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Ruby May Mathis passed away peacefully surrounded by family in her home on Dec. 3, 2020. A graveside service will be at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Letcher.  Visitation will be from 4:30 Pm until 7:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service Monday, December 7, 2020.

Ruby was born Dec. 10, 1927 to Ethan and Ruby (Hale) Sample near Highmore, SD.  The family moved to Clear Lake, SD when she was approximately 2 years old. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1945.  At 17, Ruby joined the Cadet Corps and graduated from the Methodist School of Nursing in 1948.  She received her anesthesiology training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, and worked at both Methodist and St. Joseph's Hospitals in Mitchell, SD.  It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Ernest Mathis.  When given the option of receiving a full scholarship to medical school or marrying her best friend, she made the obvious decision.  On Jan. 16, 1955, Ernest and Ruby were married in Mitchell, SD and moved to the family farm and enjoyed 60 years of marriage.

To their union 6 children were born; Owen Mathis, William (Lisa) Mathis of rural Letcher, SD, Robert Mathis of Sioux Falls, SD, Elaine (Randy) Sorenson of Sioux Falls, SD, Terry Mathis and Linda Powell of Sioux Falls, SD.

Grateful for sharing her life were her husband, six children, nine grandchildren; Andrea (Nate) Fuhrer, Cami Mathis (Tate Eining), Kyle (Abby) Mathis, Nolan (Joni) Mathis, Cathy Mathis (Dan Overby), Christie (Brad) Lueth, Michael Sorenson, Mark (Kiley) Sorenson, Alan (Caitlin) Powell all of SD.  Ruby was a proud great grandmother to nine and was happily anticipating the birth of two more in 2021.

Ruby was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Ernie of 60 years, two sons (Owen and Terry), five siblings, numerous sisters and brothers-in-law and her nursing classmates of 1948.