APRIL 2006
Bill Eaton - April 3, 2006
Dorothy Kohnke - April 4, 2006
L. Ralph Henderson - April 6, 2006
Raymond Lewis Hall - April 11, 2006
Tipton Cox - April 13, 2006
Doris Jolovich - April 13, 2006
Lee Jones Wardell - April 13, 2006
Katherine (Katie) W. Korell - April 14, 2006
Eric Manning Buchan - April 16, 2006
Rick Hernandez - April 16, 2006
Saralie Joyce Asay - April 17, 2006
Robert Edmund Wilmott - April 19, 2006
Beverly Anne Rich - April 20, 2006
Helen Ruzick - April 22, 2006
Marvin Ewalt - April 26, 2006
Ethel L. Moody - April 28, 2006
Everett E. Christiansen - April 29, 2006
Joshua Nathaniel Cornell - April 30, 2006
William Joseph (Bill) Eaton died Monday, April 3 at Powell Valley Care Center at the age of 92.
He was born in Dodson, Mont., on Oct. 12, 1913, to Sestline (Marcott) of Canada and William Eaton of Detroit, Mich. He moved to Powell with his mother, brother Henry and step-father, Pat Flynn, when he was 14. Pat Flynn started the Silver Tip Coal Mine in Elk Basin with help from Bill and Henry.
Bill met his future wife, Mae I. (Herboldsheimer) of Powell, at a dance in 1932, and they were married March 28, 1933 in Billings, Mont. To this union were born seven children. Bill and Mae celebrated their 72nd anniversary last year at Powell Valley Care Center.
Bill worked in the mines, helped build the Willwood Canal, the Heart Mountain Canal and the Cody tunnels. He built some houses in Powell and had a cement, stucco and plaster business. He and his wife loved to dance, socialize and hunt and fish. Together they raised a large garden and sold minnows and other bait. Bill played Santa Claus for about 35 years around Powell and was an avid collector.
Survivors include five children still living in Powell: Virginia Cheney, William Leroy Eaton, Patricia Cothren, Rose M. (Delbert) Cannon and Dan D. Eaton; 14 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mae; his brother, Henry Flynn; two sons, William Ellis and Thomas Allen; his granddaughter, Deborah deHaan; and two great-grandsons, Olen T. Braa and Casey (Rowdy) James Cannon.
Cremation has taken place with Ballard Funeral Home of Cody handling the arrangements. The Rev. Susan Adam Trembath will officiate at a memorial service at the Methodist Church in Powell on Friday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m. with burial of remains at Crown Hill Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Methodist Church.
Bill was loved by his family and friends and will be missed greatly for his friendship and his many adventure stories.
Dorothy Kohnke - April 4, 2006
A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, April 8 at 2 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church in Powell for Dorothy Mae Kerndt Kohnke, 92, who died Tuesday, April 4 at St. John’s Lutheran Home in
Billings, Mont. after a short illness.
She was surrounded at death by her family and the caring staffs of St. John’s Chapel Court and Big Sky
Hospice.
Dorothy was born to Julius and Olga (Erickson) Kerndt on Dec.17, 1913, in
Churches Ferry, ND. She graduated from Valley City Teachers College in 1935. She met her future
husband, Louis A. Kohnke, on the train to Powell, Wyo., where they both began
their teaching careers. They were married in 1939.
Dorothy taught in Powell starting with high school English, drama and P.E.
and ended her career as a remedial reading teacher. She retired in 1974 after
teaching for 26 years. Dorothy spent many hours doing genealogy for the
family. She always loved spending time at the family cabin in the Bearthooths along
the Clarks Fork River. She especially loved looking for arrowheads and
finding projects to keep Louie busy.
She would play a game of bridge, Scrabble or Spite and Malice with all
comers. She was a fierce competitor, even against her grandchildren. Her
penny-a-point games with her family were special to her and all of the family. She was
a life-long member of Eastern Star, where she held many offices.
As her eyesight failed she was still able to play games and listened to
hundreds of books on tape.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis A. Kohnke; brothers, Oscar and Floyd Kerndt;
and sister, Edna Kerndt Stucky.
Survivors include daughter, Julia Kinsey (Don) of Big Timber, Mont.; sons, Keith
Kohnke (Donna) of Billings and Gary Kohnke (Nancy) of Las Vegas, Nev.; five
grandchildren; two great-granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews.
