Frances J. Rude

Frances J. Rude, age 86, of Decorah, Iowa, died Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah following a long illness. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 13, 2009 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah by Rev. Carol A. Kress with burial in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation is after 1:00 P.M. Friday, one hour before services, at Fjelstul Funeral Home. Frances Joyce (Ramsey) Rude was born January 3, 1923, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of John and Jeanette (Novotny) Ramsey. Frances graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1940. She then graduated from the Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa. Frances started working in the office at Wapsie Produce in Decorah. She was united in marriage to Myron H. Rude on January 1, 1950 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, Iowa. After their marriage, they moved to Iowa Falls and Frances worked as a secretary in a medical clinic for a short time. They next moved to Cedar Falls where she worked for many years as the secretary at Goodwill Industries in Waterloo, retiring in January of 1989. Frances moved to Decorah on April 1, 2004. Frances liked dogs and cats. She was an avid bowler. She loved traveling and some of her trips included Paris, France, Nashville, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri many times. She also treasured taking a hot air balloon ride at the age of 75 with her best friend, Grace Wilson. She and Grace shared breakfast and lunch every day for many years. Frances was a member of the United Methodist Church. Frances became a resident of the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah on June 6, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband, Myron on January 10, 1994 and her parents. Frances is survived by the Myron H. Rude family, the Sharon Folkedahl family, and several special friends.