Jane Atkins

Jane Frances (Bruggman-Wenino) Atkins, 86, after a lengthy illness, passed away peacefully in her home, in the care of family and hospice, while holding her husband Ray's hand, the morning of January 1, 2017. Jane was a first generation American, born March 11, 1930, the 3rd of 13 children, to the Swiss and German immigrants, Oscar and Elizabeth (Helt) Bruggman. She grew up on the family farm, 5 miles NW of Fort Yates, North Dakota and attended grade school there, both at the Catholic Mission School and the Government Indian School on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. She attended Mount Marty Catholic Boarding School in Yankton, South Dakota during her high school years, graduating in 1948. In 1950 she graduated from St. Alexius nursing school, in Bismarck, North Dakota as an RN. While working at the State Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota she met and married Donald Wenino and their first child, a son, Dino was born there in 1955. The following year the family moved to Casper, Wyoming where their daughter, Gina was born in 1956. They later divorced. Jane worked as an emergency room nurse and in the maternity ward at Natrona County Memorial Hospital, now known as Wyoming Medical Center. In 1960, she went to work for the pediatrician, Dr. Robert Fowler and was his office nurse at the Casper Clinic until his retirement in 1978 at which time she retired from nursing. In 1971, Jane married Ray Atkins and gained two step-children, Rick and Cathy. She and Ray enjoyed 45 ½ years of marriage at their home in Casper, as well as time spent at their cabin outside of Dubois where they also owned a small cattle operation, the JAR Ranch, and from where they made annual hunting trips. They also had a winter home in Arizona from where they made fishing trips into Mexico for many years. They were also active in the Elks Club and the Shrine Club. Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Elizabeth, sisters; Betty (Mike) Holzer, Terry (Oscar) Rieger, Ann (LeRoy) Dietman, and Patricia Bruggman; brothers; O.J. (Patty) Bruggman and Francis Bruggman, brothers in law; Mike (Betty) Holzer and Keith (Louise) Bartlett, brother and sister in law, Rich and Jean Atkins, nieces; Amy and Brenda Bartlett, nephews; Jerry Rieger, Richie and Cam Atkins, and her step-son Rick (Linda)Atkins. Jane is survived by her husband, Ray Atkins; son, Dino Wenino of Casper; daughter, Gina (Terry) Overacker of MN; step-daughter Cathy (Bill) Schneider of Casper, step-daughter in law, Linda (Charlie) Peak of Casper, her sisters; Jo Bomberger of NE, Louise Bartlett of MN, Clare Zimmerman of MN, Lori (Jim) Rausch of GA and Rita Bruggman of MN; brother, John (Patricia) Bruggman of KY; sister in law, Patty Bruggman of AZ, brother in law, Leroy Dietman of MN, brother and sister in law, Bob and Billy Atkins of Casper; 9 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Over the past 8 months, Jane has been cared for by many wonderful people; doctors, nurses and all the various staff at Wyoming Medical Center, Life Care Center of Casper and Central Wyoming Hospice, who the family sincerely wish to thank - far too many to mention and thank them all by name, but would like to mention Dr. Bowe, Dr. Skaf, Dr. Roy and his PA Brenda and especially her primary care physician of many years, Dr. Marjorie Wells. Services will be held Friday, January 6, 2017 at the Shrine Club of Casper, 1501 W 39th St., at 3pm. Memorials can be made to the Shrine Club, Central Wyoming Hospice or the charity of your choice.

Service

Friday, January 6, 2017 3:00pm

Shrine Club

1501 West 39th Street

Casper, WY 82604