Recipes for Living Ross and Ruth Gould

From Ruth's funeral folder: "Ruth LaNelle Gould, daughter of Abner H. and W. Blanche Morton Aten was born December 20, 1922, at High Point, Iowa. She passed away May 14, 1998,at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa, at the age of 75 years.

Ruth was educated in the Decatur County Schools, graduated from Leon High School and attended Simpson College. Ruth became a teacher and taught for over 30 years-two years in country schools, nine years at Thayer, Iowa, and the remainder of her career was in the Clarke Community School System.

On September 14, 1947, Ruth was united in marriage to Ross Eugene Gould in Murray, Iowa, and one child, Julie, blessed this union. Ruth and her family had lived in Osceola, Iowa, since 1957. In September of 1997, she and Ross celebrated 50 wonderful years together. Over 400 friends and relatives attended their Golden Anniversary Open House.

In addition to her teaching career, Ruth was active in many organizations. She was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Ophir Chapter #267, Iowa Hawkeye Links, OES; International Grand Representative Associate; (past member) of the Iowa State Education Association and National Education Association; founding member of Kiddie Karousel Board, United Methodist Women, Past President of Clarke Community Education Association; Worthy Matron, 16 times, of the Prize Chapter of Murray, Iowa; current organist of Ophir Chapter #267; Past Grand Representative of Connecticut in Iowa; Past Grand Representative of Oregon in Iowa and a member of the United Methodist Church in Osceola, Iowa.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kenneth R. Aten. She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 50 years, Ross Gould; her daughter, Julie and husband, Steve Blake, of Chariton, Iowa; granddaughter Katie Blake and grandson, Adam Blake, of Chariton, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Neva Aten of Winder, Georgia, Dorothy Gould of Woodland, California, Bessie Patrick of Osceola, Iowa, Nila Husted of Osceola, Iowa, Hazel Archer of Arvada, Colorado; b:I;other-in-law, Avery Gould and wife, Helen, of Rapid City, South Dakota; nephew Gary L. Aten and wife, Judy; and great nephew Thomas R. Aten of Green River, Wyoming; great niece Linda Aten of Green River, Utah; cousin, Dr. Thurman K. Leonard and wife, Ann, of Tucson, Arizona, as well as other relatives and a host of friends."

Rev. James Louk performed her service, which included "He Touched Me" as an organ selection. It was a reminder of how many lives she had touched in her many relationships throughout the years. For young teachers she was a mentor, because they saw in Ruth the qualities they wanted to share with the young people in their classrooms. Her compassionate willingness to listen and respect confidentiality invited a variety of former students, colleagues and friends to seek her counsel during their difficult times. They knew the answers would not be sugar-coated, reflecting what they wanted to hear. She expressed the truth from her heart in advice that was supportive and helpful.

Ruth shared her talents for teaching and piano playing in all the associations to which she belonged and in the old and new United Methodist Church buildings. Everyone responded to her wonderful sense of humor. One incident is clear in the minds of many who attended a worship service in the old church. There was a typo in the bulletin. One important letter was missing from the title of the hymn which was intended to be, "I Am Thine, O Lord", but actually read, "I Am Thin, O Lord." Ruth was one of the first to notice it and the rest soon joined in her laughter.

It would be impossible to determine how long or how wide-spread her influence will extend from her teaching years in Sunday school and in the public school system. Daniel Webster left these words:

Another quote, this written by William Sullivan, is appropriate: "How much easier it is to write a ton of books on education than to produce one teacher of sensitive structure, noble manner, and fine taste, whose essential presence and inward habits are a constant dissuasive to vulgarity and a living recommendation of the beauty of learning and the dignity of wisdom."

Her love for children continued through the years, even in retirement. Each year Ruth was asked to be at the spring round-up to test the pre-kindergarten children. Unanticipated situations can and do arise whenever children are involved, and they make the plaque in Ruth's bedroom most understandable: Lord, help me remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I together can’t handle. Such was her faith.

Ross and Ruth's home was blessed with a child, Julie, the light of their lives! Friends remember the "family'' image that always prevailed. Where the parents went, Julie went also-they were one unit, the parents devoted to their child. That family unity was the inspiration given to Julie, so that when she and her husband, Steve Blake, were blessed with two children, Katie and Adam, they all became one extended family.

Julie has followed her parents' example. She, too, is witnessing and serving in the Chariton community and the United Methodist Church. She is a teacher by profession and plays the piano for Sunday school.

How the children love their grandparents! Ruth used her creativity to make all events fun! Even into teen years Ruth continued the tradition of hunting for Easter eggs, giving clues about their hiding place through her original poems.

Ruth's collections reflected her spirit-Precious Moments and butterflies. That spirit of love for children, appreciation of beauty and zest for living were evident wherever she went. No one more than Ruth prized Ross' hobby of landscaping, using a variety of flowers. They fed her soul each day during blooming season as she saw them through her kitchen window.

Ross told his story: I was born September 9, 1926, to Frank E. Gould and Beulah Mustain Gould, in Burdette, Colorado-there is no such place now. Two brothers and three sisters were all born there: Lawrence (now deceased), Avery (lives in Piedmont, South Dakota), Nila Husted (who lives in Osceola), Hazel Archer (Avada, Colorado) and Bessie Patrick (Osceola).

In 1931, the family moved to Murray, Iowa. Lawrence was 18 years-old and chose to stay on the farm in Colorado and was married there. Along with the others, I lived in Murray until March, 1958, when we moved to Osceola.