Per Dorothy’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
For those who wish, memorial donations can be made to St. John’s Lutheran
Home, 3940 Rimrock Road, Billings, MT 59105; Big Sky Hospice, Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107 or Powell Education Foundation, 160 N Evarts, Powell, WY 82435.
L. Ralph Henderson - April 6, 2006
Memorial services are scheduled Wednesday, April 12 at 10 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in Powell for Ralph Henderson, 59, who died Thursday, April 6 at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Mont.
He was born June 2, 1946, in Glendale, Calif., to Loren Ralph Henderson and Margaret E. (Howland) Henderson. He moved with his family to a homestead on the Heart Mountain Division of the Shoshone Reclamation Project west of Powell when he was 2 years old. He attended Powell schools, graduating from Powell High School and Northwest Community College.
On June 17, 1978, he married Margo M. Eckerman at Clark.
For a number of years he worked as a meat cutter at Food Basket IGA in Powell. It was always his dream to start his own meat shop, and in 2004 it came true when he established his business, Rocky Mountain Country Sausage.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling and many other things he could do with his children.
He was a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Survivors include his wife Margo of the family home; son and daughter-in-law, Tye and Tammi Henderson of Powell; daughter and son-in-law, Tess and Cordell Miller of Bozeman, Mont.; and son, Stacey Henderson of Powell; grandchildren, Garret and Wyatt Henderson and Cassidy and Camryn Miller.
Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by Ballard Funeral Home, Cody.
Raymond Lewis Hall - April 11, 2006
Raymond Lewis Hall, 80, died in Caldwell, Idaho, Tuesday, April 11 as he had wished, held in the loving arms of his wife Shirley, with his son, Kelly Joe, standing near and holding his hand.
Funeral services were held at Dakan Funeral Chapel in Parma, Idaho, Tuesday, April 18.
He was born in Silverton, Ore., on Nov. 6, 1925, the son of Lewis and Alta Hall. He was raised in the Silverton Hills area on the family farm with his sister, Evelyn.
World War II came, and Raymond enlisted as soon as he graduated at 17. He spent 25 years in the Naval Service of his country, serving during WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
He married Shirley A. Grossnickle on July 11, 1950. They had a son, Kelly Joe in 1959.
Raymond’s great love was travel and having his wife of nearly 56 years and son waiting in every home port during the war years as he spent nearly his entire career on the high seas as a Chief Sonar Technician.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy and more college from Cal-State Fullerton, Raymond had a second career of 15 years teaching in the Payette, Idaho school district. Following his retirement from teaching, he and Shirley continued to enjoy good friends, good music, dancing and traveling the U.S. of A. They enjoyed their retirement years together.
Raymond is survived by his wife, Shirley of Caldwell, Idaho; his son, Kelly Joe, daughter-in-law, Carol Ann and their new 3-month old baby boy, William Lewis Allen Hall; his sister, Evelyn Reisig; and numerous relatives and friends.
Graveside services will be held in Powell at Crown Hill Cemetery on Saturday, April 22 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Powell, with Denyce Reno officiating.
Pallbearers will be Kelly Joe Hall, Lynn Snell, Wayne Mathews and Auston Mathews. Honorary pallbearers are Cliff Dudley, Don Webster II and Lee Johnson.
Memorials may be made to US Navy Memorial Foundation, PO Box 96570, Washington, DC 20090-6570.
James Tipton (Tip) Cox, 84, whose name is etched into the legend of Earl Durand, died Thursday, April 13 at West Park Long Term Care Center in Cody.
He was born Nov. 15, 1921, in Dodge City, Kan., to Ernest Ray and Dilly Eleanor (Allen) Cox. He attended high school for three years in Powell. As a junior in high school, he had a hand in the final chapter of the saga of outlaw Earl Durand in March of 1939, shooting Durand from a filling station across the street when the fugitive emerged with hostages from a hold-up at First National Bank of Powell.
Tipton Cox graduated from Cody High School.
He married Jean Reese on May 10, 1945, in Congaree, S.C. He was a captain in the Marine Air Corps and flew corsairs off aircraft carriers USS Wasp and USS Hornet during World War II in the Pacific. He was one of two pilots who rescued 16 scientists on Enowietok after the atomic bomb test in the Pacific, earning the United States Air Medal.
During the Korean Conflict, he was promoted to major and was a forward air controller. Following his military service, he flew for Helicol in Colombia, South America.
