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Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury

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Birth	:	4 Oct 1926 Marion, Turner County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	18 May 1995 Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Riverside Cemetery, Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.3396988, -98.1971970
Description	:	Rudy Anna was born on her father's birthday on a farm in Turner County, not far from Freeman South Dakota. Rudy was usually a boy's name, short for Rudolph. In a 1946 school essay, she explained it this way: "My mother happened to hear a missionary whose name was Rudy speak over the radio: and since it was such an odd name, she decided to name me Rudy. My second name, Anna, was the name of one of her sisters. To this day [1946] I have always had to explain to... Read More	Rudy Anna was born on her father's birthday on a farm in Turner County, not far from Freeman South Dakota. Rudy was usually a boy's name, short for Rudolph. In a 1946 school essay, she explained it this way: "My mother happened to hear a missionary whose name was Rudy speak over the radio: and since it was such an odd name, she decided to name me Rudy. My second name, Anna, was the name of one of her sisters. To this day [1946] I have always had to explain to everyone that my name is Rudy and not Ruby." While Rudy was still young, her family moved from the family farm to Faulkton, SD. Rudy attended Faulkton public schools, graduating from high school with the second highest grade point average in her class. In sixth grade, she joined the band. She liked music and started taking piano lessons. Because her family had no money to pay for lessons, she worked for the piano teacher, doing ironing and cleaning, in exchange for the lessons. She played the mellophone in the high school band and sang in the glee club. She edited the school paper. In her senior year also worked as editor of the school Yearbook. Rudy earned money by working in the summer as a secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which had an office in the Faulkton County Courthouse. After school started again, she worked part-time during the school year. Rudy graduated from high school in May 1945, just as World War II was ending in Europe. Having decided that she would be a teacher, she enrolled in Huron College in Huron, South Dakota, about 90 miles southeast of her home. She received a scholarship, but also worked part time to help pay her expenses. Rudy joined the Choir and toured the state with them for a concert tour around the state of South Dakota. She was on the Dean's List with straight A's. She also found time to work on the student newspaper, the Alphomega. When the 1945 school year started in September, the war with Japan had ended, but most of the young men were still in the armed forces. By 1946, many returning veterans enrolled in Huron College. She met Keith Lounsbury, one of these veterans, at a party and found that they both attended Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. After dating for about a year, he proposed to her and they were married on June 11, 1947, in Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron. Mt. Calvary was to be their church home for the rest of their lives. After the wedding, the newlyweds drove to the Black Hills of South Dakota for their honeymoon. Back home in Huron, the couple started their new life together. Rudy started a job as a secretary with a local company. She kept house, planted a garden, and raised some chickens. Rudy quit her job as a secretary shortly before her first child was born. Two years later a second child was born and later two more. Rudy had her hands full with housework and childcare. She still enjoyed sewing and made clothing for her children and herself, as well as curtains for the house. While the children were in school, Rudy became involved in volunteer work. She was one of the founders of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in the new Washington Elementary School, where her children went to school, and she was a Girl Scout leader. As the children grew up and went away to college and jobs, Rudy had more time for working outside the home. She became active in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, serving as an officer of the Huron chapter and later editing the state newsletter. After Keith retired in 1980, with all her children living on their own, she went back to paid work as a secretary for Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Rudy and Keith traveled together, mostly to visit their children and grandchildren, but also to see friends and family in other parts of the country. Children and grandchildren came to visit them in Huron, and every Christmas found their house filled with visiting family. In 1991, Rudy suffered a stroke. Recovery took a long time before she was able walk and talk as before. She was even able to attend the LWML conference in St. Louis two years later. Sadly, the doctors could do nothing to cure her when she had another stroke in May 1995. She died surrounded by her husband and children.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury's memorial?
Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury's memorial is located at: Riverside Cemetery, Huron, Beadle County, USA.
When did Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury death?
Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury death on 18 May 1995 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rudy Anna Downer Lounsbury's memorial?
Latitude: 44.3396988
Longitude: -98.1971970

Family Members:

Parent

Lewis Milton Downer

(1888 - 1964)

Christina “Tina” Ellwein Downer

(1892 - 1974)

Spouse

Keith Willett Lounsbury

(1916 - 2008)

Siblings

Ted Emil Downer

(1928 - 2006)

Hazel Allie Downer

(1910 - 1911)

Arthur L Downer

(1911 - 1911)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Riverside Cemetery
Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3396988, -98.1971970

2. Ideal Cemetery
Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3363991, -98.1952972

3. Saint Martins Cemetery
Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3410988, -98.1830978

4. Restlawn Memory Gardens
Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2755080, -98.2158890

5. Robeson Family Cemetery
Huron, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3787360, -98.2964300

6. Cavour Cemetery
Cavour, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3776700, -98.0536700

7. Saint Patricks Cemetery
Cavour, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3782997, -98.0524979

8. Shue Creek Cemetery
Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4494019, -98.0725021

9. Aquilla Cemetery
Sanborn County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1963997, -98.2313995

10. Riverside Colony Cemetery
Riverside Colony, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4837090, -98.1386260

11. Virgil Cemetery
Virgil, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2904800, -98.4176700

12. Hatfield Cemetery
Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5078011, -98.1742020

13. Broadland Catholic Cemetery
Broadland, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5005000, -98.3380800

14. Broadland Cemetery
Broadland, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5005989, -98.3380966

15. Wolsey Cemetery
Wolsey, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4000015, -98.4546967

16. Bonny Cemetery
Sanborn County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1768000, -98.0505000

17. Rest Haven Cemetery
Alpena, Jerauld County, USA
Coordinate: 44.1775017, -98.3563995

18. Pearl Creek Colony Cemetery
Pearl Creek Colony, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3289110, -97.9165710

19. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Belle Prairie Township, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.2341003, -97.9559021

20. Liberty Center Cemetery
Yale, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5211000, -98.0323200

21. Trinity Cemetery
Yale, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4777985, -97.9542007

22. Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery
Wolsey, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.3927994, -98.4985962

23. Dixon Cemetery
Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.4122009, -97.9013977

24. Huron Colony Cemetery
Huron Colony, Beadle County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5670500, -98.2052900