Person:Cleo Ruth (1)

Cleo Braught's parents were Frank Ruth and Christien--. 1962 Airplane accident soon after she was airborn at the Des Moines, IA airport (she was "powder puff" pilot and had passengers; two died, two survived, including Elizabeth Utlser, 52, of Indianola who was left invalid also) left her comatose 1962-1976. In 1964 Rob received $140,625.00 law suit settlement from Williams Manufacturing and Supply Co (the plane manufacturer). See obit. and services program. Her husband, Bob, tenderly cared for her at home with paid in-house nurse assistance while she remained comatose for 14 yrs. until she died.Cleo died of pneumonia, funeral at Dahlstrom's, burial at Glendale Cem. DM. There was very little family detail in her Dec. 1976 DM Reg. obituary that did have her photo. A Des Moines Register article shows a photo of her serving as the first "milk woman" delivering milk. She is described as blue-eyed. Several quotes from her husband Bob and her are included. It must have been near the start of WW II as there are comments that the dairy recently lost three drivers to the draft and needed her help in replacement. She had previously joined Bob who was a delivery man for the dairy (the dairy is not named, but it was Anderson-Erickson; the former Braught Dairy, asserted Esther Braught Fleenor who gave the article to me during my visit to her in Indianola, IA June 24, 2001). Aunt Gertie said that Cleo was a Lutheran; names of her parents were Frank and Christien.

1. ↑ Cleo was buried at Des Moines Glendale Cemetery. See Obit and service program in my files.
2. ↑ Des Moines, Polk, IA Glendale Cem.