Shirlee Ruble

Mankato Mortuary
1001 N Riverfront Dr
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202

A Celebration of life for Shirlee Ruble, age 78, of Mankato will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday September 13th at the First Congregational Church in Mankato, Pastor Dana Mann officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, September 12, 2014 at Mankato Mortuary from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred in Shirlee's memory to the American Cancer Society - Colorectal Research (donate.cancer.org) of donor's choice. The family requests no flowers, please.

Shirlee Ann (Becker) Ruble was born May 30, 1936 at her home in Fairfax to Frederick and Helen (Keim) Becker. She was the middle sister of Thelma and Mary. While attending Mankato
State Teacher's College, Shirlee met Bruce Ruble on New Year's Eve. The couple was married August 22, 1959 and have enjoyed 55 years of being each other's best friend. Shirlee was a lifelong learner and dedicated her life to educating others. She began her career as a librarian in Mapleton before returning to Mankato to get a master's in English. She continued to teach in Richfield for six years. In 1967, the couple made their home in Mankato where Shirlee was a partner in Harpies' Bazaar. Shirlee spent many years at MSU as a librarian, alumni director and English teacher. She also worked at the Convention and Visitor's Bureau in Mankato. Bruce and Shirlee had two children, Christopher and Stephanie. Shirlee spent many hours reading and wrote poetry and letters to family and friends. She loved to be outside in her garden and was an active member of her church. Shirlee never stopped learning; she continued her education in library science before working as a librarian at Roseville Elementary. She retired from Nicollet after working as a K " 12 librarian.

After retirement, Shirlee and Bruce traveled; finding warm places in the winter months. Their favorite spot was Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for their family's annual "Camp Christmas." Shirlee always supported and encourage her daughter's art, writing and love of children's books.

Shirlee died after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at the Mayo Clinic Health system in Mankato.

She will be missed by her husband Bruce Ruble of Mankato; son, Christopher Ruble of Arizona and daughter, Stephanie (Doug Molnar) Ruble of New York; sisters, Thelma Kinne and Mary (Tom) Donnelly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Dwight Kinne; sister-in-law;, Charlotte (Ruble) Vandekamp; brothers-in-law; Jim Vandekamp, Roger Ruble and Doug Ruble.