Ruby Ann Hakl

Ruby Ann Hakl was born on July 29, 1937, to Reuben and Annie (Hegge) Nelson. She passed away on March 12, 2026, in Sioux Falls at the age of 88, surrounded by her loving family at Sanford Cottage.

Raised on the family farm near Colton, South Dakota, Ruby graduated with the first class from Stewart’s School of Cosmetology and maintained her license as a hairdresser for many years. She met her husband, Rodney Hakl, at the Arkota Ballroom in Sioux Falls, and they were married on November 3, 1957, at St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church near Colton. Ruby was known for her remarkable skill as a seamstress, cook, and baker. Over the years she worked at Lewis Drug, McDonald’s, the local grocery store, Cenex in Alcester, and as a sample lady at Costco. She had a special fondness for children and spent many happy years caring for them at Kid’s Loft & Manger and in a daycare she operated with Rhonda Peterson.

She is survived by her five children, Randy (Ching) Hakl of Brandon, Karen (Jerry) Schmidt of Garretson, Todd (Brenda) Hakl of Alcester, Rhonda (Jeff) Iddings of Sioux Falls, and Rachel (Patrick) Gunn of Cherokee, Iowa; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and two brothers-in-law, Craig (Kathy) Hakl of San Antonio, Texas, and Curtis (Margaret) Hakl of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert Nelson, and her husband Rodney Hakl.