Ruth Ann Spaulding Hesse, age 88, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Monday, August 18, 2025, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 25, 2025, at the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Pastor Curt Copple will officiate. Committal services will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa.
A Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, August 24, 2025, at the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Mapleton, Iowa.
The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com
Ruth Ann Hesse, the daughter of William “Bill” and Doris (Kendall) Gregerson, was born on April 29, 1937, west of Mapleton, Iowa. She was the fourth of seven children. Ruth grew up in rural Mapleton and graduated from Mapleton High School with the class of 1955. After graduating, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska and began working for Mutual of Omaha.
She was baptized into the Methodist faith in April of 1955 and confirmed as a member in May of 1955. On December 4, 1955, Ruth was united in marriage to James “Jim” Spaulding at the St. John’s Methodist Church of Mapleton. The couple was blessed with four children: Brett, Becky, Gina, and Mona.
Ruth and Jim farmed in the Schleswig and Ricketts, Iowa, areas before moving to their family farm outside of Mapleton where they farmed together for 31 years. In the mid 90’s Ruth reentered the workforce as a telemarketer for QAT Telemarketing in Soldier, Iowa and then MCI in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, until she retired.
James passed away in February of 2001. In September of 2002, Ruth married their longtime friend, Virgil Hesse. The couple continued to live on the family farm until Virgil’s passing in 2008.
Ruth was a loving mother and proud grandmother. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, embroidering, gardening, planting flowers, and bird watching. Most of all, she enjoyed mowing her lawn every chance she got.
She was a faithful member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church of Mapleton where she was involved in the Ladies Aide. Ruth was also a member of the Royal Neighbors and Mapleton Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing BINGO and attending Ram football games with her sister-in-law Susie Maas.
Left to cherish her memory include her children Brett (Debbie) Spaulding of Onawa, IA, Gina (Marshall) Hauptman of St. Edward, NE, and Mona Spaulding of Omaha, NE; 15 grandchildren: Jessica, Austin, Sam, Dylan, Courtney, Mac, Tanner, Tori, Norman, Landon, Lillian, Andi, Skye, Pieper, and Kapreese; 25 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents William and Doris Gregerson; late husbands James Spaulding and Virgil Hesse; daughter Becky; grandson Andrew; siblings Lois, Catherine, Doyle, Kay, Howard, and Mary.
Previous Events
Visitation
24
Aug
212 S 7th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Funeral Service
25
Aug
212 S 7th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Cemetery Details
Location
Mapleton, Iowa
