Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Janice Ridge
New Rockford, N.D.
Janice Ridge, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford, N.D.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 at St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford, N.D. Burial was at the St. John's Catholic Cemetery, New Rockford. Fr. Reese Weber officiated the service with special music by Heather Klocke. Pallbearers were Timothy Scott, Daniel Sewell, Angel Mila, Joshua Wesaw, Julian Palmer-Smith, Vicente Williams, Tayshawn Kauk and Cortez Campbell. Honorary bearers were everyone who loved Janice.
Janice Ann Porter was born Aug. 8, 1936, along with her twin sister, Joan Marie in Louisville, Ky., to Mary (Mattingly) and John Porter, the fourth born of ten children. She grew up in Louisville, Ky., where at sixteen she met Jimmy Ridge. Jimmy asked her mother if he could marry her, so they went across the river and eloped. When they told her mother they got married, she said, "I didn't mean now." Of this union, they had four children, Jim Jr., Brenda, Ellen "Mickey" and Joe. Janice was a devoted Catholic, who passed a lot of traditional treasure to her children (thank you, mommy). Janice and her family moved to Oakland, Calif. in 1960, where she raised her family. After the children were grown, Janice and her husband moved to Roseville, Calif. in 1979, where he retired. In 1995, they moved to New Rockford, N.D., so Janice could be near her twin sister, Joan.
Janice is survived by her husband; daughters Brenda Ridge-Valdivia (Jerry Valdivia), Ellen "Mickey" Ridge (Ricky Simmons) all of New Rockford; nine grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; brothers Stephen Porter, Longview, Wash. and Terry Porter, Hollywood, Fla.; sisters Geneva Goehl, Morriston, Fla. and Theresa Fikaris, Ocala, Fla., along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sons James Ridge Jr. and Joseph Ridge; one great-grandson; brothers Richard, Charles, James, John and Edward Porter; sisters Mary Jecker, Joan Brocker and Carolyn Baressi.
Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of New Rockford, N.D.
