Ruth Anne O'Keefe

Ruth was born February 10, 1917 to Gertrude and Martin Jorgensen Sr. on their homestead in Ideal, South Dakota. Ruth grew up on the farm with her eight brothers and sisters, Lee, Marie, Helen, Don, Stan, Beth, Martin Jr. and Alice. They were all educated in a small schoolhouse close to the farm.

Ruth left home at 18 to attend nursing school at Creighton in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned money for her tuition by raising turkeys in the family home. Her older sister Marie was already a nurse in Omaha and helped with her tuition. She had never left the farm before and was afraid to get off the train at any of the stops along the way.

Ruth met her future husband of forty-four years, Edwin O’Keefe, while working as a nurse at a hospital in Omaha. Edwin was there to get his appendix out and Ruth was his nurse. She worked as a nurse during WWII when Edwin was serving in the army. She later worked as a nurse at Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado until she retired in 1979.

Ruth loved nursing, gardening, playing bridge, reading the morning newspaper, walking her dog around Crown Hill Lake, and most of all her family, neighbors and friends. She was a devout Catholic. She felt close to God while working in her garden.

Ruth is predeceased by her husband Edwin O’Keefe, their son Michael O’Keefe, her parents, brothers and sisters, three nephews and five nieces. She is survived by her daughter Nancy O’Keefe (Richard Cervera), Granddaughter Deborah Pride (Mark Francolino), Great grandson Michael Yeatts (Amanda Hartnett), Great granddaughter Savannah Pride, six nephews and five nieces.