Janice Ruth Hardy, 75, died October 18, 2015 at Hospice of the Hills, Rapid City, SD.

The youngest of four children, she was born on October 12, 1940, in Sturgis, SD, to Walter and Hazel Hardy. After graduating from Sturgis HS in 1958, Janice attended the University of Denver on a full tuition scholarship to study education, communications, and speech pathology. She completed her BA and MA degrees which prepared her for a fulfilling career in speech and hearing. Janice's expertise allowed her to work in many areas of her field, and for many entities, including: Arapahoe Co. Easter Seals; Sheridan Schools and Easter Seals; Tri Co. Health with Youth Services, Migrant Council, and summer immigration camps; Sewall Rehab Center; and Cherry Creek Schools, all in Colorado. She also worked in SD for the Sioux Falls School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Sioux Falls Public Schools. For several years, Janice digressed from her field, worked in real estate and also taught classes at Metro State College of Denver. She concluded her professional career with the PERA in Colorado.

In 1988, Janice took an early retirement and began a life of travel worldwide. A lifelong learner, she treasured her experiences in other countries and made many friends along the way. She eventually embraced a life of living in Mexico six months of the year and taught English as a second language to the villagers, for nearly 22 years. She moved to Rapid City in 2011 for health reasons, but still connected with her family and friends in New Mexico, Colorado, and her beloved Mexico. Throughout her life, Janice loved reading, painting, opera, cooking, traveling, learning the Spanish language, and especially playing scrabble.

Janice is survived by her brother, Carroll (Jan) of Longmont, CO; son, Bruce (Bobette) Punches of Fredericktown, Missouri; 5 grandchildren; 4 nieces; Sharon (Jeff) Schramm, Gwen (Dennis) Varland, Jill (Bill) Bissell, Lisa (Hardy) Wynn; 1 nephew; Jay Hardy and her special caregiver, Maxine Sieler, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 brothers, LaVern and Dale; a sister-in-law, Georgene; and one nephew, Brian.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Sturgis, SD, at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2015. Interment will be private.

A memorial has been established in Janice's name to Hospice of the Hills, Rapid City.

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