Ruth Tomlinson

Ruth Tomlinson, 97, of Marshalltown, Iowa passed away on Friday, October 27, 2023 at Southridge Care Initiatives in Marshalltown.

Services for Ruth will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at the Stavanger Friends Church. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials in Ruth’s name may be directed to her family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Ruth Ann (Yanda) Tomlinson was born on January 16, 1926 in Tama, Iowa. She was the first of 4 children of James and Anna (Zeman) Yanda. Ruth grew up in Toledo, Iowa. Ruth met the love of her life, John Tomlinson in Toledo, Iowa. They were married on August 18, 1946. They farmed south of Tama for 15 years. They then moved to Toledo, purchased and managed both laundromats in Tama and Toledo. Ruth assisted with the laundromats as well as being a housewife and mother.

Later in life, she took care of her grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law worked. She was a member of the Stavanger Friends Church south of LeGrand. She spent a lot of time living near and enjoying friendship with her sisters-in-law, Hazel and Eleanor Tomlinson. After their passing she moved to the Embers for 3 years followed by a stay at Southridge Care Initiatives.

She is survived by one daughter, Debra (James) Bonser and their children: Amber (Nick) Brown of Decorah, Iowa, Heather (Morgan) Masteller of Belmond, Iowa, and John Bonser of Colo, Iowa, 6 great grandchildren, Sara, Mary, Anna, Paxton, Lydia, and Dahlia. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Smith as well as many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Anna, and her sisters Mary Jane Phelps and Ella Jean Demeyer.