Joan Arlene Croston

Joan Arlene Ruud Croston was born on November 19, 1937, to Syver and Emelia Ruud at Jones Hospital in Hillsboro, Oregon. She grew up in rural Hillsboro and attended local schools, Witch Hazel Elementary and Hillsboro High School. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, Washington and graduated in 1960 with a degree in English. Later she earned a teaching certificate at Portland State College to teach high school English.

Some of her favorite childhood memories include picking strawberries, cherries, beans, walnuts and filberts as a summer job she held from 4th grade to her first year of college. She was also a lifeguard at the Hillsboro Swimming Pool when she came home from school in the summer. 

Joan met Lee Croston in 1969, and they married on November 28, 1969 in San Jose, California. Kelly Lynn was their first child, born on April 24, 1972. Then a second daughter, Jennifer Leigh, was born on June 14, 1973. They lived in Napa, California until 1984, then moved across the country to Republic, Missouri where they purchased a 100 year-oldfarmhouse on 15 acres. 

Her love of books led her to volunteer in the library at Hope Lutheran Church. Then she became an author herself, writing two novels: C for Victory and Of Immeasurable Worth. Her love of books never ceased as her book collection grew to the hundreds. When she wasn’t gathering research for her numerous family history binders, she was reading World War II fiction. Joan and Lee had an extensive garden for a few years, growing corn, kohlrabi, lettuce, artichokes, apples, cherries, etc. She loved waking up early before the day got too hot, to weed the garden and talk to God. She loved Jesus with all her heart and treasured old hymns, tearing up whenever she heard them. 

Anyone who met Joan, instantly loved her. And we aren’t exaggerating! People were drawn to her kind smile, her gentle nature, sparkling blue eyes and loving spirit. Kelly and Jenna’s friends loved her, as well as friends of her precious grandchildren.

Her oldest daughter Kelly had the blessing of having Joan live with her family for 4 years. Kelly treasured their daily routines of watching crime shows in the evening while snacking on Fritos or Skinny Pop, sipping unsweet iced tea by the pool, shopping at antique stores with the grandchildren and many more precious memories. 

Joan loved her trips to Colorado to visit Jenna and her family in Evergreen. She enjoyed sitting on their roof deck, watching the elk walk-through Jenna‘s yard and enjoying all of the flowers they planted. She loved sipping coffee at The Muddy Buck while playing board games and browsing the shops downtown . Even with all the sightseeing, doing puzzles with Jenna on her coffee table was Joan’s fondest pastime.

Joan is survived by her younger brother Kenneth Syver Ruud, and her nieces and nephews in Washington; Kelly Kalthoff (Darren) of Grain Valley, Missouri; Jennifer Harris (Erich) of Evergreen, Colorado; step-daughter Carla Stapp and family of California; grandchildren Ethan Syver, Seth Andrew, Aidan James and Ava Leigh Kalthoff; Sydney Gale and Madison Joan Harris.