Timothy G. Ruge

Plainview — Timothy "Tim" Gerald Ruge, 65, of Plainview died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 at his home in Plainview.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Plainview with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 at the church in Plainview. Pastors Janell Siffring and Neil Klopenborg will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of the arrangements.

Be still and know that I am. Timothy was born March 26, 1958, in Norfolk to Melvin and Marie (Faust) Ruge. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary and Norfolk Public High School.  

While united in matrimony to Kim Sullivan, two daughters and one son were born.  

Years later, Tim was again blessed to have had Marlene (Mardi) Planer Hoffmann share her family of four daughters and one son with him for over 11 years.  

In 2015, Tim married Jean Kloppenborg.  

Tim retired from Nucor Steel in 2019 after 37 years of employment.  

Tim was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Plainview.

Tim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren in teaching them about his faith, life values, how to care for his coy and goldfish pond and pedicuring his lawn. Tim enjoyed restoring lawn statues, watching documentaries, fishing, especially at night, asparagus picking, mushroom hunting, playing with his fury kids, hunting, landscaping his flower beds and fruit trees and growing large gardens, which he generously shared with friends and neighbors. He was that neighbor who gave of himself to help others mow their yards, move snow and take time to sit and chat. Tim loved steam engines, golf cart rides with his pups, teasing his cats, riding his skateboard on steroids, seeing God's beauty in life and studying daily Bible verses. Tim felt blessed to attend grandchildren's church, school and sport events. When he couldn't attend in person, he caught up via videos. He felt that one of his greatest achievements was being called Grandpa and Pops.

Tim is survived by his wife Jean of Plainview; eight children Selena (Brian) Ickler of rural Plainview, Sonja (Shawn) Cernick of Woonsocket, SD, Derreck Ruge of Mitchell, SD, Rochelle (Jerry) Nuttleman of Omaha, Buffy (Gerald) Garnett of Stephens City, VA, Dawn (Mark) Trowbridge of Canton, SD, Frank (Tammy) Planer of Norfolk and Tandi (Greg) Butler of Leesburg, VA; 20 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one brother Ronald (Barbara) Ruge of Stuart, FL; one sister Shirley (Robert) Schiffbauer of Lincoln; his mother-in-law Helen Kloppenborg of O'Neill; seven sisters-in-law Caroline Ruge Lydik and Kelly Ruge, both of Norfolk, JoAnn Barker of York, Janice (John) Peregoy of Coleridge, Joyce (Todd) Miller of Emmet, Jill (Kent) Fox of Stuart and Julie Joyce of Wausa; three brothers-in-law James (Susan) Kloppenborg of Emmet, Jerald Kloppenborg of O'Neill and Jeffrey Kloppenborg of Elisabeth, CO; many nieces and nephews and extended family; and friends Clint and Wanda Post and Doug Pinkleman, all of Plainview.

He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Marie Ruge, two brothers Samuel Ruge and James (Jimmy) Ruge, all of Norfolk, his loving partner Marlene Hoffmann, his father-in-law Ernest Kloppenborg of O'Neill and one brother-in-law Fred Barker of Mount Ayr, Iowa.