Nancy was born February 12, 1930 in Denver, Colorado. Her family moved to Eagle, Colorado during her elementary school years and she graduated from Eagle High School in 1947. Following high school she attended Lindenwood University in St. Louis, where she earned an Associates Degree. Nancy married Larry Rule January 14, 1950. The couple were ranchers, first in Eagle, later in Brighton and then in South Dakota after retirement. Nancy enjoyed being on the ranch, hunting, shooting, and fishing. She was a teaching assistant in the Brighton schools for many years and loved teaching kids to read, as she was an avid reader herself. Nancy also enjoyed art including painting, drawing and crafts.
Nancy was a great mother and wife who will be deeply missed by her husband, Larry; children: Lori (Hugh) Hawthorne, Robert (Cindi) Rule and Spencer (Connie) Rule; grandchildren: Tanya (Bradley) Hawthorne Hunsaker, Sumner (Abby) Rule, Jennifer (Brian) Rule Brenneman, Tyson (Amber) Rule, Spencer (Amanda) Rule, Levi (Stacie) Rule and Tracie (Jeff) Hawthorne Flora; 19 great grandchildren; and brother in law, Gary Geist. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Cleo Doran, and sisters, Barbara Rule and Janet Geist.