Ruth died peacefully at River Falls Area Hospital on June 11, 2025, following a brief illness. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Ruth was a positive and prayerful source of encouragement to family and friends, blessing all who knew her with unconditional love and support. We rejoice in the knowledge that Ruth has joined her loved ones in the “great cloud of witnesses” with her Lord in Heaven. A lifelong learner who seemingly was destined to teach, Ruth Joles was born in Boyceville, Wis. on April 7, 1935. She enjoyed the family relationships and friendships of small-town life and being a Boyceville Bulldog cheerleader, an active member of school and church groups, and a drummer in the high school band. Following high school graduation in 1953, Ruth attended UW-River Falls, where she met the love of her life, Phil Kuss. She graduated with an education degree in 1957 and married Phil one month later. After living and teaching in Boyceville and Cameron, Wis., they moved back to River Falls. Ruth spent the remainder of her career at Afton-Lakeland (MN) Elementary, teaching third grade and championing reading as a key to success. She enthusiastically mentored and supervised many student teachers through UWRF. Ruth was active in area teachers’ groups and served on the River Falls Public Library Foundation Board. Ruth will be remembered as a world-class hugger. She loved her Ezekiel Lutheran Church family and relished time spent in Bible studies, Circle get-togethers, and WELCA events, and her brownies were favorite treats at many church gatherings. Among the great delights of Ruth’s life were teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School as well as singing with young ones at Ezekiel.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Phil: her parents Richard and Agnes Joles of Boyceville; her father- and mother-in-law Herman and Betty Kuss of River Falls; Kuss brothers- and sisters-in-law; and many other Joles and Kuss family members. Ruth dearly loved them all. Ruth is survived by her children Richard (Barbara) of River Falls, Kristin of River Falls, and Jon (Elaine) of Hudson, Wis.; brother- and sister-in-law Don and Betsy Kuss of Schofield, Wis.; grandchildren Kyle, Shannon, Jessica and Johnathan. Damon and Ashley, Jim and Tracy, McKayla, and Kendra and Joe; and great grandchildren Kristofer, Xamyra, Ethan, Isabelle, Sophia, Elaina, Chelsea, Baron, Emma, and Breydan.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday June 24, 2025 at Ezekiel Lutheran Church (202 S. Second St. River Falls WI.) Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday June 23, 2025 and on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. at Ezekiel Lutheran Church. Interment will be in Tiffany Cemetery in Boyceville Wis. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services. Memorials are preferred to Ezekiel Lutheran Church (in memo line, Education & Youth) and the Free Clinic of Pierce and St. Croix Counties.
