Clarice M. Ruckman

Clarice Maxine (Cole) Ruckman, 98, of Sedalia, Missouri, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020, at Rest Haven Convalescent and Retirement Home.

Clarice was born November 14, 1922, in Deadwood, South Dakota, to Charles Dillon Cole and Nellie Mae (Best) Cole. Nellie married Guy Montgomery when Clarice was about three. Guy raised Clarice and her brother, Bob, as his own.

Clarice talked about the early years in Rocky Point, Wyoming, when her father worked on the railroad in South Dakota and when the dust bowl hit, the family moved to Gillette, Wyoming.

When she was seventeen years old she met Harry Ruckman and they were married. To this union three children were born: Robert, Ida and William. They continued to live in Gillette until Harry passed away in 1960. Clarice had jobs of hand painting pictures in a photo shop, motels, restaurants and Bothwell Regional Health Center. Most important to her was her family.

In 1967, she remarried but after a few years they separated and were divorced.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Florence Montgomery, Alice Bailey and Wyoma Caton; brother, Robert Edgar Cole; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter.

She is survived by her sons, Robert (Judy) Ruckman, of Otterville, and William (Linda) Ruckman, of Benton, AR; daughter, Ida (Jim) Zumsteg, of Otterville; sisters, Wilma Thieman, of Moses Lake, WA, Faye Borron, of Casper, WY, and Helen (Harold) Geer, of Casper, WY; eight grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; thirteen great-great-grandchildren and one on the way.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church in Sedalia. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Burial will be in Gillette, WY.

Arrangements are in the care of Heckart Funeral Home.