Clyde Ruby

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Obituary

Clyde Ruby, 82, of Mitchell, formerly of Emery, SD, died Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, May 23, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Burial will be at St. Martin’s Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, May 22, from 3-5:00 PM at Hettinger-Bittner Funeral Chapel in Emery. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Clyde Ruby, 82, of Mitchell, formerly of Emery, SD, died Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, May 23, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Burial will be at St. Martin’s Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, May 22, from 3-5:00 PM at Hettinger-Bittner Funeral Chapel in Emery. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Clyde Allen Ruby was born in a stone house in Spearfish Canyon on the stormy night of June 15, 1939 to Homer and Vera (Volz) Ruby, joining his sister Gloria. Younger siblings were Stanley, Gayle, Frank, and Barbara. Clyde passed to glory on May 12, 2022.

Growing up, he lived in Spearfish, Aberdeen, Highmore, Beresford, Flandreau, Sioux Falls, and spent time at McCrossan's Boys Ranch, and with foster family James and Marlys Mlady. When he left school, he served in the Air Force (1958-1962), earning his GED there. Clyde attended school for auto mechanics with his service credits, and worked both in Huron and Sioux Falls at that trade. He married Karen Lutz in 1963; their children are Steven, Cheryl, and Ellen. Clyde worked for the Sioux Falls Water Department, installed appliances for Sears, did construction with his brother, Stan, including remodeling many homes for Sioux Falls Community Development. Always happiest working outside, when not working at other employment, he mowed yards, tilled gardens, moved snow, and often included his children in whatever endeavor was at hand. After Karen passed away in 1970, he met Laurie Thom; they were married in July 1971, and they celebrated their 50th Anniversary last year. Their children are Doug, Amy, Dorothy

and Matt.

Clyde moved the growing family to the acreage in rural Emery in 1981, where he worked installing the Hanson Rural Water System. Later, he drove semi for Midwest Coast, and worked (winters) at Dakota Pork in Mitchell. He continued mowing yards and tilling gardens in Sioux Falls for several years after moving to Emery, and took garden produce (potatoes!) to Farmer's Markets in Sioux for several years. In addition to raising sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, dogs, cats, (and children who got to help with all of that) Clyde continued his "hobby" of salvaging metals, and that became his life-long career, which he had not retired from. Clyde and Laurie moved into Mitchell in 2009, but he was out at the farm, or going to sales, or picking up scrap metal, appliances, wiring, anytime the weather would cooperate. He was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, St John Lutheran Church in Emery until it closed, and since then St Martin Lutheran Church in Alexandria.

Grateful for his presence in our lives are his wife, Laurie; sons, Steve (Diane) of Sioux Falls, Doug (Karla) of Sioux City, Matt of Mitchell; daughters, Cheryl (Howard) Trautmann of Emery, Ellen (Dale) Trautmann of Emery, Amy (John) Zarycki of Brookings, and Dorothy Fawcett of Pierre; 18 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister, Gloria; sisters-in-law, Gloria Jacobson, Joyce (Don) Rodman, and LaVae M. Ruby, all of Sioux Falls, and Gloria Wise of Colorado; along with many relatives and friends.

Preceding Clyde in death were his parents; sisters, Gayle and Barbara; brothers, Stan and Frank; and his first wife, Karen.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Clyde to McCrossan Boys Ranch in Sioux Falls. 

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