Janet Cruickshank Lippold

With the quiet dignity and sheer determination that marked her life, Janet Cruickshank Lippold departed on her final journey on April 6, 2010 at her home in Troy, Texas surrounded by loving family and her loyal family dog - Bella. Born June 13th 1925 to Roderick and Esther (McGregor) Cruickshank on the family's ranch east of Sturgis, she was always proud of the fact that she was the only family member to have been born on the property the family affectionately referred to as "Glencoe". Raised like everyone else in Western South Dakota during the hard times of the depression, Janet thought everyone had to milk cows everyday until they were a senior in high school. No job or assignment ever ruffled her because she always said, "it can't be worse than milking cows twice a day during a South Dakota winter." In Janet's senior year of high school, she had the opportunity to live in Berkeley, California with the recently moved Bodenners of Sturgis. With the boldness she exhibited her whole life, she struck out for California on a bus at the age of seventeen. Of course, it may not have been that hard of a choice - sunny California or milking cows in South Dakota. After the war ended, Janet moved back to Sturgis to begin her lifelong dream of being a nurse. She trained in Denver General and received her RN (registered nurse) degree before heading to Topeka, Kansas to train under the world famous psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger. It was during this time, Janet discovered the two great loves of her life, child psychology and her soul mate and husband of 56 years, Wayne Lee Lippold. Janet and Wayne were married in Sturgis by Rev. Erskine on September 1, 1947 and lived at the family ranch until the harsh winter that year reminded Janet why she went to California in the first place. They lived a short time in Topeka, Kansas before moving to Texas where they would eventually spend the rest of their lives. Janet worked various psychiatric nursing jobs until 1961, when she and Wayne began Meridell Achievement Center in Austin, Texas and later Westwood Boys Ranch in Liberty Hill, Texas - both residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children. If two people ever had a calling, it was Janet and Wayne's hard work and dedication to Meridell and the children who were fortunate to experience their new and innovative approach to dealing with childhood mental illness. To this day, Janet still receives telephone calls and letters from the hundreds of kids who credited Meridell with turning their lives around. During Hurricane Katrina, several former students from New Orleans came and stayed with Janet. Even after all these years, they knew she was always there for them. In 1975, Janet and Wayne sold Meridell to their former employees and supposedly entered the golden years of their retirement. Retirement was anything but. Janet continued to serve on several boards concerning children and their welfare. Janet and Wayne regularly traveled back to Scotland, where Janet researched her Scottish heritage she was so proud of. She enthusiastically supported Wayne's new hobby of raising Tennessee Walking horses and traveled the nation to horse shows. In 1983, they began spending the summers in South Dakota at Janet's beloved Glencoe. For the next twenty-two years, they along with Janet's most special partner and sister Jess Ann, operated the food stands at Glencoe CampResort. In 2003, Janet lost her one and only Wayne and shortly after that retired to Troy, Texas to enjoy her grandchildren, who she cherished taking care of and took great pride in as the devoted mother and grandmother she was. Survivors included three sons, Gary Wayne Lippold and Robin of Sturgis, South Dakota, Gregor Robert Lippold of Newell, South Dakota, Bobby Lee Lippold and Thelma of Portland, Texas and one daughter, Peggy Lynn Luna and Ed of Troy, Texas, five grandchildren, Janell Lippold, William Lippold, Jamie Luna, Tana Luna, and Jalee Luna, one sister, Jess Ann Collier and a number of sister-in-laws, nephews and nieces. The family wished to give special thanks to dear family members, Jess Ann Collier, Patty Cruickshank and Edward and Patsy Luna. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, parents Rod and Esther Cruickshank, a foster son, John Bailey, one sister Joan Carlson and one brother Gregor Cruickshank. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday April 9, 2010 at the Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple with Artie Hilliard and Rev. Kissa Vaughn officiating. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Janet's final return to her most special place, the Black Hills of South Dakota, will be complete with her burial on April 12, 2010 when she joins her husband Wayne at Black Hills National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Scott and White Hospice, 2401 S. 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508 or the Wayne and Janet Lippold Hospice Suite, Sturgis Regional Hospital, 949 Harmon Street, Sturgis, South Dakota 57785