Ruth Jean (Donald) Cooper

Ruth grew up in Clive, Iowa and after graduating from Valley High School in 1970, Ruth attended beauty school and worked as a beautician for a short time. She also worked at Hillhaven West nursing home as a receptionist for a short time. Ruth started working at Delavan Manufacturing in August of 1984 in the Accounts Payable department. She furthered her education and was certified nationally as a member of IAPP (International Accounts Payable Professionals). She retired in March of 2011. Ruth enjoyed being with and doing things with all her friends and grandchildren. She attended many softball, baseball, basketball, and soccer games watching her grandchildren play. Ruth enjoyed music and spent many a weekend dancing and having fun with her friends. Jimmy Buffett was her favorite musician. She attended several of his concerts and went as far as Las Vegas on two occasions to see his concerts. Ruth was his #1 Parrothead fan and was a Des Moines Parrothead Member for several years. She also enjoyed other music genres. Several other concerts she attended included Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Earth Wind & Fire, Cher, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Garth Brooks just to name a few. Ruth always had fun and a good time attending these concerts with her friends. Ruth’s hobbies included crocheting, tatting, collecting perfume bottles, and Princess Diana memorabilia. Ruth was an avid sports fan, watching and attending baseball, football, and basketball games. She traveled to Chicago and St. Louis to see the Cubs and Cardinals play. She traveled to Green Bay and Kansas City to watch the Packers and Chiefs play. Ruth also attended numerous Cyclone and Hawkeyes games with her friends. She always had a great and fun time at these games.

Ruth is survived by her life partner of 35 years, Peter (Pete) Ohorilko, his son, Brian (Kara) and their children, Maxwell, Ivy, and Milo; and son, Cory (Heather) and their children, London, Willow, and Crosby; sister-in-law, Deb Donald and her family, daughter Andrea (Brian) Maschka and their children, Creighton, Berkley, and Drake, son, Jeffrey Donald, daughter Lindsay (Scott) Kaven and their children, Wilder and Hayes. She is also survived by three stepsisters, Sandra (Richard) Heiniger, Claudia (John) Gillette, and Rebecca Gillette and their families, her son, Shannon Swallow and his children, and loving family and close friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Jean (Stewart) Donald and M. Harold Donald and stepmother, Jenta (Donald) Nason; brothers Tom Donald and John Donald, and sister, Mary (Donald) Geyer.

A celebration of life for Ruth will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary & Resthaven Cemetery, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265.