Rifle Resident Billie Anne Jansky Passes at 87 After Navy Service

Glenwood Springs —Billie Anne Jansky, 87, died peacefully at home on August 8, 2026. She was surrounded by her family in the final moments of a life that spanned nearly eight decades, from Fort Collins to the high country campsites of Colorado. The Post Independent reported on her passing this week, detailing a life that moved from the disciplined ranks of the U.S. Navy to the flour-dusted counters of a small bakery in Rifle.

Jansky was born on April 23, 1939, to William Allen Gray and Phyllis Opal Spiher. Her early career was defined by service and adaptability. She served in the Navy as a core wave, a role that instilled a sense of duty she carried into her civilian life. After her military service, Jansky worked in the banking sector and at an independent insurance agency. But it was her entrepreneurial spirit that likely left the most tangible mark on local communities. She ran a small bakery shop and managed a Dairy King, roles that required long hours and a knack for customer service. She also worked as a waitress, retail clerk, and lumber mill worker.

In 1981, Jansky married Stephen in Kremmling, Colorado. The couple shared nearly 45 years of marriage, a period the family described as full of love and camping adventures in the high country. Their bond was built on a shared zest for life, a trait that extended to Jansky’s deep involvement in the Rifle community.

For decades, Jansky was a fixture at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rifle. Her contributions went beyond attendance; she served on the building committee, organized the Christmas bazaar, helped with Seder meals, maintained church linens, sang in the choir, and prepared funeral dinners. Her love for baking, sewing, and caring for children was well known among her neighbors. She was predeceased by her first husband, Ronald Fay, her sister Susan Sandidge, son-in-law John Haefeli, and her parents.

She leaves behind a large family that will continue to live in the shadow of her influence. Her surviving children include Siobhan (Jeff), Delia (John), Carrie (Chris), and Ron (Katherine). She is also survived by several grandchildren, including Eric Gonzales, Lauren Milholm, Hayden Fay, and Jessica Brandt (Lee), as well as great-grandchildren.

The practical impact of her passing is already being felt in the local care system. The family has extended their gratitude to Hospice of the Valley for the compassionate care provided during Jansky’s final months. In lieu of flowers, they are requesting donations to the Alzheimer’s Research Association in her memory.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for September 28 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rifle, followed by a reception in the church hall. For those who knew Jansky through her work at St. Mary’s or her time in the community, this will be a final opportunity to pay respects. The loss of a long-standing member of the Rifle church and business community is significant, but the legacy she leaves is measured in the families served by her care and the institutions she helped sustain.