Since moving back to Wyoming 35 years ago, he did crop spraying in Worland, and flew for Johnson Flying Service and Hawkins & Powers Aviation. He previously owned Cody Helicopters. He enjoyed anything associated with flying, and in addition, building aircraft, rock hunting, painting, reading and studying history.
He was a member of Cody VFW, Experimental Aviation Association, BPO Elks, Cody American Legion and the First Presbyterian Church. He was a real estate agent in Cody prior to his retirement.
Survivors include his wife Jean of the family home; sons James Allen Cox and wife Joy of Hillsboro, Ore., and Gary Tipton Cox of Cody; grandson and spouse, Brian James and Gloria Cox and their children, Cory James Cox and Reyna Leigh Cox; and granddaughter, Jacey L. Cox, all of Hillboro, Ore., and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Wilbur Cox who died at age 3; and a sister, Pearl Jane Cox, who died shortly after birth.
Funeral services were conducted Monday, April 17 at the Presbyterian Church in Cody, with burial in Riverside Cemetery. Ballard Funeral Home was in charge.
Doris Jolovich - April 13, 2006
Doris Sebastian Kawulok Jolovich died Thursday, April 13 in her own home, as she had so desperately wanted. She died of complications of her years of life.
She would have celebrated her 80th birthday just four days later, April 17. Doris was the first child of Polish immigrant parents, Anton and Mary Cecilia Wolney Kawulok, born in the coal mining town of Monarch in Sheridan County, Wyo.
Doris was a diligent student and graduated from Ranchester High School. She married World War II veteran and childhood neighbor Rudolph Walter Jolovich Jan. 27, 1946 at the historic Catholic Church in Monarch. They drew a homestead on the Heart Mountain Irrigation project in Northwest Wyoming in 1947 and moved to live in the Japanese Relocation Camp near Powell with their infant daughter, Judy, in 1948 as they prepared their homestead for living.
Rudy and Doris formed close friendships with the other homesteaders, as they forged their lives on the land. They were successful beet farmers and raised other crops, including livestock. Doris was a very dedicated, very hard working farm wife, enduring many hardships and deprivations that came with homesteading. A farm became available with better land and they moved to their present home in 1953. Doris loved the farms and especially the trees.
Four additional children joined Judy (Don Frisby), Sheryl (Carl Morris), Rudolph Jr. (Dawn), Anthony and James. Doris treasured her grandchildren Erika Frisby (Jared Huckabee), Margaret Frisby, Carl Morris II (Denise), Cari Morris (John Beatty), Sara Morris (Justin Crooks), Bobi Morris (Casey Jensen), Tom Morris (Airy), Toni Jolovich, Jamie Jolovich (Hugh Dayton), Ashlee Jolovich (Philip Dudley), Josh Jolovich, Andrew Jolovich and Chris Jolovich. She has sisters Helen Breslin (Bill) and Twila Dahlin (Bill) and brother Tony Kavalok (Ella) all of the Seattle, Wash., area.
Her greatest joys in her last days were her faith in God and her membership in the Catholic Church; her special dog, Bruiser; her 15 great-grandchildren and her many friends. Her great-grandchildren loved to spend time with her helping with her chores. Doris often lamented that Rudy did not get to know the youngest of these great-grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rudy; and her great-grandaughter Briana Morris.
Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cody, preceded with a Rosary Friday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony's.
For those who wish, the family would appreciate any memorial contributions be directed to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or Hands 2 Help.
Lee Jones Wardell - April 13, 2006
Lee Jones Wardell, 71, died suddenly on Thursday, April 13.
He was born Jan. 7, 1935, to Linnie Dalley Jones and Albert Dalton Wardell in Lovell. Lee attended elementary school where he grew up in Otto. He finished his education in Greybull, graduating in 1953. He excelled in athletics, expecially basketball. He shared many stories of his “glory days” with his family.
He married Carolyn Scholes, and two sons were born to this union. The couple later divorced.
Lee then met and married Jean Harston on June 26, 1958. He adopted the daughter she brought with her. Together they made their home in Lovell, where they raised their six children in the “house that beer built.”
