Ruth Earlene Spidell, age 84, passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026 at Valley View Village in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 10:30 am at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax. The family will greet friends on Saturday from 9:30 am until service time. Burial will take place at Newton Union Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Earl and Alicia (Burns) Carpenter, Ruth was born on May 28, 1942 in Fresno, California. On February 9, 1961, she was united in marriage to Jerry Sampson Spidell. Ruth was a member of Four Square Church in Newton, where she was a faithful follower of Christ. She was also a member of the Moose Lodge. Ruth worked as a hairdresser for many years. She enjoyed doing crafts and crocheting. She had a very creative and compassionate personality. During the holidays she would dress up and deliver cards or other items to her neighbors to help bring cheer. Every Saturday evening, she would listen to 1950's sock hop music and the dancing would soon follow.

Those left to honor her memory include her two children, Terrie (Brick) Kono and Jerry (Lynn) Spidell II.; her grandchildren, Sandra Richards, Timothy Kono and Thomas Kono; her great grandchildren, Keira Kono, Samaria Richards, London Richards, Tyberius Richards, Caspian Richards, McKenna Kono, and Jared Kono and a stepsister, Linda Lee. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Jerry; her step mother Ruth Carpenter, a granddaughter, Jessica Spidell and her siblings, Phil Carpenter, Margaret Synder, Janet Baker and Betty Simmons.