Joyce Case age 75, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2009 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home, Gillette, Wyoming.
Joyce Marie Case was born on October 10, 1933 the daughter of Joseph and Lillian (Chalupsky) Ruzicka at Hamilton, Montana. As a young girl, Joyce moved with her family to Comstock, Nebraska, Powell, Wyoming then to Cody, Wyoming where she graduated from high school in 1951. After graduating from high school Joyce went to work as an operator for AT&T. She met John Case on a blind date while he was home from the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge he returned to Cody, Wyoming to be with Joyce. They were married three months later on October 15, 1955 at Cody, Wyoming. After fourteen years as an operator, Joyce and John started a family and she chose to stay home and raise her family. The family moved to Portland, Oregon until John was transferred with his company to Great Falls, Montana. The family then resided at Missoula, Montana for numerous years until John retired and the kids were grown. John and Joyce moved to Gillette, Wyoming in 2004 to be close to family. They would travel in the springtime to visit other family members throughout Oklahoma, Texas to Tucson, Arizona. They would also go to Puerto Rico to visit Joyce's Brother and sister-in-law
Joyce enjoyed being the caretaker of the family and raising the children. In her free time she loved to do her plastic canvas, (and created many gifts treasured for her family.) Reading was a favorite pastime she did often reading different genre of books. Spending time with family was her greatest passion and she was looking forward to seeing all the grandchildren graduate from high school and then college.
Joyce is survived by her "blind date" , best buddy -husband of 53 years, John Case of Gillette, WY; two sons, Jackie "Jack" (Molly) Case of Gillette, Wyoming, Dennis (Cindy) Case of Edmond, Oklahoma; one daughter Cheri (Alvin) Cox of Spokane, WA; seven grandchildren, one brother, Jim Ruzicka (Eve) of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; a sister-in-law ( Diane) of Portland, OR.; two aunts and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother William "Bill" Ruzicka and one grandson.
Memorial services will be at 10:00a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish, SD, with Deacon Tom Freece officiating, burial will follow at 11:30a.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.