Dolores Ann (Ruff) Moore

Dolores Ann Ruff Moore
July 11, 1936 – May 19, 2026

Dolores Ann Ruff was born on July 11, 1936, to Dave Ruff and Lillie Elizabeth Meyer, on their beet farm in Nisland, South Dakota. They were both from migrant families who left German villages in the Volga region of Russia. Dolores was named after the pretty actress Dolores Del Rio. Her three older siblings were Helen, Dan, and Robert. When little brother John was born, “watching John,” became her first responsibility. They played cars, because John didn’t like playing dolls. As they grew, they liked to play in the river. When mom said it was too cold to swim, Dolores and John heated a kettle and poured the hot water slowly into the stream until it was “just right,” and they both jumped in.

Dolores loved to ride the farm horse, “Star”; to play with dolls in her playhouse behind the shed; to play in the winter snow and the fall leaves; and to cool in the irrigation ditch in the summer. She loved her mother’s delicious German cooking--especially “swasterbear couga” (bread with sugar beet syrup).

Knowing she wanted to become a teacher one day, Dolores would try to dress the farm cats in the playhouse and line them up for lessons. The results were scratched arms, a case of ringworm, and a strong distaste for cats that lasted her entire life. Nor did Dolores speak fondly of the doughty hens who defended against her attempts to collect eggs.

The family moved from Nisland to another farm in Vale, S.D. A popular student, Dolores graduated Vale High School in 1954. She attended Black Hills Teacher’s College for one year and taught at Fairview School for one year. Then she moved to Denver with Dona Fritz, a girl from Vale who became a lifelong best friend. Dolores worked for the telephone company for a year and then studied at Greeley State Teacher’s College for an additional two-and-a-half yrs, where she graduated in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and a minor in business.

She moved to Los Angeles, CA, where she rejoined her friend Dona Fritz. Dolores was hired by the L.A. School District for two years before transferring to the Simi Valley Schools.

Dona also introduced her to Herbert Marshall George, whom Dolores married December 27, 1963. They lived in North Hollywood, CA, and enjoyed the beach and trips into the desert. Marshall passed away in 1969. Friends introduced her to Donald Clarence Moore, and they were married on the beach at Paradise Cove, California, February 14, 1970. This union gave her a married stepson, Dennis Moore (wife, Terry). Dolores and Don lived in Northridge, La Crescenta, and Simi Valley, all in California. Through their son Dennis they have had eight grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and four gr-great-grandchildren.

Don Moore, passed away on December 30, 1995, leaving Dolores a widow, again, for the remaining 30 years of her life. Having retired from teaching, she remained active with friends, church, teaching Sunday School, attending Bible study classes, volunteering at her church thrift store, ushering at a community theater, traveling to South Dakota, and corresponding with her family.

In 2021, she moved to Utah Valley to be near the grandchildren. Since then, she has been enjoying their activities, attending church, dining with friends, attending Bible study, playing cards with a group, and keeping her body moving with a senior exercise class.

Dolores passed away of the effects of old age, at home, surrounded by three generations of loved ones on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Lillie (Meyer) Ruff; her stepfather, Vernon Holst; her sister Helen Erk; her brother Robert, and her stepson Dennis Moore. She is survived by her brother Dan Ruff [Marian]; John  Ruff [Patricia]; and her brother Robert’s widow, Carolyn, as well as several nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by her stepson’s wife, Terry, and their eight children: Amy Richardson [Richard]; Spencer [Laurie]; Audrey Larson [Todd]; D. Tyler [Olivia]; Rebecca; Emily Hugo [Von]; Hillary Puertas [Steve]; and Mercedes; plus two generations of great- and great-great Moore grandchildren, to whom Dolores is, and always will be their beloved “Grandmother.”

Funeral services for Dolores will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 3:00 pm in the Warenski Funeral Home Chapel located at, 1776 North 900 East American Fork, Utah. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday afternoon from 2:00-2:45 pm prior to the service.

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