Ruth E. Davidson

Ruth E. Davidson, age 90, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Ruth E. Neeley-Davidson, 90 of Marshfield, WI, formally of Steuben, WI passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2010. at the Palliative Care Unit in the St Johns Hospital from good living. She was born March 14, 1919 in Gays Mills, WI to Joe and Emma(Kelley) Wallin. She married Fred Neeley March 8, 1937 in Waukon, IA. After his passing on May 3, 1972, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Davidson at North Clayton on June 13, 1978. He passed away on August 15, 1978. Ruth attended school in Gays Mills, WI. Being the eldest of 10 siblings, she helped raise them: Isabelle Martin, Prairie du Chien, WI, Robert Wallin, Rockford, IL, Hazel Haile, Rockford, IL, Margie Haile, Boscobel, WI, Maxine Powers, Rockford, IL, Paul (Pat) Wallin, Soldiers Grove, WI, and Marlene (Duane) Sidel, Appleton, WI. In the many years of her long life she: picked apples at the Apple Orchards in Gays Mills, harvested tobacco, made sorghum, gathered and delivered eggs, and worked in the fields. She had even heled deliver babies. As an adult, she was Head of Housekeeping at River Bluff Nursing Home, worked at GE in Rockford, IL. and at the Duncan Yo-Yo factory, Luck, WI. Ruth was an avid fisherwoman who had to always catch the last fish. She loved to work in the garden and grow the vegetables that she enjoyed canning. With her "green thumb" she had the most beautiful flowers and bake the best apple pies you would ever taste. She raised her children: Mildred Meltesen (Richard Jacobson), Pittsville, WI, Dennis Neeley, Albany, WI, and Douglas(Sally) Neeley, Gays Mills, WI; and she had also taken in many foster children. She had nine grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and one special cat, Spicy. When she married Ken, she inherited these special step-children: Roy(Wanda) Davidson, Soldiers Grove, WI, Florence Gander, Soldiers Grove, WI, Gladys(Duane) Wallin, Viroqua, WI, Tom(Margaret) Davidson, Soldiers Grove, WI, Floy (Bill) Boland, Gays Mills, WI and Kenneth (Sandra) Davidson, Reedstown, WI. 16 step-grandchildren and 36 step- great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Orlan (Nona), and Leo (Nette); one son, James; one granddaughter; three brothers-in-laws, Ed, Kenny and Gary, and one step-son-in-law, Ronnie. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, march 13, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. at Mt. Zion Methodist Church with Pastor Mike Christensen officiating. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m . until the time of service at 11:30 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. The Dommersnaes-Bertram Family Funeral Home of Gays Mills is serving the family.