Ruth Ann Beutel

Ruth Ann Pehrson Jones Beutel, age 87, was born August 5, 1938, in Estherville, Iowa. She left this earth from Huntley, Illinois, to return home to God on March 1, 2026. Ruth grew up on a farm near Swea City, Iowa, where she lived through her high school years. After graduating, she attended Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), where she was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority.

On June 28, 1958, she married Darwin Jones. They shared 45 years of marriage until his passing on July 12, 2003. Together they lived in Buffalo Center, Iowa; Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota; Boone, North Carolina; Danbury, Connecticut; and Mesa, Arizona. They were blessed with four children: Randy, Terri, Brad, and Laura.

On February 17, 2008, Ruth married James Beutel, Sr. They made their home together in Mesa, Arizona; Gilbert, Arizona; and later Huntley, Illinois.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Louise Pehrson; her in-laws Ellis and Edith Jones; her first husband Darwin Jones; her grandson Trevor Jones; her brother Richard Pehrson; and her sister-in-law Janet Jones.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Jim Beutel, Sr., of Huntley, Illinois; her son Randy Jones and wife Heidi of Minnesota; daughter Terri Jones of Illinois; son Brad Jones of Massachusetts; and daughter Laura Gleamza and husband Bruce of Illinois. She is also survived by her grandsons Elliott Gleamza of Illinois, Henry Gleamza of Illinois, and Bryston Gleamza of South Carolina; granddaughter Amber Kieck and husband Doug of Wisconsin; grandson Kyle Sedam and wife Becky of Minnesota; as well as Jim Beutel’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is further survived by her brother-in-law Ellis Jones of Minnesota and several nieces and nephews: Karen Wojahn, David Jones, Joy Winkleman, and Chris Blomster.

Ruth built a successful career as an Interior Designer in the Twin Cities, working for Swenson’s Ethan Allen Galleries in Mendota Heights and Maplewood, Minnesota. She loved helping clients design furnishings suited to their homes. Her passion and talent led her to become a national and international sales trainer for the Ethan Allen corporate home furnishings company, traveling across the United States and internationally to train others. Later, she served as store manager for Ethan Allen Galleries in Mesa and Phoenix, Arizona. Before retiring, she worked as an Interior Designer for La-Z-Boy in Mesa.

Ruth loved people and enjoyed helping others. For a time, she was a clown with the APS Clown Club and the LUV Clowns of Arizona, performing under the clown name “Lollipop.” She especially enjoyed walking in the Fiesta Bowl Parade.

Both husbands were active members of Barbershop choruses and she enthusiastically supported both. Ruth attended more than 25 international barbershop conventions and served as president of several women’s support groups for choruses including the North Star Chorus in Minneapolis; the Big Apple Chorus in New York City; Arizona choruses: Phoenicians, Pride of Phoenix, and Spirit of Phoenix choruses. She also held several offices and helped found the Pride of Joy and Kindred Spirits support groups.

Ruth loved to travel and visited all 50 states as well as several foreign countries. Her favorite trips were cruises.

She volunteered for ten years as a Navigator at Sky Harbor Airport and for five years in the gift shop at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona.

Her faith was central to her life. Ruth was active in the Lutheran churches in every community where she lived. She loved visiting with people and enjoyed many hobbies including knitting, sewing, singing, reading, writing, painting, traveling, wearing hats, studying her Bible, praying for others, and learning new computer and electronic devices. In recent years, she started yearly Spring Tea and Christmas Tea gatherings, a weekly Bible study, and a Christmas Eve Candlelight service at Copper Springs Retirement Community in Gilbert, Arizona.

On February 25, 2024, Ruth was commissioned as a Stephen Minister at Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa.

Funeral services will be held at Victory Lutheran Church, 5946 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ, on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A reception will follow at Copper Springs Retirement Community, 3303 E Gary Way, Gilbert, AZ 85234, immediately following the funeral. Her remains will be laid to rest beside her husband, Darwin Jones, at the City of Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona. The internment will be family only.

A memorial service will be held at Chapel street Church, 2300 South Street, Geneva, IL, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Ruth loved fresh flowers and was grateful to those who gave them to her throughout her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to Victory Lutheran Church.