Ruth Viola Sand, the second daughter and fourth child born to Anders and Petrea (Pedersen) Sand, was born November 3, 1926, at home on the farm in Poplar, Iowa. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark. She was baptized at the Poplar Lutheran Church on December 30, 1926. Ruth attended a two-room country school called Mt. Zion, located two miles from the farm. Ruth and her siblings walked the two miles from school every day. After completing the eighth grade at Mt. Zion, she pursued a normal training course, a program that allowed high school students to enter teaching immediately after graduation. She graduated from Audubon High School in 1944.
Following graduation Ruth was hired to teach at a country school called Douglas No.2. The following year she accepted a position at Mt. Zion, where she taught all students from kindergarten through eighth grade for six years. She taught several of her brothers and sisters during her tenure at Mt. Zion. During the summers, Ruth attended branch classes at Iowa State Teachers College in Carroll, Shenandoah, and Creston, Iowa. From 1950 to 1951, she attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, graduating with a two-year elementary training certificate in the spring of 1951.That fall Ruth accepted a first grade teaching position in Manning, Iowa, where she taught for seven years.
While teaching in Manning, Ruth met a young lawyer, Richard Crandall, at a dance in Manning, and they started dating. Ruth and Richard were married on June 5, 1955 at the United Methodist Church in Manning, Iowa. Ruth and Richard were the parents of four children. After teaching for many years Ruth decided to leave her teaching post to care for her family.
Ruth was active in the following community organizations while in Manning: PEO, Eastern Star and the United Methodist Church. She loved to bake for family and friends, especially Danish Pastry. She loved nature and taking daily walks to observe the beauty around her. She was very committed to walking, being undeterred by the weather until recent years. She loved the community of Manning and the home she and Richard raised their children in. They had many family vacation adventures which always turned out joyously.
Several years after Richard’s death, Ruth moved to the Chicago area to be nearer to her children and grandchildren. She lived happily in her condominium in Wheeling. She became active in one of the local PEO chapters in Northbrook as well as the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights. She very much enjoyed Pastor Alex and his motivating sermons.
She loved family time with her children and grandchildren, movie nights, bingo, and dining out. Part of her love of nature included bird watching and trips to nature preserves such as Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Concerts at Ravinia Park were also an enjoyable event for her during the summer months.
Ruth passed away peacefully at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights on July 2, 2024 at the age of 97. She had a long, joyous, loved-filled life and will be deeply missed by all of her loved ones.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard; siblings: Harald Sand, Mildred Sullivan, Harold Sand, Evald Sand, Ejnar Sand, Leroy Sand; brothers-in-law: Duane Whaley, Joseph Cerveny, Donald Sullivan, Charles Henderson; and sisters-in-law: Mary Sand and LaDonna Sand.
Survivors include her four children: David (Vikki) Crandall, Anne Crandall, Susan Crandall, and Barbara (Greg) Hergert; Suzanne Crandall, mother of grandchildren: Geoffrey and Steven Crandall; grandchildren: Meghan and Mason Hergert; Jamie Mough (Ellie Ross) and Amanda Mough; great-grandson, Grady Mough; sisters: Elsie Cerveny, Eleanor (Wayne) Magneson and Esther Henderson; brother, Kenneth (Carolyn) Sand; and sisters-in-law: Nancy Sand and Carol Whaley; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
The family would like to extend an invitation for anyone in the community to join them at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 7, starting at the Hausbarn to walk Ruth’s Manning route.
Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with her funeral service to follow starting at 2:00 p.m. all on Sunday, July 7, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Manning. Interment will follow in the Lake Creek Cemetery near Lake City, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Manning United Methodist Church or PEO International, an organization with the mission of supporting women to pursue their educational goals.
