Ruth (Storke) Dressler

Apr 21, 1928 - May 17, 2014

In the evening of Friday, May 16, Ruth Dressler went to sleep in her chair at home. In keeping with her abiding faith, the family knows she awoke in paradise, in the presence of God, the angels, and her beloved husband, Budd. Ruth was born in Centerville, in Carson Valley, Nevada to Henry and Ada Storke where they operated a farm. She loved the family home on the corner of Centerville Lane and Highway 88. She recalled that, for fun, she and her friend, Shirley Lundergreen, would ride their horses to Minden and down main street to Gardnerville. Ruth had many dear friends and shared interesting activities with them. Ruth graduated from Douglas County High School in 1946. While in High School she waited tables at the Minden Inn. After graduation she attended beauty college in Reno and obtained a manicurist degree. Ruth married Budd Dressler on May 28, 1950 following completion of his military assignment during World War II with the 25th Army Division in the Pacific theater of the war. They were married in the old Trinity Lutheran Church when it was located near the Lutheran Bridge in Gardnerville. After their marriage, they settled on Ernest and Emma Thran Dressler’s, ranch (Budd’s parents) at the mouth of Faye Canyon beneath Jobe’s Peak. The ranch was originally purchased by Budd’s grandparents, Fritz and Minnie Bruns Dressler. Ruth credited a wonderful husband and two great kids as compensation for the hard times on the ranch. Son Kenneth, was named after Ruth’s older brother, Kenneth Storke, who was killed during WW II in Luzon in 1945. Ruth and Budd’s second child, Annette, was known as Sis by her family. A loving family life, a wholesome environment, hard work and devotion to Christian teachings served the family well. As time passed, Ken became a school teacher and Sis married and worked for the State; thus, the ranch was sold in 1987. Then Ruth and Budd moved first to Minden and finally to Gardnerville where they retired. Ruth and Budd were interested and involved in agricultural organizations. Ruth was a leader in the 4-H Club, a member of the Western Nevada Cattlewomen and the Farm Bureau. She was also a member of the Carson Valley Homemakers, the Literary Club, the Historical Society and Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was an active volunteer until recently. In addition to her parents and her brother, Kenneth, Ruth was predeceased by her brother, Roy Storke, in 1995 and his wife, Lois, in 2014. Ruth is survived by her children Kenneth Dressler of Gardnerville and Annette Swainston, and husband Harry, of Carson City; grandson Rolf Swainston, his wife Polly of Reno, and their children, Zane, Madelyne and Julia; granddaughter Valerie Alaina Swainston of Salem, Oregon and her children, Stella and Griffin. Ruth is also survived by numerous descendants of the early Marquat family of Carson Valley. A viewing is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 22, at Walton’s Funeral Home in Gardnerville from 5 - 7 p.m. A Rite of Christian Burial will be held for the immediate family on Friday, May 23, at Gardnerville Cemetery. A public Memorial Service is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gardnerville. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Walton’s Funerals & Cremations, Carson City.