.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 10:30 am at Oahe Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at the Winner City Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com.

Ruby was born Dec. 25, 1917 to John and Mary Ambroz at Winner SD. Ruby attended all twelve (12) years of school in Winner, graduating in 1935. After high school Ruby took a job at the local J.C. Penny store.

On June 4, 1939 Ruby married Marvin Jorgensen. The wedding took place in Butte, NE. Ruby and Marvin lived in Neligh, NE, Bassett, NE and then in Winner, SD. In 1949, Ruby and Marvin moved to Gregory, SD, to work with the Rosebud Electric Cooperative. In 1969 they moved to Chamberlain, when Marvin began work with the Corp. of Engineers as an operator at the hydroelectric dams on the Missouri River. This journey took them to dams at Big Bend in Chamberlain, SD, Ft. Peck Dam in Ft. Peck, Montana and then to Oahe Dam in Pierre, SD where they made their home.

Ruby’s husband Marvin passed away in 1988. At that time Ruby became very active in volunteering with the hospital auxiliary where she worked the information desk and helped in the hospital gift shop. From there she expanded her “helping others” by “calling” bingo at Western Heritage, a local retirement center. Ruby truly loved helping others. She said it was good therapy to get up and get moving. She always said “I can sit down later, but for now I want to help others.”

It seemed that Ruby’s mission or passion was to make sure that everyone was comfortable and felt wanted. She never wanted to see anyone just sit around. One of Ruby’s pleasures was to organize birthday parties at the casino where she enjoyed the dropping of a coin or two and every once in a while hitting a payout and even maybe a jackpot, now and then. Ruby always enjoyed the socializing and meeting of friends and family when out and about.

Ruby and Marvin had three sons, Robert, Rick and Jim. Robert passed away at birth, Rick (Carolyn) live in Pierre SD and Jim (Sharon) live in Des Moines, IA.