Obituary of Joan Ruth Rathbun

Joan Ruth Rathbun    

Born January 3, 1933 in Hot Springs, SD

Passed away November 4, 2024 in Golden Valley, MN at the age of 91

Joan is survived by daughters Kathy Mellstrom (Mark) and Nancy Bowman (Paul Jeddeloh). Grandchildren are Sarah Mellstrom, Becca Mellstrom, Daniel Mellstrom (Gabrielle Sacha), Teddy Jeddeloh, and Georgia Jeddeloh.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bob Bowman, daughter, Laurie Bowman, and second husband, Bill Rathbun.

Joan graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She taught elementary school for two years before marrying Bob Bowman, a high school math teacher in 1955. They lived and raised their children in Bloomington, MN. 

Joan loved square dancing, music, theater, games, hiking, and world travel. She had been active in the League of Women Voters, the Association for Retarded Citizens, the University of Minnesota Women’s Club and her church choir. After Bob died in 1976, she taught in Special Education for several years. In 1986 she married Bill Rathbun, a researcher in ophthalmology who died in 1997.

A memorial service is planned for December 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at Normandale Hylands Methodist Church in Bloomington, Minnesota.