Ruth Kral

Hastings resident, Ruth E. Kral, 95, died Friday, September 19, 2014 at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings.

Services will be Wednesday, September 24, 2014; 10:30 A.M. at Bladen United Methodist Church, Bladen with Pastor Warren Schoming and Rev. Baldeo Singh officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Bladen. Memorials may be given to the Bladen United Methodist Church.Visitation will be Tuesday, September 23, 2014; 1:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Ruth, the youngest of eight children, was born March 21, 1919 in Lakeville, Minnesota to John Christian & Rose Alice (Kelly) Stempfley. She graduated from Farmington High School, Farmington, Minnesota in 1936. After graduation from high school, she attended Business College in Minneapolis, Minnesota to become an executive secretary. Ruth worked as a secretary for Traveler's Insurance Company in Minnesota. On April 2, 1943 she married Gerald "Buck" Kral in Lakeville, Minnesota, and he preceded her in death on February 11, 1993. They moved back to the Bladen area in 1950 from Minnesota. Ruth and Buck farmed for several years until they opened The Bladen Mercantile Store in Bladen. They also owned and operated a trailer park near the Harlan County Dam for a number of years. They sold their home in Bladen and moved to Hastings in early 1992.

Ruth continued her working career as a secretary at Total Images and then at the Cottages of Hastings. She retired at the age of 80. Ruth was a member of the Bladen United Methodist Church and American Legion Auxiliary, Blue Hill.

Ruth E. Kral was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gerald "Buck" Kral; daughter, Susan Kaufman; siblings, John Christian Stempfley, Gerald Chase Stempfley, Janet Lucille Hammer, Clarence Kelly Stempfley, Dorothy Elizabeth Jensen, Marvin Lynn Stempfley and Mabel Jennie Storlie.

SURVIVORS:
Granddaughters & Spouses:
Kim & Scot Grams - Campbell, NE
Taylor & Matthew Brunet - Katy, TX
Great-Grandchildren:
Tyler Grams
Cassandra Grams
Carson Brunet