SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa – Ruth C. Durst, 91, Spirit Lake, died Feb. 13, 2016, in Lakes Regional Healthcare, Spirit Lake, Iowa. On Dec. 14, 1924, in rural Paullina, Iowa, she was born to William and Hulda Westphal Proehl. On Jan. 30, 1943, in Reno, Nev., she married Densel L. Durst. The family lived in Sutherland and Hartley before moving to Spirit Lake, Iowa, in 1969. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the VFW. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, dancing, shopping and loved birds. She was a collector of jewelry, purses, shoes, hummels and loved to get her hair and nails done. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. Surviving are her five children: Denny (and spouse Teresa) Durst, Warsaw; Dave Durst, Worthington, Minn.; Mary Durst, Bigelow, Minn.; Debbie (and spouse Clayton) Pavelko, Lakefield, Minn.; and Doug (and spouse Vikki) Durst, Okoboji, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Ruth Proehl and Beverly Durst, both of Primghar, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, nine siblings and one great-grandchild. A funeral service for Ruth “Granny” Durst was Wednesday at United Methodist Church, Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Turner Jenness Funeral Home of Spirit Lake was in charge of arrangements.
