Ross Frederick Rudeen, 85, passed away on October 26, 2023 at Pullman Regional Hospital. Ross was born on May 8, 1938, to Axel Waldo and Dorothy Rudeen in Spokane, Washington. He was the fourth of five children. He graduated from West Valley High School, where he was a three-year starter on the varsity football team. Ross attended North Park College in Chicago but moved back to Spokane, where he met Joyce Elaine Peterson at First Covenant Church. Joyce enrolled in the dental hygiene program at Idaho State University, and Ross followed her to Idaho State with a plan to major in social studies to become a history teacher. They married in 1963, and after Joyce graduated from Idaho State, they returned to Spokane. Ross completed his bachelor’s degree at Eastern Washington University in 1966.
Ross accepted his first teaching position in southern California a month after their first child Jeffrey was born in 1966. After one year in southern California, Ross accepted a teaching position in Turlock, California, where his parents managed a retirement community. Two more children, a daughter Jill in 1968 and a son Steven in 1971 were born in Turlock. Ross and Joyce were members of Turlock Covenant Church. Ross taught history and government classes to junior high students for 33 years in Turlock. He was very involved in the community, including being active in his church, Toastmasters, and serving as the President of the Quarterback Club. As a teacher, Ross had the summers off, which made time for his favorite hobby of water skiing. Ross owned several competition ski boats, which he would tow to the family cabin at Deer Lake in Washington each summer.
After his daughter Jill and son-in-law Matt became professors at Washington State University, Ross and Joyce decided to retire in Liberty Lake, Washington in 2000, which was after Joyce was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Ross and Joyce became active in Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley and were leaders in Redeemer’s Stephen’s ministry. Ross was also active in Liberty Lake Kiwanis. Joyce loved to decorate houses, and Ross loved to make Joyce happy. So, they built a waterfront house on Liberty Lake but then moved six more times. Joyce loved decorating the house with each move. The last move was to a retirement community Courtland Place, where they met many friends. As her Parkinson’s disease progressed, Ross took wonderful care of Joyce until her death in 2021. He loved Joyce so much, and often said how blessed he was to have her as his wife.
Five months ago, Ross moved to Pullman, Washington, to be near his daughter Jill and her family. During his time in Pullman, Ross attended Concordia Lutheran Church. He always loved going to WSU Cougar football games and Coach’s nights, where he met Mike Leach and Jake Dickert. Ross’ family is thankful to Pastor Matt Gulseth, Ron and Linda Mittelhammer, and so many others who befriended and helped him in Pullman.
Ross was preceded in death by his wife Joyce, his son Steven, his granddaughter Lauren McCluskey, and his brother Bruce. He is survived by his son Jeffrey, daughter Jill, son-in-law Matt McCluskey, grandson Ryan McCluskey, brother Kent Rudeen and his wife Marjorie, sisters Susan Macpherson and Marlys Rudeen, sister-in-law Kathy Lieski and her husband Paul, and many nieces and nephews, including nephew-in-law Dave Swoboda with whom he was especially close. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley, Concordia Lutheran Church in Pullman, or the Lauren McCluskey Foundation (laurenmccluskey.org).
A celebration of Ross’ life will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley on November 18 at 11 am. Arrangements have been entrusted to Corbeill Funeral Home, Pullman, WA. Online condolences may be sent to www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com
