Ruth Annette (Burgdorf) Thomason was born on November 9, 1930, to Martin C. Burgdorf and Annette 
Riedel Burgdorf in Wessington Springs, SD. She went to be with her Lord on August 24, 2016, at the Hospice House in Stockton, CA. She had moved back to Stockton nearly 4 years ago to be near her daughter and son-in-law.
In January of 1948, Ruth married Harry Hoaas of Watertown, SD and they had two children – Vickie and Randall. Randall passed away shortly after birth. Ruth and her daughter moved to Washington State where she became a Certified Dental Assistant, prior to moving to Southern CA. In April of 1959, Ruth married Jim Thomason who was in the military and spent 3 years in Germany. All while she lived there, Ruth loved singing in the church choir. She had a gifted voice which she always enjoyed sharing and has been a gift in her legacy. She loved singing “The Requiem” and “The Messiah” in Germany and was honored to have visited Martin Luther’s church in Worms, Germany on Reformation Sunday.
Ruth spent most of her working years as a dental assistant in Washington State and California. She also loved being a foster parent in her home for 10 years to mentally challenged and disabled children in Southern CA. They captured her heart and she was devoted to them. She enjoyed bookkeeping jobs in both Stockton and Southern CA at different times.
She loved being involved with church activities, getting together with her sisters who lived close by (and all of her family members), sewing, playing games, doing crafts and interacting with people. She was also very actively involved with various political and religious groups.
Ruth leaves behind her daughter Vickie Cordell (Ed) of Stockton, CA, two sisters, Lois Muller of Florence, SD, Johanna Rakhshani of Huntington Beach, CA and two brothers, M. Riedel Burgdorf (Valerie) of Derby, KS and M. Fredrick Burgdorf of Shelton, WA. Also, three grandchildren Aaron Cordell (Michelle), Jamie Good (Dennis) and Seth Cordell (Trish) and 7 great-grandchildren – Ashlee, Rachel & Brandon Good, Devin Cordell and Ricky, Sophiya and Mya Ortiz, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews, and cherished friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, infant son and sisters Eunice Kostka, Hope Mundahl-Strey, and Miriam Taecker.
SERVICES
Memorial Service and Celebration of Life, will be at a later date at her former church in West Covina, CA and inurnment will be in Watertown, SD according to her wishes.