RUTH I.  HAYES , 73, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Tuesday morning, March 3, 2020 at Unity Point Health-St. Luke's in Sioux City, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 7 ^th , at 1:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Jean Morse will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. There will be a family prayer service at 1:15 p.m. at the church on Saturday. Visitation will be on Friday, March 6 ^th from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday from 12 noon until service time. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Ruth Hayes, wife of Henry, was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota on December 8, 1946 to Ralph and Inez (Riswold) Wilson.  Her early education years were completed in the Dell Rapids South Dakota Public Schools.  She graduated from General Beadle State College, currently Dakota State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in education.  Her graduate degree, Master of Arts in Special Education, was obtained from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.

Dedicated to education, Ruth spent her life mentoring students from elementary through college level. Her selfless commitment to her craft was evidenced by the success of hundreds of students active in speech and drama.  Her wealth of knowledge was not only confined to her  students but benefited countless others who were privileged to have had her as a judge at speech competitions.  Her abilities were recognized by her peers when she was inducted into the Iowa Speech Coaches Hall of Fame.  Ruth also served as an adjunct professor at Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she also served as a GED instructor.

Her life of service extended to many organizations of which she belonged. The beneficiaries of her talent included: Bethlehem Lutheran Church choir and bell choir, Library Board President, Cherokee Community Theatre, TTT, ADK, Read It, Fire Dolls and AAUW.  The love for her community was recognized in 2016 when she was awarded Cherokee's Citizen of the Year.

She was preceded in death by father, Ralph Wilson, father-in-law and mother-in-law Woodrow and Helen Hayes.

Cherishing her memory is her husband of 51 years, Henry T. Hayes, her mother Inez Wilson, Lennox, South Dakota, siblings Ritchie (Diane) Wilson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Rita (Joel) Laumer of Chancellor, South Dakota, Robert Wilson of Brookings, South Dakota, Roger Wilson of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, Ron Wilson of Lennox, South Dakota, Wayne (Karen) Johnson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and brother-in-law Bob Hayes of Clear Lake, South Dakota. Others left to cherish her memory include an Aunt Ella Riswold of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, nieces, nephews, cousins, and scores of friends.