Mary Jane Lackens

Mary Jane Lackens, 100, of Rio Rancho, passed away in peace on July 20th, 2021. 

Born in Franklin, Ohio, in 1921, she is preceded in death by her husband Edwin “Ned” Lackens, and son, Roger Lackens.  She is survived by her daughter, Vicki (Jim) Gallegos, daughter-in-law, Kathy Lackens, grandchildren Renee (Steve) Henderson, Melissa (Bryan) Kenny, and Shaun (Pooja) Gallegos, great-grandchildren Jonathon Henderson, Kevin Henderson, Christopher Henderson, Mikal Kenny, Gabrielle Kenny and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mary Jane or Jane, as she was known to many, worked in a department store in Dayton, Ohio, then later married her high-school sweetheart, Ned, upon his return from World War II.  For the next several decades, she lived around the world while starting a family and supporting Ned’s military career in the U.S. Air Force. Jane and Ned moved to Rio Rancho upon Ned’s retirement, where she was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho.  Her strong faith led her to teach Sunday school, a highlight of her later years, as she loved children.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Rio Rancho, 3906 19th Ave. SE. on Thursday, September 2nd at 10:00AM, with a reception to follow the service. Internment will be at The Santa Fe Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2:15 pm.   The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation in Jane’s name be made to Presbyterian Hospice House at www.phs.org/give.