Ruth Marie (Rediske) Sommerfield, 84, of Tomah, died on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at SSM Health – St. Clare in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Ruth was born on March 27, 1942, to Charles Richard and Vera Cora (Warner) Rediske at St. Mary’s Hospital in Sparta, Wisconsin. When Ruth was 1.5 years old her family moved to the Kelley Farm, near Tunnel City. She attended the Tunnel City School until the 5th grade. Tragedy soon struck when Ruth’s father died on September 23, 1951. Shortly thereafter, Ruth, alongside her family, moved to Tomah and she attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School and Miller Elementary School until her graduation from the Tomah Senior High School on May 25, 1960.
Ruth’s first job was working as a car hop at the A&W Root Beer Stand in Tomah and later worked for George Horken Realty as a secretary. On October 28, 1960, she accepted a job as a waitress at the Badger Café. This is where she met Leon Sommerfield, whom she would go on to get engaged to on July 4, 1962, before being wed on May 25, 1963. It was at this time that the pair moved to the farm a few miles south of town.
Their daughter, Lisa Marie, was born on May 21, 1964, at Tomah Memorial Hospital, and later their son, Otto Charles, was born on December 21, 1965. Leon worked at Vann Packs plastic factory until they were able to buy enough cows to start farming. Ruth and Leon were faithful members of St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah. She was also involved in the Lydia Mission Circle until it disbandment, as well as the Needle Craft Homemakers Club, which she joined in September of 1964 and was an active member of until 2017.
Ruth worked for Figi’s where she packed orders for a few years and later accepted a job at Hablemen’s Cranberry Marsh sorting cranberries on the night shift. From there she worked at the Hearty Platter as a cashier and would continue to until September 10, 2011.
Ruth enjoyed playing euchre and running cards at the senior center in Tomah for several years and would play “May I” once they finished playing euchre. She also enjoyed playing bingo and going out to listen and dance to country western music. Ruth always enjoyed listening to and watching Elvis Presley music and movies.
One of Ruth’s fondest memories was visiting Lisa in Nashville, Tennessee, going to the Grand Ole Opry, and getting her picture taken on stage and standing by Randy Travis’ mailbox. Ruth moved to Willow Woods Apartments on April 30, 2011, where she resided until she moved to Elroy Health Care Center in February of 2019, before finally settling at Wisconsin Dells Health Services. She met a special companion at the nursing home, Jerry Kaleas, together they enjoyed eating the meals together and playing bingo.
Ruth will be very much missed by her daughter, Lisa Marie Sommerfield; son, Otto Charles (Sheila) Sommerfield; grandchildren, Dustin Otto (Amber) Sommerfield, Amber Marie (Matthew) Hoff Stainback, William Kevin (Breanna) Cottrell, and Dylan Michael (Carysa) Cottrell; great-grandchildren, Brent William Hoff, Savannah Grace Cottrell, Hallie Jo Cottrell, Waverly Mae Cottrell, Zakery Otto Sommerfield, and Melody Kay-Patricia Sommerfield; she is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other family members, and close friends.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Vera Rediske; siblings, Herbert Merlin (Caroline) Rediske, Hugh Ernest (Helen) Rediske, Robert John (Beverly) Rediske, Delores Rose (Frank) Rediske-Noe, and Shirley Mae (Billy) Rediske-Todd; and her beloved husband, Leon Ernest Sommerfield.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Avenue, in Tomah. Pastor Jonah Backus will officiate. Family and friends are invited for a time of visitation from 11:00 A.M. until the start of the service. Burial will be held at Mount Vernon Cemetery, 23008 WI-16, in Tomah. Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be given at www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
