Ruby Jean Walton

Attend the service online via video at Facebook Live on the Crawford Valley Plainview United Methodist Church Page.

Funeral services for Ruby Jean Walton age 92 of Sioux Falls, SD. formerly of Plainview will be held at 3;00 P.M. Saturday May 23rd at the United Methodist church in Plainview. Visitation will be prior to the Funeral Service from 11:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church in Plainview. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview. Ruby passed away May 20, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD. Ashburn Funeral Home in Plainview is in Charge of arrangements. All CDC recommendations are in effect.

Ruby J. Walton (Ickler), loving wife of 75 years, passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday, May 20 ^th , 2020 of Covid-19 at Good Samaritan Village, in Sioux Falls, SD.

Ruby was born on July 15,1927 in Creighton, NE to ­­John and Lydia Ickler Selmer.  She graduated from Creighton High School in 1944. On March 29, 1945 she married Don Walton in Creighton.  Ruby & Don lived and farmed south of Plainview and raised 4 children, Donnie, Susan, Judy, & Gary.  In 1978, Ruby & Don moved their home to Plainview.  In 2014, they moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where their daughter Judy, could help care for them.

After graduating high school, Ruby taught school in a one room schoolhouse near Creighton. After that, she worked as a nurse’s aide for many years at the Plainview Hospital.  She was an active volunteer at the Plainview Social Center delivering meals and anything else that was asked of her. She cherished the lifelong friendships made and the card games played, as part of the Stark Valley United Methodist Women’s and the Homemaker’s Exchange Club. Ruby made everything in life look so easy, from gardening to canning to square dancing. Her gardens of fruits, vegetables and flowers in her backyard rivaled those of every farmer's market and magazine across Nebraska. Her beets, pickles, and strawberry jam won numerous (family) accolades. Ruby and Don could Two-Step and Do-Si-Do until the break of dawn! She was the family Christmas Bingo Master of Ceremonies for countless years. She loved most birds, and spent many hours watching them in her backyard. The only exception was the blackbirds, as she kept her BB gun handy to scare them away. Likely her greatest accomplishment, was her family. She loved every single one, and had this innate ability, to make each one feel like they were her “favorite”. She gave the best, tightest hugs, that could be felt until the next time you saw her. She is responsible for years of memories that will never be forgotten.

She was a faithful member of Stark Valley Methodist Church until its end. She taught Sunday school for years and helped with countless church functions. She later became a member of the United Methodist Church in Plainview.

A small funeral service will be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 23 at the United Methodist Church, in Plainview, Nebraska.  Reverend Mark Crist will be officiating.  Viewing will be from 11am-2pm, also Saturday, May 23 at the church. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview.  Due to Covid-19, there will be strict guidelines of no more than 10 people at a time for the viewing and funeral.

Ruby is survived by 3 children, son Don and his wife Jean of Asheville, NC,  daughter Judy and husband Gary of Sioux Falls, SD, son Gary and his wife Charity of Rapid City, SD,  9 grandchildren, Angie & Mark Gleason of Westfield, IN, Michelle & Darren Cady of Arden, NC, Shane & Karen Andersen of Brookings, SD, Shari & Mary Andersen-Connor of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Melissa & Scott Plemmons of Waxhaw, NC, Cindy & Rick Watson of Fort Worth, TX, Brandon Walton of Rapid City, SD, and Brad & Brenda Walton of Bogota, Colombia, 18 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, parents, John Ickler & Lydia Ickler Selmer, brothers, Alfred, John, Larry, and David, daughter Susan, grandson Timothy Thompson, son-in-law Grayling Andersen, and daughter-in-law Cathy Walton.

In lieu of flowers, any memorials would be welcome to the Plainview Social Center or the Plainview United Methodist Church.

Judy Brooks                                              Don Walton                                              Gary Walton

3308 West Norie Place                              16 Elkhorn Court                                        3715 Chief Dr.

Sioux Falls, SD. 57106                              Mills Rivwer, NC. 28759                              Rapid City, SD. 57701