He came from a long line of brick masons and was taught the trade by his father at a very young age, carrying hod in his adolescence and laying brick before he graduated from high school. Lee was well known for his natural talent and shared his skill and knowledge with his sons and many others. Lee practiced his trade with the Billings Local Union and was recently recognized for 50 years of service. He was the proud recipient of the prestigious Local #3 Union gold card. His life’s work took him all over the western United States, concentrated mainly in Montana and Wyoming. Jobs he was especially proud of were the Masonic Lodge and the Stockman Banks in Billings.
Lee was an avid outdoorsman. The only vacation he took yearly was to go elk hunting. He was affectionately known as “Silvertip” to many. His love and respect of the mountain and extensive knowledge of the Black Butte area were well known. His tales of the hunt were told around the campfire and will be retold for generations. When it wasn’t hunting season, Lee could be seen with his fishing pole in hand and grandchildren in tow headed to his favorite fishing hole. His other love was gardening, a legacy he passed on to his sons.
One of Lee’s greatest joys in life were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with them; all will greatly miss their Grandpa.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Anna; his father and mother-in-law, James and Opal Harston; and brothers Preston and Callis.
Lee is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Mel (Shawna) Wardell of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Lynn (Steve) Lundberg, Mark Wardell, and Jeff (Karen) Wardell all of Lovell, Bryan (Cheryl) Wardell of Laurel, Mont.,Janice (Scott) Davis of Eugene, Ore., and David Collingwood of Greybull; two brothers, Albert J. (Phern) Wardell and Mack (Bonnie) Wardell; three sisters, Merla (Reanous) Henderson, Irma (Melvin) Neves, and Joan (Bruce) Butler; 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with two more due to arrive in 2006.
Services were held Tuesday, April 18 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lovell. Interment followed at the Cowley Cemetery.
Katherine (Katie) W. Korell - April 14, 2006
Katherine (Katie) Korell, 102, died on Good Friday, April 14 at the Powell Health Care nursing home in Powell. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, April 20, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Curch in Lovell.
Katie and her twin brother, Alex, were born to Christian and Elizabeth (Rembe) Wagner on Feb. 29, 1904, in Sussanental, Russia. The family came to the United States in 1913 by way of ship to Ellis Island, N.Y., then to Baltimore, Md. and traveled by train to Park City, Mont. where the family worked in the beet fields. In 1917 the Wagner family moved to Lovell.
She worked in a bakery and as a waitress before her marriage to life-long mate, Pete Korell, on Jan. 26, 1930. They farmed for many years east of Lovell and had two daughters, Evelyn and Alma. Pete died in 1982.
In 1998 she sold her home in Lovell and moved into Rocky Mountain Manor in Powell. In July, 2001, she moved into the Powell Nursing Home where she lived until her death.
She liked to garden and was known for her beautiful tulips at her home in Lovell. She knitted many afghans for family members, each grandchild, each great-grandchild and most of the great-great grandchildren. She liked to play pinochle, bridge and her special double solitaire and was an avid bowler until 91 years of age.
She belonged to St. John’s Lutheran Church and was a faithful member and worker.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Don Bowers of Powell and Alma and Don Cardinal of Casper; nine grandchildren, Barbara Bowers and family of Lincoln, Neb., Bonnie Malcom and family of Salina, Utah, Sherry Bowers and family of Cody, Randy Bowers and family of Lovell, Steve Bowers and family of Cody, Linda Carter and family of Cheyenne, Carla Gennaro and family of Denver, Ralph Cardinal and family of St. Paul, Minn. and Caryn Young and family of Casper. Other survivors are 22 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Lydia Parks of Lovell; one brother-in-law, Harold Korell of Billings; two sisters-in-law, Katie Asay and Marguerite Korell of Lovell; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete; grandson, Donnie Bowers; her parents; four brothers and two sisters.
Memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, to the Powell Valley Health Care or to the charity of choice.
Robert Edmund Wilmott - April 19, 2006
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Powell for Robert Edmund Wilmott, 103, who died Tuesday, April 18 at the Powell Valley Care Center.
Father Pete Johnson will officiate.
He was born Feb. 18, 1903, in Devils Lake, N.D., to Robert J. and Rosella Seward Wilmott. He was born and raised on a farm in North Dakota. He married Evelyn Vanderlin at Devils Lake on Nov. 27, 1929.
He worked for Fairmont Creamery and was later transferred to Alliance, Nebr. He worked for the Alliance School System for many years until his retirement. He and his wife moved to Powell in June of 1991 to the Rocky Mountain Manor. Upon the death of his wife in October of 1993, he moved into the Powell Valley Care Center.
