Our beautiful and courageous mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ruth Grace Whiteis, died on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at the North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minn.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 25, at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Henriksen will officiate. Burial will be in Hayward Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church.

Ruth was born in Conger, the daughter of Arthur and Grace (Clemmentson) Godtland. She was a graduate of Albert Lea High School, psychiatric nurse training at Anoka State Hospital and Austin Vo. Tech. She was married to Dale L. Whiteis Sr. She was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church.

Ruth worked as a physical therapy assistant and aide at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea for many years. Following her retirement she moved to Minneapolis. Ruth was a devoted mother and grandmother and was dedicated to spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles.

Ruth is survived by four children: Carol (Dan) Newman of Crystal, Minn., Dale Jr. (Victoria) Whiteis of St. Paul, Gary (Betty Jo) Whiteis of Overland Park, Kan., and Diane (Craig) Boelke of Robbinsdale; 11 grandchildren: Kelle (Cristian) Derbis, Ericka (Jason) Heid, Michael (Laura) Whiteis, Nathan Whiteis, Chad (Rosie) Boelke, William (Angie) Whiteis, Jonathan Newman, James Dale (Amanda) Whiteis, April Whiteis, Hunter Whiteis and Judson Whiteis; eight great-grandchildren: Jessica, Nicholas and Ryan Heid, Kelsey and Lexie Boelke, Madeleine Derbis, Arianne and Carter Whiteis, and one due in July and one due in September; two sisters: Georgia Johnson and Lois Undahl of Albert Lea; and four brothers: Arthur (Ollie) Godtland of Benedict, Minn., Luverne (Jeannie) Godtland, Ron (Karen) Godtland and Dick (Sandy) Godtland, all of Albert Lea.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale Whiteis Sr.; four brothers: Glenn, Ellsworth, Raymond and Donald Godtland; one sister, Arlene Godtland; two brothers-in-law: DeVerne Undahl and Arnold Johnson; nephews, Jerry Johnson and Dennis Whiteis; niece, Marcie Godtland; sister in law; Marlene Hyland; and an infant great-grandchild.