White River Junction, Vt. — Madeline M. “Red” Ricker, 86, passed away peacefully and with great strength, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, at the Brookside Health & Rehab. Center in White River Jct., surrounded by her family. People who knew her, would hear her say often, “My Get Up and Go, Has Got Up and Went,” but because of her will to live, we all knew this was not true. She fought her 14 year battle with cancer with the support of her family and very much loved physicians at Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Hanover, N.H. She was famous there for her pre-arranged Tuna Sandwich lunch order at every visit.

She was born Sept. 30, 1930, in Orange, Vt. the daughter of Claude & Nellie (Cook) Clark. She attended school in Post Mills, Vt. and later Thetford Academy in Thetford, Vt.

On March 22, 1947, she married Russell Ricker of West Fairlee, Vt. They lived in the same home for 60 years in Post Mills, Vt. where they raised their family before moving in with their son almost nine years ago in White River Junction.

She had been a deacon at the Post Mills Congregational Church. She enjoyed camping, flowers, dogs, cats, collecting cardinals, reading murder mysteries, playing cards, and cooking; she was especially known for her homemade donuts and JELL-O salad. She loved the holidays in particular and caring for the grandchildren especially as infants.

Despite real life challenges and taking on extreme responsibility at an early age, she took much pride as a hardworking house wife. Additionally, she also was particularly proud of working in the kitchen at Camp Billings seasonally feeding hundreds of kids through the years, in addition to the few years working at Dartmouth Skiway. She spent most of her life as one might describe as a professional caregiver of many.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Russell of White River Jct.; and their four children, Donna Roan of Pike, N.H., Robin and Butch Colby of Bradford, Vt., Kelly and Francis Colton of West Fairlee and Michael and Diane Ricker of White River Jct.; two brothers, Aldo Clark of Vershire and Dwayne Clark of Bloomfield, Conn.; and sister, Muriel (Ted) Wagoner of White River Junction; nine grandchildren, Melissa, Steve, Crystal, Kraigen, Brett, Mitchell, Michaela, Emily, and Kaitlyn; and eight great-grandchildren, Dakota, Joshua, Destiny, Jeremiah, Quinn, Mitchell, Levi and Reese. She was predeceased by two brothers, Edwin Clark and Roland Clark and two sisters, Dorothy Beede and Arlene Goodrich.

Six words that best describe Madeline May (Clark) Ricker include: Integrity, Relentless Strength, All Knowing, Gracious, Secretly longed for travel (if avoiding all bridges) and stubborn as hell!

There will be no public calling hours or funeral services at this time. Burial will be at a later date in the Post Mills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, one medical center drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.

Messages of condolences may be sent to the family at www.boardwaycilley.com. Through the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, Chelsea, Vt. who is assisting the family with arrangements.