Dr. Ruth Kathleen Keraus

Dr. Ruth Keraus, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Dr. Keraus' body has been cremated. Visitation will be held beginning at noon Friday, Feb. 20, at Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant. Inurnment of her ashes will be at WaKeeney Cemetery in WaKeeney, Kan., at a later date.

Memorials have been established to the First Presbyterian Church, Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, Iowa Wesleyan College music program and the Henry County Habitat for Humanity. Online condolences may be sent at www.olsonpowell.com

Born Sept. 26, 1932, in Hays, Kan., Ruth Kathleen was the daughter of Arthur S. and Velma Ruth Smith Keraus. She graduated from high school in WaKeeney, Kansas.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from the College of Emporia, in Kansas. She completed her master's degree in music at the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in music at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

For more, see our Feb. 18 print edition.