Ruth Ann Border Springer Baker, 91, passed away on August 20, 2022, at the Eastern Star Nursing facility in Boone, Iowa. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022, at the Ankeny Funeral Home from 5 - 7 p.m. followed by an Eastern Star service. A funeral service will be held the next day at the Ankeny Christian Church at 10 a.m. followed by a luncheon and then burial in Boone, IA at the Bass Point Cemetery.
Ruth was born May 15, 1931, in rural Victor, Iowa, to William "Bruce" and Sarah "Margey" (Mumby) Border. Ruth graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1950. In July 1950, she married Lewis Lafayette Springer at the First Congressional Church in Belle Plaine, Iowa.
She spent her career as a Registered Nurse; she attended DMACC in 1974 Ankeny and obtained an Associate in Nursing. From there, Ruth graduated from the College of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois, with a Bachelor's in Health Arts in 1982.
Her career started at the Boone County Hospital as a Nurse Aide and then trained to be an OR Technician. Ruth then became the Charge Nurse of the surgery department. Ruth remarried and proceeded to Missouri to become a staff nurse at the St. Francis Hospital in Marcelin. She was a Home Health Nurse and the Director of Nursing at Hillhaven Nursing Home in Missouri.
Ruth has been a long-time member of the Ankeny Christian Church. She's a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a Rebekah for the Independent Order of Oddfellows. She was a Brownie Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and Sunday school teacher. Ruth would volunteer at the Ankeny Senior Center; she would also read, crochet, and help people. She always had a calling to serve others, worked very hard to make it through, and never gave up.
Left to cherish her memory include her children, Connie (Frank) Sargent of Jewel, Iowa, Bill (Virginia) Springer of Helena, Oklahoma, Leonard (Marsha) Springer of Boone, Iowa, Patricia (Hugh) Miner of Grand Island, Nebraska, Robert (Kim) Springer of Ankeny, Iowa and David (Charissa) Springer of Rochelle Illinois; brother, Carroll Border of Marshalltown, Iowa and Kathryn (Larry) Roth of Belle Plaine, Iowa; son-in-law Doug (Kristine) Lundgren; stepson, Bill Caughey; 23 grandkids; and blessed with more than 55 great grandkids and great-great-grandkids. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lewis L. Springer; second husband, Laverne R. Baker; grandchild, Andrew Glenn Sargent; great-grandson, Jacob Gene Springer; sister, Opal (Frank) Van Kerckvoorde; sister-in-law, Evelyn Border, and step-son, Lewis Laverne Springer.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Springer-Baker family.
