Ruth Evelyn Kennedy was born April 11, 1962 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Howard and Alice Mae (Larson) Kennedy. She died May 15, 2014 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls following a brief illness at the age of 52 years. Ruth was raised in Beresford where she graduated from high school. She attended SDSU in Brookings before returning to Beresford where she worked at Bethesda Nursing Home and had a photography business. Ruth worked in communications at Sanford in Sioux Falls and as a 911 dispatch operator in Beresford. She loved to spend time with her family and being outdoors gardening or walking. Survivors include her three daughters, Charlene (Jamie) Soukup of Wagner, SD, Christine Cowan (fiancé Nathan Graves) of Yankton, SD and Courtney Cowan of Beresford; son, Raymond Cowan of Beresford; and two grandchildren, Clarah and Windsor Soukup. Also surviving are her parents, two sisters, Laurel (Milton) Shearer of Torrence, CA and Margaret Kennedy (Steve Elthstrand) of Black Hawk, SD; two brothers, Tom (Terri) Kennedy of Beresford and Jack (Kathleen) Kennedy of Beresford and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be 2PM Monday, May 19, 2014 at Beresford Zion United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 6-8PM Sunday at the church with a prayer service at 7PM.