Lois Lucille Kenney

Lois Lucille Kenney, 86, of Sterling passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 7, 2026. A private burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, and a celebration of Lois’ life is planned for a future date.

Lois was born on November 18, 1939, in Sterling, CO to Anna Norden and David Ruf. She was their first and only child. She attended Franklin School for kindergarten and first grade and then attended Trinity Lutheran School through the 8th grade and Sterling High School, graduating in 1957. She received a scholarship to the University of Colorado in Boulder where she attended for one year. The next summer she got a bookkeeping job where she met her future husband “Peanuts”. They were married for 50 years until his death in 2009.

When her children were small, she worked part time in several doctors and church offices. Her volunteer time was spent at Help for Abused Partners, Cooperating Ministries and Holy Cross Episcopal Church where she was a part time organist, lay leader, chalice bearer, vestry member and church treasurer.

In 1979 she began working at NJC in the Community Education office where she retired after 22 years. She and her long-term friend Norma Nab were instrumental in fundraising to purchase new Christmas Banners for the city of Sterling, as well as planning and organizing Sterling’s first Christmas parade. She attended both Peace Lutheran Church and The Berean Church where she established many lifelong friendships. More often than not she could be found socializing with her many friends at The Sterling Elks Club on Friday afternoons. She and her husband “Peanuts” traveled extensively throughout The United States with their good friends Norma and John Nab. They also visited Canada, Mexico and Europe.

She is preceded in death by her husband “Peanuts” and parents Anna and David Ruf.

Lois is survived by her three children, Julie (Michael) Henley, Jim Kenney, and Michael (Denise) Kenney; grandchildren Malissa, Jordan, Krysta, Anna, Joshua, Joel, Harrison and Douglas and two great grandchildren, Selena and Desmond.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Peace Lutheran Church of Sterling or Sterling Elks Lodge in c/o Halouska Family Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, PO Box 1046, Sterling, CO 80751.