Ruby Gene Oxner (Higgins) age 74 passed away peacefully on November 28, 2020 the Mobridge Regional Hospital in Mobridge, South Dakota. She was born on October 24, 1946 in Minneapolis, MN, to James Howard Leigh Higgins and Bernice Lillian Marie (Hall) Higgins. Her sister and best friend Michele was born two years later on February 22, 1949 also in Minneapolis. Ruby moved around a lot, as her father worked at different train depots for many years. They settled in Selby where she attended high school and graduated in 1964.

Ruby married her high school sweetheart Jerry Gene Oxner on June 18, 1964. The couple welcomed their first children, Jeffery Gene in January of the following year. The couple moved to Columbus, OH, and then to Pensacola, FL, where their daughter, Barbara Gene was born in June of 1969. The family then moved back to South Dakota so Jerry could help on the family farm, and their last son, Bryan Gene was born in 1975. She worked at the Selby Record until 1994 when her last son graduated high school and she moved back to Minneapolis, MN, to work at the Deluxe Corporation in Shoreview, MN. Several years following that, she worked at the Target Corporation in Printing Services where she worked until she retired in 2016 and moved to Mobridge.

Ruby was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in January of 2020. She fought a hard battle, but lost the fight on October 28, 2020.

Ruby enjoyed reading books immensely, especially science-fiction. She was an avid Star Trek fan, and her final wishes are to have her ashes blown into space with William Shatner. She also enjoyed old westerns staring Clint Eastwood and classic films with Humphery Bogart. Ruby also enjoyed watching cooking shows even though she would rather eat out than cook.

Ruby is survived by her sister, Michele and her three children, Derek (Linh), Jennifer (Dave) and Jonathan; three children, Jeff (Michelle), Barb (Jason), and Bryan as well as grandchildren, Jake, Kayla, Howie, Cooper, Allison, Grant, Colton, Matthew, Brady and Brayden; as well as great grandchildren, Audrey, Payton, Evelynne, Amiah, Aeslie, Zanetta and Emberlie.

She is preceded in death by her father, James (2001) and mother, Bernice (2012).

A private family “Celebration of Life” will be held in lieu of services.

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