Ernest was born July 16,1936, in Manilla, Iowa, and was the son of William and Della (Armstrong) Ruhde. He graduated from Manilla High School in 1954. Ernest married Marlene Jahn {daughter of Hugo & Gladys (Stammer) Jahn} on May 8, 1955, in Manning, Iowa. He worked in construction for fourteen years and the Insurance industry for the rest of his career as an arson investigator and adjustor, retiring in 2000. He enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Marlene for twenty years.

Ernest enjoyed golf, RV camping, and was a member of the Coachman's camping group, a member of Iowa Firemen's Association and a member of Memorial Lutheran Church of Nevada. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed using his carpenter skills whenever he could to help his kids, grandkids, family and friends remodel and build things.

Ernest is survived by his wife, Marlene of Denison; his daughters: Pam (Jeff) Sebring of Manilla, Sue Preiss (Jay Nix) of Ontonagon, Michigan, and Terri Winske-Hermsen (Craig) of Green Bay, Wisconsin. His brothers: Donald (Jan) Ruhde of Iowa Falls, Allen (Carolyn) Ruhde of Shenandoah; four grandchildren: Josh (Janet) Sebring, Jessica (Nate) Adams, Trisha (Kip) McIntyre, Kaleb (Melissa) Preiss; eleven great-grandchildren: Reagan, William, Lucas Sebring, Brayden, Maxwell, Allison Adams, Wyatt (Kaci) McIntyre, Lilly McIntyre, Lucas Solberg, Nolan and Liam Preiss; sister-in-law Carolyn I. Ruhde, of Illinois; and many other relatives and friends.

Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, his son Steven Ruhde in infancy, his granddaughter Elizabeth Sebring in infancy, sister Kathyrn (Charles) Juliano, and brother Albert C. Ruhde.

As per his wishes, Ernest was cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held this spring in Manilla with burial at the Nishnabotna Cemetery near Manilla, Iowa.