Shirley "Maxine" Rucker

Shirley "Maxine" Rucker

April 17, 1935 - April 12, 2022

Shirley "Maxine" Rucker passed away after a brief illness on April 12, 2022. Maxine was born in Fort Benton MT on April 17th, 1935, to Scotty and Hilda "Kelly" McKeever. She was raised on a farm outside of Fort Benton, MT. Maxine was the oldest of two children. She and her younger brother, Gene McKeever, spent their childhood and teenage years together growing up on the "Ranch."

Maxine attended school in Fort Benton MT. During high school she met her future husband, Beryl Rucker.

After graduating from Fort Benton High School in 1952, Maxine and Beryl were married in Fort Benton on August 24th, 1952, at the Methodist Church. Maxine and Beryl then moved to Spokane. Beryl was in his second year at Gonzaga on a basketball scholarship and Maxine attended Kinman Business College. After that year Maxine and Beryl moved to Missoula, where Beryl attended, and then graduated from, the U of M. While in Missoula, their first son Randy was born. After this, Maxine and Beryl lived in Georgia and Louisiana and then back in Fort Benton while Beryl was fulfilling his military commitment.

Maxine, Beryl and Randy moved back to Missoula. It was around this time, that Beryl started his career in the "World of Retail." During this time in Missoula, their son Wylie was born. In late 1959, Maxine and Beryl loaded up the family and moved to Helena. In November of 1961, Maxine and Beryl bought Charlton Appliance and TV on the 400 Block of N. Last Chance Gulch and became their own bosses. Beryl took care of the inventory, sales, and delivery and Maxine did the books and kept track of their sons.

In 1964, they took a huge leap and moved the business to 1010 Dearborn in Helena. At this point, they added furniture and carpet and became a full-service home furnishings store. Through the years, they eliminated some departments and eventually became known as Ruckers Furniture. In 1995, they sold Ruckers Furniture to their son Wylie.

One of Maxine's greatest joys was watching her sons and grandchildren participate in sports. In her lifetime, she traveled countless miles to watch any and all of them compete. Maxine also enjoyed playing bridge and going to her PEO luncheons.

During retirement, they spent time in Hawaii, Sun City West AZ, at the cabin on Canyon Ferry Lake and enjoyed living on the fairway of "Jaws" on Bill Roberts Golf Course for almost 40 years.

At a very young age, Maxine was taught the values of hard work. Growing up on her parents' dryland wheat farm meant there was always work to be done. For many years, along with raising two active sons, Maxine did all the book work for Ruckers Furniture. Accounts always balanced to the penny and if they didn't, countless hours could be spent getting them to balance.

Through the years many people worked for Beryl and Maxine. Many of them worked part time while they were attending Carroll College and the Vo-Tech. Among them you will now find lawyers, doctors, accountants, business owners and entrepreneurs who have all done very well in life.

Maxine is survived by her husband of 69 years, Beryl of Helena, her son Randy (Sharie) of Bozeman, son Wylie (Kathy) of Helena, and grandchildren Lauren (Tad), Genna (Cody), Gabe (Chez), Scotty (Chelsey) and Calvin (Kacee). Great Grandchildren include Tanner, Gavin, Logan, Hudson, Elle, Hayes, Benton, Ackley, Jasmine, Owen, Kelly and soon Roland.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Scotty and Kelly McKeever and her brother, Gene McKeever.

And a special Thanks to the staff at Touchmark and the and the nurses and caring staff at St. Peters Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Helena Food Share in Maxine's name.

Funeral Services are pending until further notice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or to share a memory of Maxine.