Rudyard, UK, mourns loss of ex-Rudyard, Montana, woman

Flags in the United Kingdom’s community of Rudyard are flying at half-staff this week to honor a friend from a community of the same name across the sea.

Jan Delaney, who had lived in Rudyard, Montana, for 30 years and died Oct. 16, developed a bond between her community and Rudyard, UK, in an unusual manner.

She had visited England 13 times for varying lengths of time over the last 20 years, becoming very good friends with people of the community on the shores of Rudyard Lake.

She became a well-known and loved person in the community, said Ray Perry, chair of the Rudyard Lake Trust, the group that promotes the lake and its history.

About 20 years ago, they were planning the 200th anniversary of the community of Rudyard, UK, when a guest talked to Perry about a small town in the United States that was named for Rudyard Kipling.

Excited to find out more about the American community, he looked at an atlas and found “right up near the border with Canada was a dot named Rudyard!”

He said Rudyard, Montana, was named for Rudyard Kipling, who was named after Rudyard Lake, where the famous author’s parents had met.

Jan had moved to the Hi-Line when she was 30 and lived in Rudyard for 30 years, falling in love with the area. She taught school at Inverness, Gildford and Rudyard Colony schools. She lived in Rudyard but was involved in activities throughout the Hi-Line.

Perry was anxious to get in touch with someone in Rudyard USA, but didn't know where to start. He asked the international telephone operator if he could have the phone number of anyone — anyone at all — from Rudyard. The operators said she needed a name.

He found out there was a Chamber of Commerce In Havre. The Chamber gave him the name of a furniture store in Rudyard, which gave him the name of Jan Delaney.

The two struck up a conversation, and the next thing you knew, Jan was in Rudyard, UK, representing her adopted hometown in Montana.

She charmed the community, Perry said. She often stayed in town weeks at a time. She loved sitting in a chair on the deck, looking over the lake at sunset, Perry said.

At age 60, Jan moved from Rudyard to take a job as a teacher in the Bering Strait section of Alaska. But she kept traveling to Rudyard, representing Rudyard, Montana.

He said the community is in mourning.

He said she charmed the people of the community who long awaited her visits to the area.

“The term once met, never forgotten would certainly sum her up,” Perry said.