RUTH L. GRAVES, 90, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Friday evening April 3, 2015 in the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 9th, at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Jean Morse will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee. There will be a family prayer service at 10:45 a.m. at the church on Thursday. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Ruth was born on January 30, 1925 in Kenora, Ontario, Canada to Pastor Carl & Alfreda (Johnson) Peterson. The family lived in Thunder Bay, Canada until moving to Meadowland, MN. in 1937. She graduated from Meadowland, MN. high school in 1942. She then attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. graduating in 1946 with a Degree in Social Work. Ruth was married to Richard "Dick" Graves on August 20, 1945. They moved to Cherokee in 1947. She was a stay at home mom and later worked at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church as the church secretary for 6 years; Cherokee County Department of Human Services for 8 years and then as a Social Worker Consultant at the Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital and the local nursing homes for many years. She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She was a former board member of the Cherokee Public Library, Work Activity Center, Sioux Valley Hospital Auxiliary and a member of T.T.T. Ruth was an avid bridge player and involved with many clubs. Other interests include sewing, quilting, reading and baking. She loved being with family and friends. Ruth & Dick enjoyed traveling around the U.S.A., Europe and Sweden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dick, one brother Dr. Gus Peterson and one sister Ebba Peterson Graham.

Ruth will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her four children: Sherry (Gary) Mahoney of San Antonio, Texas; Tom (Marivic) Graves of Prescott, Arizona; Patty (Curt) Lack of Urbandale, Iowa; Larry (Karen) Graves of Ventura, California; grandchildren; Jeff (Jenny) Graves of Kansas City, KS, Scott (Bi) Graves of Atlanta, GA, Heidi (Lairy) Cramberg of San Antonio, TX, Julie (Ryan) Cummings of San Antonio, TX, Andrew (Molly) Lack of Kansas City, Mo, Pete Graves of Ventura, CA, Eric Graves of Ventura, CA; 6 great grandchildren, Emily & Aiden Cramberg, Ethan & Avery Cummings, Carson & Charlotte Graves; also nieces, nephews and relatives from Sweden.