Survivors include three daughters, Beverly Schuetz of Powell; Marjorie Schuetz of Garden Grove, Calif., and Kathleen (Jerry) Lynass of Honolulu, Hawaii; 11 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; three brothers; four sisters; one grandson; one granddaughter; and a son-in-law, Bob Schuetz.
Memorial donations are requested to the Powell Valley Care Center or a charity of choice.
Thompson Funeral Home of Powell is in charge of arrangements.
Saralie Joyce Asay - April 17, 2006
Saralie Joyce Asay of Powell died Monday, April 17 at Cody at the age of 46.
She was born June 18, 1959, in Powell to Darwin Keith Asay and Elizabeth (Jundt) Asay. She attended local schools through the 12th grade. She was an oilfield worker and a free spirit.
Survivors include her molther, Elizabeth of Powell; three brothers, Gary and Lorna Asay, Darwin and Cathy Asay and Mike Asay.
She was preceded in death by her father, Darwin; and a sister, Sarepta Darlene Asay.
Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time.
Eric Manning Buchan - April 16, 2006
Eric Buchan died near Powell on April 16. He was 58.
Eric was born in Powell on May 28, 1947, to Ross and Sybil Buchan. He served his country faithfully in
Vietnam, bringing home some scars that would plague him the rest of his life. He later returned to Powell, where he worked for years as the city building inspector. He spent the last year in Texas before choosing to come home to die. He is survived by his son, Aaron of San Antonio, Texas, who was the pride of his
life; by sisters Stephanie and Sally, both in California; and by brother Evan of Billings, Mont.
He was preceded in death by his parents. No services are planned. Eric's ashes will be
scattered by his family in the mountains he loved.
Rick Hernandez - April 16, 2006
Rick Hernandez of Goodyear, Ariz., son of Porfirio and Sharon Hernandez of Powell, died in a motorcycle accident Sunday, April 16.
He was born June 11, 1968 in Powell where he attended schools and graduated from Powell High School in 1986. He then moved to Glendale, Ariz., where he met Valerie Escalante. They married on May 11, 1996, at Estrella Mountain Ranch in Goodyear. He resided there and was employed by Atlas Cold Storage/Fry's Distribution.
Rick was blessed with two loving daughters and a stepdaughter. He was a wonderful father. His girls were the love of his life and his greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. Rick's piece of heaven on earth was fishing and camping in the mountains of Wyoming with his family and being in the wind on his motorcycle. He also enjoyed playing a weekend round of golf with his buddies. Survivors include parents Porfirio and Sharon Hernandez of Powell; wife Valerie of Goodyear, Ariz.; daughters Nicole and Trinity, stepdaughter Marcella; sisters Debra Steuter of Phoenix, Ariz., Tina Urling of McCook, Nebr., abd Tammy McDaniel of Williston, N.D.; brother Travis Hernandez of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; 10 nieces and nephews and 1 great-niece.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. with Rosary at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25 at Greer-Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 26 at 10am at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Phoenix. He will be laid to rest at the Holy Cross Cemetery.
Beverly Anne Rich - April 20, 2006
Beverly Anne Rich of 333 S. Jones St., Powell, died Thursday, April 20 at Powell Valley Care Center. She was 76.
She was born Oct. 16, 1929, in Casper, daughter of William and Florence (Boyles) Steinman. She attended schools in Casper and graduated from Natrona County High School.
On Oct. 5, 1947, she married William R. Rich in Casper. They lived in Casper and McFadden before moving to Powell. She was a housewife and homemaker and a former employee at Fryer’s Pharmacy for 15 years.
She was a member of Light of Christ Church in Powell. She was active in crafts, knitting and embroidery. In spite of all her discomforts and illnesses, she never lost faith in her Lord Jesus Christ.
Survivors include her husband, William R. Rich of Powell; a son, Donal A. Rich (Diana) of Mason, Ohio; a daughter, Patricia L. Bustos (John) of Powell; three brothers and their spouses, George, Floyd and Thomas Steinman; four sisters and their husbands, Barbara Orth, Betsy Brothers, Janice Traylor and Nancy Hamre; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Bethel Wilkins.
No funeral services are planned at this time. A memorial service will be set later.
For those who wish, memorials to the Powell Valley Care Center would be appreciated by the family.