I attended Murray school and remember every one of my teachers. At least one of them remembered me from an incident when was in a 1st grade play. In the play wore knickerbockers, and mine were too big for me--they belonged to my brother. I wore a belt, but it was the kind that slipped through the buckle, and there were no eyelets to make it secure. During the play my pants slipped down, and made a hasty retreat to the men's dressing room. Mrs. McKnight never forgot that.

I was fortunate to be educated in the Murray system. In smaller classrooms students had more attention than in larger schools. In high school I had good commercial training that helped when I was in the army, and later in my vocation. I graduated in 1944 and spent the summer with my oldest brother, Lawrence, and his family in California. I returned in September to register for the army.

While I was waiting for them to call me, I worked at Aten's Grocery (Ruth's parents' store) in Murray. I entered the service in December, 1944, and was stationed at Camp Walter, Texas, for infantry training. From there I was sent to Fort Meade, Maryland to await orders for the European theater.

It was then that the war ended in Europe; and I was sent to Camp Maxey, Texas, to train for the Asiatic theater, expecting to go to Japan. They sent me to Leyte, on the Philippine Islands, and while there I reenlisted in the army for one year. I was sent back to the states and then to Seoul, Korea, where I was assigned to an administrative position.

I actually enjoyed being in both places, although in the Philippines we spent our time on the base and didn't see the country at all. It was my impression that it was quite primitive. Korea was more like the climate that I am accustomed to, and there we could go for rides and see some of the area. I understand that it is much different now, with the Olympics having been there. Mr. Kim, who now lives in Osceola, said that when he went back to visit, he had to have a guide to get around the city.

I was discharged in December, 1946, with the rank of Sergeant Major. Upon returning to Murray, I went back to work in the grocery store for Ruth's mother. Her father had passed away the year before. That is when I got to know Ruth, who was teaching school. We started dating and were married September 14, 1947.

The next big event was when Julie was born, September 14, 1953, on our 6th wedding anniversary. Ruth had a very difficult pregnancy, and for two weeks we didn't know if she would live or die. At one point she asked me if it was all right if she went to sleep, and I said, "Sure." She began describing angels and the beauty and peace that she was experiencing. I called the nurse who called the doctor. He said that very soon there would be a crisis and we would know which way she was going. Shortly after that, she threw off the covers and said, "I'm hungry." That was when the doctor announced, "She's going to make it!" and soon sent her home to recuperate. After that she always said that death was not bad because she felt like she had experienced a little of it.

Ralph and Marie McGee came to see me. He had the controlling interest in Clarke County State Bank and came to if I would go to work as manager of the branch in Murray. Ruth's mother encouraged me, because she sensed that small-town grocery stores would become a thing of the past. So I took the bank job, worked at the grocery store early mornings until time to open the bank, was there until the bank's closing time, and then went back to the store.

When Don Hickman, vice president of Clarke County State Bank died, Ralph McGee wanted me to come to Osceola to work. Ruth's mother's health was failing and she sold the store. Upon her death, we moved to Osceola. I took the position and became the cashier. We have been here ever since except for about a year in 1962-'63, when we moved to California. We didn't like it there and came back to Iowa. I worked in a bank in Albia from October, 1962, until June of '63. We may not have given Albia a chance because we wanted to come back "home" to Osceola.

I commuted to work in a bank in Des Moines until there was an opening at Clarke County State Bank in December, 1964. I worked there until I retired in 1989, at which time I was senior vice president.

In October of 1988, I was elected Associate Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Iowa, Order of the Eastern Star; and one year later, in October, 1989, I was elected Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the Iowa Order of the Eastern Star, to serve with Twila Seley, Worthy Grand Matron for the year 1989-90. We had the responsibility of heading Grand Chapter for the entire state of Iowa. This required a lot of traveling to different chapters and to different states. It has been a wonderful experience, for we have made many friends in the state of Iowa and, in fact, all over the United States and Australia.

My office in Eastern Star is an ongoing opportunity. Another very interesting position is serving as vice president of the Eastern Star/Masonic Home Board in Boone. I was elected for a five-year term and can be re-elected for another five years if I chose to run.

Through the years I have served in many civic organizations. I was on the Clarke County Hospital Board for 13-14 years. I've been treasurer of Lions' Club, Salvation Army, and served on Clarke County Tuberculosis Association Board. I was treasurer of the Clarke County Fair Board for many years, was a charter member of the Clarke County Development Association, and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years. There were probably others. Presently I have several responsibilities for the United Methodist Church.

All during our married life, Ruth and I tried to take one special trip each year. We visited 48 states, including Hawaii, where we vacationed three times. The first year I think I only saw Hawaii out of the lens of a camera. We have many pictures to show of the states and of our trip to Europe in 1987. We spent two weeks traveling in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein.

Those who have lost their mate, as I now have, know what I am going through. I keep busy with my lawn work and flowers, which I truly enjoy. Roses are my favorite. I have about 30 bushes of different varieties, and they bloom throughout the season. I’ve been told that if I were in a city, there would be tours to see my flowers, but I question that.

If I were to pass on advice to those who will read this, it might be that they do what Ruth and I did when we were first married - we vowed that we would never go to sleep angry with one another. We had very few arguments; but, if we did, we kept our agreement and resolved them before we went to bed. It resulted in a happy marriage.

I am very fortunate and blessed that I have my daughter, Julie, her husband, Steve, and my grandchildren, Katie and Adam, who live so close to me and are so willing to be involved in my life.