Idel Ruggles, 98, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at CHI Hospital in Dickinson, ND, with family at her side.  A graveside service for Idel will be on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 10:00 am in the Pierce Congregational Church cemetery north of Scranton, ND. Lunch will be served at the church after the burial service.

Idel was born November 26, 1927, on her grandparents' farm near Desart, ND, to Art and Ellen (Powell) Stafford.  She grew up on her parents' farm which was a few miles away with one brother, Arden, and one sister, Doris.  Her education started in a country school, and she later graduated from New England High School.  After High School She attended Dickinson State College and received a teaching certificate.  She taught at theHume country school, even teaching her oldest two daughtersLinda and Connie.

Idel married Robert Ruggles on June 16, 1948, at the Pierce Congregational Church.  Robert and Idel purchased a farm a few miles west of where Idel grew up and together they raised a family of three girls and two boys.  Idel continued to teach for a few years until the family grew and she became a fulltime farm wife taking care of a growing family while helping Robert with the farm.  This included milking cows (cream money), raising chickens and pigs, maintaining a large garden and canning.  Idel was taught to play piano by her mother, and she shared this talent by teaching many children in the area plus her own kids. She also played piano and organ for many years in church.  Idel and Robert moved off the farm to the St. Luke's Home in Dickinson in March of 2022.  Idel and Robert were married for 74 ½ years with Robert passing away on January 7, 2023, at the age of 96.  They were kept young by enjoying time spent with their grandkids and great grandkids.

Idel enjoyed many hobbies including sewing clothes, making baby quilts and crocheting blankets for each grandchild.  Idel was a fantastic cook and baker including her world-famous bunsand caramel rolls.  She enjoyed gardening and planting flowers.  She even drove school bus, but it was not her favorite activity during the spring rains. Her love was for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which love she shared with family and friends. Idel was a prayer warrior and every conversation ended with her wish that the Lord would bless you.  She was a loving grandma, who told bedtime stories and made sure her grandchildren knew they were loved. She valued hiding God's Word in her heart. She memorized Psalm 91 and was able to still quote some of those verses in her last days.  God blessed Idel with many wonderful years and in turn everyone who knew her was blessed because of knowing her.

Idel was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, sister Doris (Lloyd) Teske and brother Arden Stafford. Brothers-in-law Lowell (Betty) Ruggles, Willard Ruggles, Keith (Rose) Ruggles, and sister-in-law Jean (Fred) Schaar and son-in-law Melvin Siverson.

Idel is survived by her children, Linda Siverson, Connie (Leon) Scheeler, Kerry (Twyla) Ruggles, Joan (Dean) Karsky, and Pat (Faye) Ruggles; 19 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; and her sisters-in-law Eunice (Willard) Rugglesand Ginger (Arden) Stafford; and several nieces and nephews.

Idel's family would like to thank the staff at St. Luke's Home and CHI Hospital for their wonderful care and many acts of kindness shown to Idel.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to St. Luke's Home.