Willie Ruth Tate

Willie Ruth Tate, age 80, of Sioux Falls, passed away Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at Avantara Norton. Her Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 12 at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory.  Interment will be held in the Hills of Rest Cemetery following the funeral service.  

Willie Ruth (Johnson) Tate was born Monday, January 15, 1945, in Port Gibson, Mississippi to Savannah Johnson and Murlee (Tot) Ward. Willie passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

Willie confessed Christ at an early age. Willie graduated from Addison High School in 1964. She later moved to St. Louis, Missouri and married J.B. Tate, who she helped raise 11 kids and later had 3 children of her own. Her children meant the world to her and her grandchildren and her only sister, Daisy Johnson and brothers. Willie loved to work. She worked at Volunteers of America (daycare). She had a passion for kids and also, she was the employee of the month at KFC and Little Caesars. She loved to play the lottery machines and was very lucky. Willie enjoyed taking walks and had a passion for cooking. She would feed anybody and was always willing to help babysit for people. She loved to go shopping. Willie just had a good heart and was a phenomenal woman and mother. 

Who proceeded her in death are her late husband, J.B. Tate; mother, Savannah Johnson; father, Murlee Ward; brother, Joe Johnson; and aunt, Inez Kelly.

Willie leaves to cherish her children, Tony, Tracy, and Tasha; grandkids, David, Lil Tony, Ashley, DaVonte,  Davon, Jamiece, Shamiece, Nadine, Nora, Ebony, Renique, Patrice, Trey, Zackery, Tonay, Taylor, Sheronda, Baron, Sandra, Sharon; 19 great-grandkids; 1 sister, Daisy Johnson; 3 brothers, Louis, Connie and Charles; uncle, Sammuel Johnson; nieces; nephews; cousins; 3 very special sons, Ken Tate, Ronnie Williams, and Chris Martin; and some special shouts outs to the ladies that took care of mom, Keosha, Joslin, Carly, Maile and Kayla. The family wants to thank y’all from the bottom of their hearts.