Sandra M. Ruetten, 69, of Belvidere, formerly of Pewaukee/Waukesha, WI, and Carpentersville, IL, died Monday, September 29, 2008, in her home. She was born March 4, 1939, in Waukesha, WI, the daughter of James Stewart and Mary Catherine (Schane) Schmidt. On October 10, 1959, she married Alan A. Ruetten in Waukesha. An LPN, she was employed 14 years by Elgin area nursing homes. Sandra enjoyed ceramics, golf, and ballroom dancing, and had been an active volunteer with Kings Road School and the Irving Crown Youth Band Booster Club as well as a member of the Ladies Auxillary of the Moose Lodge and Elks Lodge. Sandra's devotion was to her loving husband and the education of her children and grandchildren. Her motto was: "Make a friend each day."Survivors include her husband, Alan; sons Dr. Scott (Catherine, dec.) Ruetten and Dr. Timothy J. (Dr. Catherine) Ruetten; grandsons Nathan, Kevin, Jason, Gregory, Bradley, David, and Paul; sister Diane (Bryon) Folts; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the charity of donor's choice.