Ruby Lillie, Spooner, died Jan. 26, 2003. She was 88 years old.
Ruby was born, along with a twin brother, Ruben, on March 12, 1914, to Charles and Lottie Payson, Richardson. She moved to Clear Lake with her family as a small child and remained there until 1991. She lived in Knoxville, Iowa, for two years and in White Bear Lake, Minn., for two years. She then moved to Spooner where she lived with her daughter, Sheila, until her death.
Ruby was united in marriage to Dan Lillie on Dec. 14, 1938. They were married for 55 years and had six children: Shirley (Don) Mikkelsen, Brill; Shelby Urbanski, Brill; Sherman Lillie, Centuria; Sharon (Larry) Sandahl, Knoxville, Iowa; Sheila (Ted) Dunbar, Spooner and Sheldon Lillie, deceased.
Dan and Ruby lived on a farm for many years until 1962 when they moved into town. Ruby was always a full-time homemaker and mother. She loved gardening and was noted for being able to make almost anything grow. She also was a very good cook and liked to collect recipes. Her favorite pastime was reading her Bible. She was a longtime member of the Clear Lake Gospel Tabernacle and in later years, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Dan; infant son Sheldon; twin brother, Ruben; her parents; five brothers and five sisters.
She is survived by her children; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one-great-great-granddaughter.
Funeral services were held Jan. 29 at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor Vassili Khrapov officiating. Music was provided by Juanita Wood and Marsha Scheuermann. Honorary casketbearers were Jason Lillie, Joshua Lillie, Ryan Lillie, Chris Fultz, Jake Schumacher, James Dunbar. Casketbearers were Dave Hughes, Tony Lillie, Corey Malloy, Dan Mikkelsen, Tim Urbanski, Tom Urbanski. Interment at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake.

Ruby had 12 siblings as listed below.

Edward Payson, B-1887, D-1974
Carrie(Payson)Larson, B-1888, D-1981
William Henry Payson,B-1892,D-1968
Estella(Payson)Swagger,B-1895,D-1994
Lulu (Payson)Bachler, B-1897, D-1993
Minnie (Payson)Swager,B-1899, D-1984
Roy Payson, B-1902, D-1946
Margaret Payson,B-1904, D-1904
Doris(Payson)Ponshock,B-1906, D-1993
Alfred Payson, B-1908, D-1954
Jessie Payson, B-1912, D-1913
Richard Rueben Payson,B-1914,D-1918