Mary Louise Ruzicka

Mary L. Ruzicka, 74, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away on September 4, 2025. She was born on December 4, 1950, in Cheyenne to Ben and Jennie Padilla. 

Mary spent much of her life in Walla Walla, Washington, where she worked as a telephone operator in the 1970s and 1980s. She married Ed Ruzicka in 1976, and together they built a life centered around family, farming, and community. Mary and Ed operated a wheat and onion farm with many animals, and in 1990, they moved back to Cheyenne after purchasing a trucking company. After Ed’s passing in 2005, Mary continued her hard-working spirit by driving a school bus, where she touched the lives of countless children.

Mary had a zest for life and a deep love for her family. She treasured time with her son, Jeff, and adored her grandson, Odin. She shared many adventures with Ed, including traveling to Mexico throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In later years, she enjoyed camping, fishing, and attending Sturgis with her longtime companion, Jim Wenzinger. At home, she found joy in her flowers, watching old Westerns, and the companionship of her beloved pets, Jackson the cat and Sadie the dog.

She is survived by her son, Jeff Ruzicka of Cheyenne; grandson, Odin Barnes; brothers, Tony and Richard Padilla; sister, Bitto Gardner; her partner, Jim Wenzinger; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; and her sisters, Sally and Delores. 

A Rosary will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes in Cheyenne. Funeral services will follow on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Cheyenne. 

Mary will be remembered for her warmth, resilience, and devotion to her loved ones. Her legacy lives on in her family, her friends, and the many lives she touched throughout her years.