Ruth Max age 84, of Wakonda, SD (formerly of Mitchell) died Saturday, June 30, 2012 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Visitation will be Friday, July 6, 2012 from 6 to 8 PM at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Ruth Max, daughter of Earl and Bethel (Kane) Mitchell, was born November 5, 1927 in Watertown, SD. She graduated from Watertown High School in 1945. Ruth worked at the Watertown Public Library, Midlife Insurance and at the local radio station KWAT until she married Douglas Fairbanks in 1950. She had two children from that marriage; Wanda (Dennis Hupp) and Maureen (Micheal Johnson). The couple lived in Hibbing, MN until Douglas's passing. Ruth then moved to Mitchell, SD to pursue her LPN Degree which she received in 1963. She later returned to college to become a RN in 1976 where she received the highest award offered for most outstanding nurse in her class, The McKillops Award. She met and married Harold J. Max on December 30, 1966. He had two children; Terry (Sharon Max) and Vicki (Roger Musick). Ruth was an avid reader and loved music as her large collections would tell as would her doll and teddy bear collections. Ruth was a member of Mitchell Areas Doll Club for many years. She was an active member of her church and was involved in the altar society and many other functions. She was loved by her family and will be greatly missed. She currently had resided at the Wakonda Heritage Nursing Facility in Wakonda, SD. Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters, Wanda (Dennis) Hupp, Belleville, IL, Maureen (Micheal) Johnson, Tyndall, SD; a step daughter, Vicki (Roger) Musick, Mitchell, SD; a step daughter-in-law, Sharon Max, Mitchell, SD; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her late husbands, Douglas Fairbanks and Harold J. Max; her parents, Earl and Bethel Mitchell; a brother, Dick Mitchell; a sister, Marilyn Schaeffer; and a step son, Terry Max.