Beulah "Mae" Ruggles

Beulah “Mae” Ruggles passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 due to complications from COVID-19.

Mae is preceded in death by her parents: Orvin and Irene Gallea; her in-laws: John and Bertha Ruggles: and her daughter Jolene Ruggles.

She is survived by her husband Richard Gene Ruggles: her daughters: Jaylene Evans (Lane), Andrea Strand (David): grandchildren: Kelly Florian, Dustin Evans (Whitney), Barry Strand, Michaela Perez (Thomas), Jenna Westhoff (Brent), Jessie Bustos (Chris); her beloved great grandchildren: Stetson Evans, Acen Evans, Briar Evans, Kai Evans,  Eliana Perez, William Bustos, Banks Westhoff; brother Virgil Wood (Donna); also many nieces, nephews, and their families.

Mae was born on August 10, 1931 in Jamestown, ND to Ella Irene Wood, who later married Orvin Gallea. They moved to Brush, CO her junior year and she graduated from Brush High School in 1949.

In 1947 she met her husband Richard Gene Ruggles and they were married on August 15, 1954. Mae and Gene had twin daughters Jaylene and Jolene as well as daughter Andrea. Jolene passed away as an infant.

Mae attended nursing school at Presbyterian St. Luke’s in Denver, CO. Her 57 year nursing career was at East Morgan County Hospital including Director of Nurses. She was a Brush School Board member,  church council member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brush, she received the Florence Nightingale Award for nursing excellence, and was a Morgan County 4-H horse superintendent.

Mae loved and cherished the friendships made through playing bridge, bowling, the bell choir at church, ice fishing, and dancing. She loved meeting new people and made friends wherever she went. Mae was the biggest fan to all her grandchildren. You could always find her at horse shows, volleyball games, track meets, and any other function that they participated in.

Mae's Life Celebration will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at the Brush Memorial Cemtery.