Charla Jean Ruland Riggs

Charla Jean Ruland Riggs, 84, passed away on September 3, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Charla was born September 25, 1941 in Rifle, CO and grew up in Crested Butte, CO on her family’s cattle ranch. She graduated from Olathe High School in 1959 and then went on to study at Western State and graduated from CU Boulder in 1965 where she obtained her degree in Physical Therapy. Charla loved serving people as a physical therapist. Throughout her career she had the opportunity to work in various settings and she continued to exercise her profession well into her 70’s. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She is survived by her three children Allison Troxel, Leah Ortiz, Charles Bennanzar and their families. She was preceded by her parents, Charles Markle Ruland and Imogene Faith Mathews and her brother, Duane Markle Ruland. She was also preceded by her husband, Kenneth Muir Riggs.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Johnstown United Methodist Church, 108 King Ave, Johnstown, CO 80534 . On October 3, 2026 at 3:00 pm. Her final resting place is in Crested Butte in the Crested Butte Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, she asked for people to donate in her memory to UMC Johnstown, NoCo Animal Shelter, or the Weld Food Bank. If you do not reside in this area, she asked for people to donate in her memory to your own communities’ animal shelters or food banks.