Services were held Friday 11 a.m. July 10, 2026 at Faith Community Church, Laurel.

Arrangements were under the direction of Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.

Interment was at the Laurel Cemetery. Frances Ruth Sands – Jerke was born in Maryville, Missouri February 20, 1948, to Donald and Helen (Snowdall) Hixson. She graduated from South Page Schools, College Springs, Iowa and Wayne State College. Ruth married Richard Sands January 28, 1968, in College Springs, Iowa. Richard passed away in 1990. She later married Daryl Jerke September 4, 1993, in Laurel. Her career as a nursing home administrator spanned from 1995 to 2022 in the communities of Harvard, Waverly, North Platte, Kearney, Falls City, Hebron and finally Laurel before her retirement.

Ruth is survived by her daughter, Dawn (Chuck) Hirschman of Coleridge; son, Patrick (Shellyn) Sands of Firth; four grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; siblings, John (Mary) Hixson, Bud (Kathy) Hixson, Barb Chubb, Connie (Paul Erzer) Hixson and Dee (Gary) Huseman; nieces; nephews and cousins.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Richard in 1990 and Daryl in 2016; brother, Ralph Hixson; and brother-in-law, Steve Chubb.

Memorials may be directed to Ruth’s family for later designation.