Mostly Cloudy, 30° F
(Aug. 24, 1928 - May 17, 2011)
Janice Lavern (Soliday) Ruckman died May 17, 2011.
Jan was born to Meryl and May Soliday in Aberdeen, S.D. She graduated from Aberdeen High School and soon after moved to Denver. There she met her husband of 62 years, Robert B. Ruckman. They were married on March 23, 1949.
Soon after, Bob was employed by Amoco Production Oil Company and began a nomadic life, having lived in many communities in Wyoming (including Powell for five years), Colorado, North Dakota, Montana, Texas and overseas in England, Libya and Egypt. They retired several years ago to Las Vegas. Then they made their last move to Medford, Ore., where they lived for the past nine years.
Jan was very artistic and enjoyed painting in oils and especially watercolors. She was an exceptional seamstress and made beautiful clothes for her family and herself. She was an avid reader and played bridge for many years. She will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her wonderful stories and her deep love of children and her dogs.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Alice Root and brothers, Don Soliday and Phil Soliday.
She is survived by her husband, Bob; son Robert C. (Brenda) Ruckman of Las Vegas; daughter Thea (Dallas) Ruckman Bennett of Powell; son David M. (Audrey) Ruckman of Medford, Ore.; grandchildren Gianna (Andy) Ruckman Miller of Woodinville, Wash., and their children Daniel, John, Grace and Sarah; Brandon (Kim) Ruckman of Laramie, and their children Ben and Kailyn; Deli (Joe) Bennett Frantzen of Green River and their children, Dallas and Brooke; Mariah (Jamey) Bennett Jessen of Moorhead, Minn., and their children Xander, Declan and Waverly; and Brianna Ruckman of Portland, Ore. She also is survived by her brother David Soliday of Ontario, N.Y.
After cremation, a memorial service was held in her honor at the Hull and Hull Funeral Directors Chapel at Grants Pass, Ore. Interment took place at the National Veteran’s Cemetery at Eagle Point, Ore.
