Ruth Engels

Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Laufersweiler Funeral Home, Fort Dodge, IA. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Duncombe, IA. A visitation will begin at 10:00 AM before the service. Laufersweiler Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be to the discretion of the family.

Ruth Pauline Opheim was born at home on May 4, 1925, in Bode, IA to Albert and Selma (Bakken) Opheim. She graduated in 1943 as Valedictorian from Bode High School. Following high school Ruth moved to Des Moines where she worked at Sharpe Garment Manufacturing. On September 10, 1945 at Central Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Ruth married Duane Michael Engels of Vincent, IA. They were married for 72 years before his passing in 2017. After starting their married life in Des Moines, IA they returned to Vincent to help on the family farm. Ruth and Duane were the parents of three sets of twins and two additional sons. Besides being a very busy mother, Ruth also found pride in working outside the home while learning new skills and meeting new people. She worked at Morton Foods in Webster City before going to Fort Dodge to work at Globe Union until her retirement from the company. While working she pursued and completed a college degree in business and entered into the management arena of her job. Ruth was actively involved with AARP and served as local president for many years, helping with the beginning of the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. Ruth was a faithful Catholic, enjoying her years at St. Joseph's in Duncombe, moving to Bickford Cottages in Fort Dodge in 2015. Ruth then moved to the Marian Home in Fort Dodge. Ruth loved playing cards and board games with her family and spending time with them. She will be remembered for her great faith, positive attitude and unconditional love and kindness to everyone.

Those left to honor Ruth's memory are 6 of her children and their spouses: Carol Royster of Bettendorf, IA; Cathy (Ralph) Sonnicksen of Fort Dodge, IA; James Engels of Yuma, AZ; son-in-law Mark Lammli of Stanton, NE; Steven Engels of Waiholoa, HI; Daniel (Patty) Engels of Boerne, TX; Ron Engels of Potimao, Portugal; 11 grandchildren — Kristine, Kent, John, Mark, Robert, Scott, Maria, Michael, Jason, John and Allan; 20 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; 5 step grandchildren, 9 step great-grandchildren and a brother-in-law Paul Engels.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Selma Ophiem, her husband Duane, her daughter Rosalie Lammli and an infant son David, brothers Barnett and Merle Opheim; sisters Arlene Olson, Verna Kroph, Inez Loss and Phyliss Weiss; son-in-law Dennis Royster, daughter-in-law Betty Engels and 3 stepgrandchildren.