Ruby A. Gruenwald, 87, of Zell, SD died Saturday, at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, April 10th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Zell. Father Christopher Hughes and Father William Osborn will celebrate the mass. Burial will be St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. The casket will not be open at the Church. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Ruby Alvira Hardie was born June 17, 1920 in Redfield to Will O. and Ida (Schmidt) Hardie. She attended grade school at the Hardie Country School in Spink County and graduated from Redfield High School in 1937. Following graduation, Ruby was a beautician at Lueck's Beauty Shop in Redfield. Ruby married James Gruenwald on June 17, 1938 in Aberdeen, SD. They farmed in the Redfield-Zell area until January 2, 1947 when they moved to Zell and purchased Jim's Liquor Store. James passed away at their home on November 28, 1984. Ruby was still operating the liquor store at the time of her death which she had done for over sixty-one years.

She was baptized and confirmed in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Redfield and in 1946, converted to the Catholic Church and became a member of St. Mary's Church and Altar Society of Zell and Catholic Daughters of America. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, embroidery work, doing all kinds of puzzles, dancing and listening to old time music. She especially enjoyed eating out.

Ruby is survived by three daughters: Joan Bohl of Brentford; Judy (Richard) Fredrickson of Zell; and Jolene (Nick) Rude of Redfield; and two sons: James Jr. (Margaret) of Redfield; and John (Barbara) of San Francisco, CA; sixteen grandchildren: Terry (Shannon) Bohl, Connie Steiner, Nancy (Greg) Kreuder, Amy Bohl, Diane (Scott) Forgey, Dawn (Roger) Waldner, Susan Baxter, Sara (Dan) Peterson, Brad (Doreen) Gruenwald, Gina Gruenwald, Lucas Gruenwald, Lori (Stewart) Bohle, Lance (Jennifer) Fredrickson, Nathan (Jill) Rude, Travis Rude and Christopher Rude, and twenty-two great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Ruby is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Alice Hardie, Agatha Sherman, Carolyn Gruenwald, Mary Angela (Richard) Edgar and brother-in-law Ignatius (Lucille) Gruenwald.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James, her sister Leona Heber, her brother William "Junior" Hardie, one grandson William James Gruenwald and one son-in-law Donald "Kayo" Bohl.

Casketbearers will be Ruby's seven grandsons and honorary casketbearers will be Ruby's granddaughters, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Mass servers are Danielle Waldner, Randall Waldner, Blaise Baxter and Megan Peterson. Lectors will be Diane Forgey and Connie Steiner. Ushers will be Willie Gruenwald and Bob Heber. Extraordinary Ministers will be Norita Rice and Agatha Sherman. Barb Baus will be the organist.