Ruth Irene (Potter) Cram

Ruth Irene (Potter) Cram was born to Ray and Gladys (Schneider) Potter on June 22, 1924, in Kansas City, MO.  The family moved to Tipton, IA, in 1935 where she attended school and graduated in 1942.  She attended the (then) Tipton Jr. College one year then transferred to Iowa State Teachers’ College. Ruth was an accomplished musician from a young age, performing and accompanying through college. After graduation in 1946 with a B.A. in Education, she accepted a teaching position in Monticello, IA, where she taught Physical Education.

Ruth met Delmar Cram, also a new teacher, in Monticello and on May 31, 1947, they were married.  They remained for one more year before accepting positions in Humboldt.  She taught 8th grade English as well as Phys. Ed., retiring after another year to start her family. She enjoyed working with Campfire Girls and soon began teaching piano, which she found to be very enjoyable and rewarding.

Along with raising their four daughters, she continued piano teaching for over 50 years, belonging to the local, state and national Music Teachers Associations.

Ruth enjoyed reading, golfing, camping and traveling with her family, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She sang in the Community Chorus for about 15 years, belonged to Humboldt Women’s Club, AAUW, and St. Mary’s Ladies’ Society and Humboldt Country Club.  After losing her husband (Del) in 2006 and soon after learning she had cancer she found great comfort in her many friends and her family.  She felt blessed to have been given precious time during remission to appreciate and enjoy each day.  She is survived by four daughters, Kathy (Reg) Green, Cedar Falls, IA; Jane (Martin) Cumpston, Knoxville, TN; Susan Cram, Denver, CO; Christine (Kurt) Barry, Colorado Springs, CO; and seven grandchildren.

Also surviving is one sister, Pat Wagaman, Stoughton, WI; brother-in-law Robert (Marj) Cram, Chandler, AZ;  sister-in-law Betty Allgood, Grinnell, IA; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents;  Del, her husband of nearly 60 years; a brother, Robert; and infant daughter, Diane.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 21, 4-7 pm at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home with the funeral Monday at 1:00 pm at St. Mary’s Church in Humboldt.  Memorials may be made to the Humboldt Public Library, Hospice of Humboldt County or St. Mary’s School and can be sent to the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.