Obituary Record

Ruby I. (Gifford) House
Died on 8/23/2017
Buried in Arlington Cemetery

Ruby I. House, 91

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#1-Ruby I. House, 91 years, of Fremont, died Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at Nye Legacy in Fremont. Ruby was born January 1, 1926, at Onawa, Iowa, to Arthur and Irene (Frye) Gifford.

She lived on a farm at Turin, Iowa, and moved to Arlington at age five, then moved to Fremont during her sophomore year and attended Fremont High School, where she graduated in 1943. She attended Drake University and obtained a Music Degree in 1947. Ruby married Charles “Ched” House on June 22, 1947, at the Fremont First Congregational Church. They lived in Grand Island, Valley, Fremont and finally settled in Arlington. She gave private piano lessons to many Arlington children, was the organist at Arlington Community Church for over 40 years, and worked at House Lumber Company of Arlington in the office.

She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed doing Hardanger (embroidery) and lots of other hand work. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star and Arlington Community Church both in Arlington.

Ruby is survived by her husband, “Ched”; son, David (Sandy) House of Omaha; daughter, Leslie Parr of Arlington; grandchildren, Brooke (Chris) Perchal, Jennifer Lachner, Justin Parr, Erin (Eric) Marth, Jordan (Tim) Litherland and Brian House; ten great-grandchildren; sister, Marge Andersen; and sister-in-law, Fern Gifford.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Donald Gifford; and brother-in-law, Charles “Pete” Andersen.

The Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 26th at Arlington Community Church in Arlington. The Rev. David Paul will officiate. Visitation will be Friday 5 to 8 p.m. at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Arlington Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children or Arlington Community Church.

Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.

Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home, 232 W. Eagle, Arlington, NE 68002, 402-478-4151, is in charge of the arrangements.

#2-Published in the Omaha World Herald September 25, 2017

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House, Ruby I. Age 91 of Fremont, NE died Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at Nye Legacy in Fremont. Ruby was born January 1, 1926 at Onawa, IA. Ruby is survived by her husband, "Ched"; son, David (Sandy) House of Omaha; daughter Leslie Parr of Arlington. FUNERAL SERVICE will be 10:30am, Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Arlington Community Church in Arlington. VISITATION will be Friday from 5-8pm at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington and Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. BURIAL will be in the Arlington Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Masonic-Eastern Star Home for Children or Arlington Community Church. Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com RECKMEYER-MOSER FUNERAL HOME 232 W. Eagle, Arlington, NE 68002 402-478-4151

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.

New story by Leeanna Ellis 08/30/2017

Ruby House was a permanent fixture behind the organ at.

“She never missed a Sunday or a note as far as I could tell,” former Arlington resident Linda (Schlapfer) Manka recalled. “I always enjoyed watching her fingers fly across the keyboards of the organ and the piano.”

Former and current Arlington residents are remembering House, 91, who died Aug. 23 in Fremont. Ruby I. House, 91

Ruby I. House, 91 years, of Fremont, died Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at Nye Legacy in Fremont.

House also served as choir director.

“She did things to make us enthused about what we were doing,” close friend and choir member Marilyn Otto said.

Former Arlington resident Melissa Spangler agreed. House often tapped Spangler to sing solos.

“She would come out. She'd be sitting at the organ and you would come out from the choir to sing,” Spangler said. “She'd give you a great big smile. She'd play for you and then when you finished, she'd give you another smile.”

House was also a 4-H leader and directed the Arlington Belles Club in a yearly song contest at the Washington County Fair.

“She made us sound like a million bucks and we usually got a purple ribbon,” Manka said. “What patience she had.”

House also gave private piano lessons to many Arlington children.

Otto's daughter, Lynda, took lessons from House. She later played the organ and taught piano lessons as well.

“I was ever so grateful,” Otto said.

Kim (Pfeiffer) Weyhrich's mother, Donna Pfeiffer, was one of House's best friends. The women met at House's home for coffee in the morning and the afternoon. Weyhrich often tagged along.

“One thing I remember is Ruby let me play Beatles albums on their old stereo while my mom and she were having coffee,” Weyhrich said.

Weyhrich wasn't supposed to tell House's children, David and Leslie.

“That was pretty special that I got to do that,” Weyhrich said. “It was my little secret with Ruby.”

House also taught Weyhrich to sew.

“My mom wasn't a very handy sewer, but Ruby was,” Weyhrich said. “Mom bought us a sewing machine and whenever I was having problems, Ruby was there to show me what to do.”

House was also an avid bridge player.

“Oh, could she play bridge,” Otto said. “She was really sharp.”

Otto and her husband, Louis, were in a bridge club with House; her husband, “Ched;” and four other couples. The group would meet at each other's homes. The host couple would provide the main entree for dinner, while the others brought side dishes.

They played cards and enjoyed each other's company.

“The only thing we ever had was a little bit of Catawba wine,” Otto said. “It was not a drinking group. We just giggled and laughed and shared about our kids. It was some wonderful years that we did that.”

The group also had “Come as you are” parties. Whenever someone called, whatever you had on is what you wore to the party. The Ottos would call in the morning. House was not a morning person, Otto said.

“We all came in our nightgowns or whatever we had on, had coffee and giggled and laughed,” Otto said.

Otto last visited House the week before she died.

“I went to see her and I thanked her for all she had done for the church for so long,” Otto said. “She was willing to do her share when it came to music and more. Thank heaven. She shared her wonderful talent.”

Funeral services were Saturday at Arlington Community Church.

House is survived by her husband, “Ched;” son, David (Sandy) House of Omaha; and and daughter, Leslie Parr of Arlington.

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 9/25/2017


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