Ruth Edna (Stahmer) Peters

Ruth Peters, 96, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Keelson Harbour Senior Living in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Rev. Dr. Jean Ziettlow will officiate. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from noon until service time and following the service during a light reception, all at Rexwinkel Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Memorials can be made to the Le Mars Community School Foundation, Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice, and the Plymouth County Fair.

Ruth Edna Peters, the daughter of Rev. Henry D. and Celeste (Jensen) Stahmer, was born on August 20, 1929, in Davenport, Iowa. She was baptized, confirmed, and married by her father.

She attended country school and later high school in Le Mars. She graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1948.

She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Donald M. Peters, on June 23, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Hinton, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Seney, Iowa, where Ruth was a homemaker for her family. Donald passed away on August 31, 1998. Ruth continued to make her home on the farm. In October of 2012, she moved to Le Mars. In 2018, she moved to Keelson Harbour Senior Living in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Living on the farm, she became interested in animals and had a purebred Suffolk sheep flock. She helped many 4-H members select their lambs for fair projects. In 1998, she was named an Honorary 4-H member. In 1980, she was chosen as Iowa Master Farm Homemaker, sponsored by Wallace Farmer Magazine.

She was a charter member of the Plymouth County Porkettes. She served as the chairperson of the Queen contest, helped with school promotions, and served on the Iowa Porkette Metropolitan committee. She received the “Belle Ringer” award for going above and beyond to educate the public and promote local pork products.

Ruth was active in community affairs. She served on the Le Mars Community School Foundation board. She was an election judge for over 25 years at the polls for primary and general elections. She was the chairperson for the Plymouth County American Cancer Society for many years. During her lifetime, she played her violin for many occasions. Her church was and faith were a very important part of her life. While at St. John’s Lutheran Church, she served on church council, taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, and catechism. She was also active in church groups and circles. After moving to Spirit Lake, she became a member of First Lutheran Church in Milford, Iowa.

Ruth loved everything to do with the Plymouth County Fair. She served on the fair board and as a historian for over 25 years. She was inducted into the Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame. For many years, she was the host of the KLEM radio show, “Around The Fair.”

Survivors include her a daughter, Patricia (Dwight) Harrison of Rochester, MN; son, James (Kay) Peters of Spirit Lake, IA; 6 grandchildren: Tricia (David) Gordon of Walker, MN, Angela (Chad) Fritsche of Rochester, MN, LTC Dustin (Heather) Harrison, deployed with the United States Army in the Middle East, Rebecca Peters of Spirit Lake, IA, Jill Peters of Spirit Lake, IA, and Laura (Nick) Simcik of Loma, CO; 2 great grandchildren, Addison and Cameron Fritsche; sister, Eunice Easton; brother, Nathan (Gloria) Stahmer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother in law, A.T. and Beth Peters; her husband, Donald Peters; her son, Mark Peters; brothers, Paul (Marilyn) Stahmer and Philip (Roxanne) Stahmer; two sisters in law, Betty (Bill) Trescott and Jane (Claire) Steele; and a brother in law, Joe Easton.