Ruth Olson Buckneberg was born July 21, 1922 in Colton,  SD to Clarence M. Olson and Irene (Midland) Olson. She entered into death February 16, 2017 at the Centerville Care & Rehab Center at the age of 94 years.

Ruth attended 11 years of school at Dell Rapids, SD and graduated from Washington High School in 1941. She attended Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing and received her RN degree in 1944. Ruth married Alfred Buckneberg July 19, 1944 while he was stationed at Camp Maxey in Paris, TX. While he was deployed she worked at the hospital in Marshall, MN. Following Al's discharge from the army in 1946, they purchased a ranch and dairy near Black Hawk, SD where they lived for 8 years. Four of their 6 children were born while living there.  They then returned to the Centerville area to farm with Al's father and brother.

Ruth was one of the first 5 RNs that staffed the new Viborg Hospital.  She worked there for 27 years. She also taught the first nurses aid class to staff the new Centerville Good Samaritan Home. Ruth was a long time active member of Komstad Covenant Church. She was a member the Model Mrs. Extension Club and Book Club. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, word puzzles and travel.

Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters, Barb (Larry) Hult of Brookings and Marge (Phil) Baldwin of Boerne, TX, Paul (Colleen) Buckneberg of Centerville and Marvin (Rhonda) Buckneberg of Sioux Falls;  nine grandchildren, Scott (Jackie) Hult of Sioux Falls, Stephanie (Brian) Bultje of Volga, Jayson (Cathy) Baldwin of Long View, TX,  Monica (Mark) Middleton of Boerne, TX, Sheila Gust of Centerville, Eric (Melissa) Buckneberg of Centerville, Adam (Katie) Buckneberg of Centerville, Ryan (Carol) Buckneberg of Worthing and Nathan (Lisa) Buckneberg of Worthing;  numerous great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, Marlys (Mrs. Vandahl) Buckneberg of Centerville and Bernice (Mrs. Robert) Olson of Sioux Falls, and numerous nieces , nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Alfred; parents; infant son, Dennis; son, Jerald (Jerry); brothers, Orville, Robert and Don Olson and sister Marcella Peck; brothers-in-law, Curvin (Toby) O'Rielly, Hugh Peck and Vandahl Buckneberg; sisters-in-law Audrey Olson and Kay Olson; nieces, Karen (Olson) Unruh, Marcia (Olson) Horst, Vickie (Buckneberg) Newberg; and a nephew, Curvin O'Rielly III.