Obituary: Rutherford, Gretchen
Age 87
(Clauson) (Nelson)
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed from this life on March 23, 2012 at the age of 87, after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Born December 9, 1924, the only child of Alvin and Mabel Clauson of Forest, City, Iowa, she would live there until adulthood.
She often shared many fond memories of the Baptist Church camp, youth group, service missions to the South Dakota Crow Indian Reservation in the summertime, playing clarinet in the High School marching band and the opportunity to travel to other farm towns, ice skating and sledding with best friends Harley and Marilyn, as well as working at her father’s mercantile store.
Graduating High School in 1943, she would go on to attend Bethel College in Minneapolis, MN, and then graduate from Mounds Midway School of Nursing, receiving her Registered Nursing Degree.
It was in her Bethel years she would meet and fall in love with John Robert (Bob) Nelson of Des Moines, Iowa, where he was attending their seminary program.
He had previously served his country in the Navy.
After their graduations, they were married in Forest City in the First Baptist Church, moving briefly to Louisville, Kentucky and then to Whittier, CA, where their children Becky and John were respectively born, they would move to Northern California and enter into furniture sales with her parents.
Raising their children in Paradise, CA as owners of Mac’s Furniture, she was active in her church Sunday school ministry, Chamber of Commerce, Soroptimist Club and hospital auxiliary.
She and Bob were divorced in 1968.
In 1970, she would meet and fall in love with Benjamin Rutherford, a High School principal from Sac City, Iowa, the absolute love of her life.
From this union she was blessed with an additional daughter, Jane Rutherford Ramsburger, whom she loved dearly.
She and Ben lived briefly in Sac City where she thoroughly enjoyed being a principal’s wife, volunteering at the local hospital, active in the Presbyterian church, and forming life-long friendship bonds.
Ben would end up retiring early to help care for her elderly parents.
During this time they shuffled back and forth between California and Iowa, but after her mother’s passing, they would ultimately settle back in Forest City, Iowa where she and Ben felt the most at home.
Gretchen was predeceased by both of her parents and her husbands.
She is survived by her son, John Robert Nelson Jr. (Nancy) of Spokane, WA; daughter, Becky Kurtze (Larry) of St. George, UT; and daughter Jane Ramsburger (Tom) of Scottsdale, AZ.
; grandchildren, which were her joy, Jennifer Nelson Mackin (Bryce) of Spokane, WA, Tina Frederickson of Oroville, CA, Sean Frederickson (Shelley) of Kent, WA, Craig Frederickson of Chico, CA, Cliff (CJ) Frederickson of St. George, UT, Margaret Ramsburger and fiancĂŠe Steve Lujan of San Diego, CA, Carrie, Dane (Venus), and Will Kunasek of Spokane, WA; great-grandchildren, Rebecca Frederickson of Paradise, CA, and Parker, Colin and Lucas Mackin of Spokane, WA.
She is also survived by her dearly loved second cousin, Riley Lewis and sweet wife, Kris of Forest City, Iowa, as well as treasured friend Joan Wilkerson of Sac City, Iowa.
Her family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Scott Parkinson for his dedicated care and indefatigable compassion, Dixie Hospice for their love and tenderness, and Bee Hive Homes for all the angels who loved and cared for her during this last stage of her life.
She was known for her beautiful smile, willingly given to everyone, unending generosity, a giving heart beyond measure, and unconditional love for her family and friends.
We all were blessed to have her in our lives.
Memorial donations may be made in Gretchen’s name to the First Baptist Church, 18508 E. Hwy.
9, Forest City, IA 50436.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 2:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA.
Interment will take place in Riverside Memorial Park, Spokane, WA.
Community Cremation Service
4407 N. Division #103
Spokane, WA 99207