Ruth F. (Bartek) Whalen

Ruth Whalen, 86, of Britt, passed away Friday, April 13, 2018, at Westview Care Center in Britt. 

Funeral services for Ruth Whalen will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at First Lutheran Church, 70 5^th Ave NW, in Britt with Rev. Willie Rosin officiating.

Due to the winter storm, burial has been postponed and will be held on Thursday, April 19 at 2:30 PM at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West, in Britt and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ruth Frances (Bartek) Whalen, the daughter of Julius and Lillian (Marek) Bartek, was born on May 3, 1931 in Britt, Iowa.  Ruth grew up and attended school in the Britt area, graduating from Britt High School in 1951.

Despite not knowing English until grade school, Ruth earned her B.A. and was a grade school English Teacher.  Besides teaching one year in Wyoming, she taught locally on and off over the years.  While teaching in Titonka, Iowa she met her future husband, James.

James and Ruth were united in marriage on July 1, 1956 at the Britt First Lutheran Church.  To this union, two children were born. Ruth’s biggest passion was taking care of and raising her children.

After her husband passed away, Ruth held various jobs.  She was the activity coordinator at Westview, hostess at Pheasant Run Restaurant, was a live in home care giver, and sorted corn for Pioneer HI-Bred.

Ruth enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Hole-In-One Club at the Britt Country Club.  She liked to read books, listen to the Opera, and keep in touch with family by writing letters. In her later years, she enjoyed playing cards and drinking coffee.

The family of Ruth would like to pass on their condolences and special thanks to the staff of the Westview Care Center.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Roberta (Ralph) Cook of Britt and their two sons Reggie (Laurie) Cook and their children Jackson and Gibson of Clear Lake and Remington (Kayci) Cook of Britt; son Pat (Cyndie) Whalen of Mason City; sister Millie Black of Manly, Iowa; sister-in-law Dorothy Bartek; brothers-in-law Art Conway of Park Rapids, Minnesota and Bob Black of Mason City.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her husband James (1979), siblings and their spouses, Lillian (Steve) Kadlecik, Elsie (Raymond) Klipping, Emma (Red) Van Dusseldorp, Helen (Denny) Black, Raymond Bartek, Maxine (Robert) Taelour, and Marian Conaway.

Click Here to view Ruth's memorial tribute video