Ruth Ann Danner, 83, of What Cheer died Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in What Cheer. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery at What Cheer. No visitation is planned. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Mahaska Hospice.

Ruth Ann Danner was born in Boone, Iowa on July 2, 1934, the daughter of Guy and Sadie Murphy Soderstrum. After graduating high school in 1952, she attended college and received a degree in education. Not long after college Ruth Ann decided teaching children was too stressful so she started working as a book keeper for Kaiser Quarry. On November 13, 1955, she was united in marriage to Richard Dwight Danner who also worked at the quarry. In 1974, the couple moved to What Cheer and Ruth Ann started her own sewing, alterations and dry-cleaning business called Ruth Ann's. She owned and operated the business until she was in her late 70's. Ruth Ann enjoyed collecting porcelain dolls, sewing, crossword puzzles and volunteering at the Opera House and Flea Market. Each day she looked forward to watching Fox News and TV Land as well as listening to KBOE. Ruth Ann was a quiet and reserved person but often told those she loved, "I love you dearly."

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Richard "Dixie" Danner; two brothers, Guy Jr. Soderstrum and Weldon Soderstrum and a sister, Retta Soderstrum.

Ruth Ann is survived by her special caretakers and brother-in-law, Mike (Bev) Danner of What Cheer; a brother, Vernon (Alta) Soderstrum of Boone; a sister, Shirley (Jerry) Peterson of West Des Moines and many nieces and nephews.