Jacquetta Stricklin, age 95, of Valley City, ND, died Wednesday, August 24th at SMP Health – St. Raphael in Valley City. A Celebration of Life for Jacquetta will be held in June, 2023. Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home, an online guestbook is available at www.lerudmathias.com.
Jacquetta “Jackie” “Ketta” Joy Stricklin, the daughter of Justus and Ida (Kranz) Personius, was born June 13, 1927 at the hospital in Valley City, ND. Jacquetta grew up out on the family farm in Cuba, ND. She loved everything about farm living especially riding her pony Pedro and playing with her sisters. She was a member of the Barnes County 4-H club where she was crowned ND Queen Corn & Lamb Show in 1945. Jacquetta was a very athletic young lady and enjoyed playing sports, with softball and basketball being her favorites. She graduated from Valley City High School and Valley City State Teachers College. She then moved out east and worked at General Motors, Detroit, Michigan where she met her husband “Bob” Stricklin. Michigan is where she and Bob settled and raised their 5 children. After Bob’s passing in 1973, she became a school bus driver while also running the family furniture stripping business. She remained there until August of 1984, before moving back to Valley City, ND with her daughter Kari Ann to help care for her mother, Ida Personious. While once again living back in Valley City, she worked for Dietrich’s as a school bus driver for 30+ years. She was also the activity bus driver for many sporting events for both VCHS and VCSU. Being the avid sports participant and fan this job brought her much joy. She also found joy in all the pets she had over the years. Her big heart extended to rescuing animals of all types. Visiting with family brought her the most joy. She loved working in her yard and canning her jams and jellies for all. For the past 8 years, her daughter Kari Ann was her caregiver and security blanket. Gracie her dog and 2 cats Cher Cher and Mae Mae were her sweet companions throughout the day! Jacquetta was loved, admired and an inspiration to all
Jacquetta is survived by three daughters, Robin (Dan) Buttrey, Wendy (Tom) Crandall and Kari Ann (fiancé’ Paul Kamrowski) Stricklin, 11 grandchildren, Robert (Ivy) Stricklin, Amber Stricklin, Kyle “Buster”(Trisha) Stricklin, Danielle (Kyle) Meadows, Heather (Phil) Freeman, Ty (Samantha) Buttrey, Baker, Hannah and Sydney Lewis, and Sadie & Sam DeRouin; 9 great grandchildren, Karter and Reagan Stricklin, Cameron, Jaxon and Hunter Meadows, Kenley, Kash Wilson and Farrah Stricklin and Myra and Riggs Freeman; two sisters Eva Waldera and Wanda Anderson; Her nephew Anthony Waldera; three nieces Lori Waldera-Parkin, Mia Waldera and Shauna Ingenito; Daughter in Law Paula (John) Stricklin DeRouin; and son in law Don (Andrea) Lewis and Natalie (Pickar) Stricklin.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles Robert Stricklin, a daughter Terri Lewis, a son Kyle Stricklin, her grandson Erik Buttrey and brothers -in-law Wayne Waldera and Bruce Anderson.
Memorial gifts can be made to the VCSU Capital Campaign by calling the VCSU Foundation office, going online at vcsualumni.org, click on Make a Gift Online and choose Capital Campaign from the designation menu or mailing a check to the VCSU Foundation / 101 College St SW/Valley City ND 58072.