Rockford, IllinoisGertrude E. Ralston, who for the past 2 1/2 years resided at the P A Peterson Center for Health in Rockford, died Saturday afternoon, March 3rd at the age of 97. Gertrude was born April 21, 1909 to Matthew J. Andrew and Mary Belle McDonald Andrew, the eldest of 3 children. She graduated from Rockford High School. On September 1, 1936 she married Floyd H. Ralston and farmed with him for some 35 years northeast of Rockford. She was always very active, loved the outdoors and farmed right along with Floyd. She was also a telephone operator for Caledonia. Gertrude grew up and was a member of Willow Creek Presbyterian before becoming an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rockford and in her earlier years she enjoyed her flower beds, going on walks and playing cards. Gertrude loved to play golf and was a wonderful cook. She leaves behind her devoted sister, Marjorie Wold, of Belvidere, IL; daughter, Frances, and son-in-law Burdette of Hawkeye, IA; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Gregg Crooks and his wife, Barbara, Allison and Aimee of Moline, IL; Lorei Rowe and her husband, Stephen, Andrea and Morgan of Overland Park, KS; Ginger Rasmussen and husband, Tom, Jason and Lexi of New Hampton, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, her brother, John Andrew, and a great-granddaughter, Hannah Rose Rasmussen.