Clarice Joan Neil

Clarice Joan (Swanson) Ruch Neil was born March 3,1936 at St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco, California. She died peacefully at her home in the Horton Plaza community in Medford, Oregon on July 30, 2026.

Her parents were Clarence John (d. 1983) and Laura Novella (Keen) Swanson (d. 1997), and her only sibling is her sister Doris Marie (Swanson) Clark.

Clarice came home to a rented flat on Guerrero St., moved to a rented house on Jules Ave., and finally moved to the home her parents purchased on 169 Whipple Ave. in San Francisco’s Outer Mission District in 1938.

Clarice attended Corpus Christi Catholic School from grades 1-8. She went to Immaculate Conception Academy High School, graduating in 1953. Clarice took a brief dental assistant course. She was a very attractive young woman so her picture as a dental assistant appeared on the school advertisements on the San Francisco transit buses.

She took violin lessons starting at an early age (5 or 6 years old), and she was very talented. Her sister Doris was her accompanist. For her 5th year solo recital she played the Bach/ Gounod “Ave Maria” so well some people were in tears. She also played piano, and passed her musical interest on to her sons.

Clarice married Jack Ruch in August 1955, and they welcomed three sons: Kirk (b. 1956), Keith (b. 1958) and Ken (b. 1960). The family moved to Medford, Oregon in 1961, eventually settling in the house at 311 King Street. Clarice and Jack were divorced in 1971.

She married Harry Richard Neil in 1973, and they remained together until his death in August 2018. Along with her three sons Clarice added Harry’s two daughters to her family: Carol (b. 1953) and Roberta (b. 1956). Clarice and Harry enjoyed golf, and boating in the Puget Sound.

In the early 1980’s Clarice and Harry moved from King Street in Medford to Bear Lake Mobile Estates in Phoenix, Oregon, where they were active in friendship with many people for many years.

After Harry’s death in 2018 Clarice continued living at Bear Lake until the devastating Almeda fire of September 2020, where she and many others experienced a complete loss. Clarice relocated first to Pioneer Village in Jacksonville, OR and later to Horton Plaza in Medford, OR where she experienced excellent care and warm community.

Clarice took great pride in her family. She is survived by her sister Doris Clark, of Eagan, MN; her 3 sons Kirk Ruch (m. Lori) in BC Canada, Keith Ruch (m. Petal) of Port Angeles, WA and Ken (m. Sandy) Ruch in Gray’s River, WA; her stepdaughters Carol (Neil) Hood (m. Lyle) of Phoenix, OR and Roberta (Neil) Bustamante (m. Terry) of Everett, WA; 19 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, a nephew, and their families.

Though much of her family was scattered throughout the continent, Clarice kept in touch with them via video calling and photo-messaging media. This was especially valuable, as she could be known to her grand- and great-grandchildren. We were all very grateful that her love for us could be remembered and nurtured, and that our families could brighten her days between occasional live visits.

Clarice was member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Medford, and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She participated in the church’s Bible studies, sang in their choir, and maintained an active personal faith.

Over the years she and Harry were pet-parents to Suzy, Sunshine, Annie & Rosie, and Gracie – puppies that shared their days together and provided companionship to Clarice after Harry’s passing. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Southern Oregon Humane Society would honour Clarice and her love for animals.

Clarice will be greatly missed by everyone – by her family, and by the very many friends she loved and blessed over her long and fruitful life. She loved us, prayed for us, and was truly a gift from God to all of us.