Lana Richards

Lana Dean Ackerly Richards passed away peacefully on February 12, 2025. She was the beloved wife of Gary Richards for nearly 41 years, and the mother of Tana (Ackerly) Gildea (Tom), Raquel (Ackerly) Characklis (Greg), Brooke (Richards) Haag (Richard), and Jennifer (Ackerly) Woods (Scott). She was previously married to Roscoe H. Ackerly III prior to his death in 1977.

She was grandmother to Meaghan, Ryan, Kory, and Jack Gildea; Katie, Kayla, and Will Characklis; Dean and Morgan Woods; and Allie (Richards) Schulz. She was the great-grandmother of Wylie Schulz. Her grandchildren each had such a special relationship with her and wish they could have had more time with her. They will treasure the thousands of card games, puzzles, tea parties, line dancing, and books read snuggled together.

Lana was born to Dean and Elsie Jacobs on September 25, 1941 in Pueblo, Colorado. She was the big sister to Cheryl (Jacobs) Pryor and Bob Jacobs. Lana was a dancer in high school with her best friend Paula and loved to dance throughout her life.

She was a stay-at-home mom and school volunteer. She loved playing tennis and had so many great tennis friends over the years. As her kids got into school, she returned to her love of dancing as a Rhythmic Aerobics instructor at the Billings Athletic Club. She was an amazing role-model for her daughters as a single mother for years prior to marrying Gary.

Her great joy was cooking amazing, delicious meals for her friends and family. She was up every morning, in sickness and in health, to cook breakfast for Gary. She was generous with her time, her cookies, and her smiles. She loved reading, cross-stitching, and spending time at her family cabin in the Crazy Mountains with her best friends Rosie and George Targee.

Known as “Yellow Jacket” to the CB friends at the cabin, she had many (mis)adventures on the snowmobiles. The cabin was her favorite place to be, and she loved sitting on the porch, with her coffee in the morning as the sun rose. Everyone else’s favorite place to be was at her kitchen table whether she was cooking pies in the wood stove or making platters of Mexican food and her famous green chili. She loved evenings on the screened porch with a little Baileys or a splash of Yukon Jack.

She always looked like a million bucks even as her health declined and was a fashionista on the tennis court, the country club, or the snowmobile. She never complained about anything despite all the health challenges she had in the last decade of her life. Even after weeks in the hospital, she was the patient who always tried to make the nurses laugh when they came in. She had a quiet strength that was amazing to see, and she used her humor to mask her discomfort.

She was tireless in the kitchen, cutting wood at the cabin, and playing endless games with her grandkids. She had a way of being open and welcoming to everyone, and she touched the lives of so many people in her 83 years. She was elegant and eloquent all while being an amazing athlete and tough as nails.

No matter how far away in miles, she was always there for the people she loved. And now, no matter how far away her spirit has soared, she is right here with us in our hearts and the many wonderful stories of a life well-lived.

The family would like to thank the wonderful doctors and nurses at the Billings Clinic Hospital for their compassionate care over the years and most recently Dr. John Pender.

The family will gather together with friends on June 29 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center to share memories of this amazing lady.

 In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or donate to St. Jude's Children's Hospital