Arrangements are by Thompson Funeral Home of Powell.
Helen Ruzick, 84, of Ryegate, Mont., died Saturday, April 22, at St. Vincent Health Care in Billings.
She was born Sept. 19, 1921, in Meeeteese to Peter and Laura (Schnictger) Zoeteman.
Helen married Bob Ruzick in September 1939 and resided in Powell until the fall of 1949 when they moved to Ryegate. Bob preceded her in death in 1984. Her daughter Laura Connolly also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her sons Bob (Sally) Ruzick of Powell and Jim (Linda) Ruzick of Billings; grandchildren Kyle, Jason, Chad, Howard, Lisa and Richard and 17 great grandchildren. Her brother Elmer Zoeteman of Deer Lodge and sister Arlene Todd of Columbus; several nieces and nephews also survive her.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is planned for 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 29, 2006 at the Ryegate High School Gymnasium.
The family requests memorials to the Dialysis Fund, Billings Clinic, PO Box 37000, 2800 10th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59107. Perkins Funeral Home assisted the family with the services.
Marvin Ewalt of Powell died at the Powell Valley Hospital Wednesday, April 26 at the age of 73.
He was born in Cody Aug. 2, 1932, to Bill and Clara Ewalt. He married Norma Boyd in Powell Oct. 11, 1952.
For many years he was employed in the oil fields. He had a special love for the outdoors and fishing.
Survivors include his wife Norma of Powell; three daughters, Lee Ann Powers in Billings, Mont., Kathy Praeuner in Houston, Texas, and Linda Lara in Billings; two sisters, Ethel and Evelyn; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. His ashes were scattered at his favorite fishing spot.
Ethel L. Moody - April 28, 2006
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Cody for Mary Ethel Larsen Moody, Cody, who died Tuesday, April 25 in the hospice room at West Park Hospital.
She was the eldest of four children of Henry C. Larsen and Helen A. Hagbery Larsen. She was born Jan. 22, 1911, in Meeteetse and attended grade school at the W- and Dick Creek Schools on the Wood River. She boarded with family friends to graduate from Meeteetse High School in 1928.
She then completed a degree in education at the University of Wyoming in 1932 and returned home to the ranch where she began the process of proving up on a homestead on Gooseberry Creek. Her first teaching job was at the Bobcat Ranch on the South Fork of the Shoshone River during the 1934-35 school year.
Over the following five years, she taught third and fourth grades in Meeteetse. She then decided that teaching was not her vocation of choice, and she returned to the ranch to be part of the life that she cherished. From that time on, she worked side by side with her brothers and her parents to make a success of the ranch.
In 1949, Ethel fell in love with and married a young cowboy from Oklahoma, John (Jay) Moody. Together they had one son, Jay. She continued through her working lifetime to be an integral part of the ranching operation — fulfilling the need of the moment whether it was milking cows, keeping the corporation books, cooking or on horseback gathering and moving cattle. She was a charter member of the Meeteetse Cowbelles.
Ethel’s recreational passion was dancing, from New Year’s dances at the Dick Creek School, to the Meeteetse Fireman’s Ball, to Wyoming Fiddlers Association gatherings.
She loved children and was blessed to have three grandsons who became the focus of her attention. They, in turn, presented her with a great-granddaughter and two great-grandsons. For Ethel, there was no greater delight than a child on her lap listening to her read a story or simply being comforted.
Survivors include her husand, John (Jay) Moody of Cody; her son, Jay (Connie) Moody of Cody; grandsons Aaron (Chris) Moody of Powell, Colin (Lori) Moody of Casper and Brian Moody of McMinnville, Ore.; great-granddaughter Ashley and great-grandson Johnathon of Powell, great-grandson Jason of Casper; brothers Ralph Larsen and Curtis Larsen of Meeteetse; and a nephew and four nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, John Larsen; and sisters-in-law, Retta Larsen and Janet Larsen.
Graveside services will follow at the Meeteetse Cemetery.
Everett E. Christiansen - April 29, 2006
Everett E. Christiansen, known to many as “Chris,” died Saturday, April 29 at the age of 81, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.
A celebration of his life will be held at the United Methodist Church in Powell at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday), May 2, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery following services.
He was born in Columbus, Kans., Oct. 28, 1924, to George and Irene Christiansen, third of eight children. He graduated from high school and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1944 where he worked with radio, electronics and radar mechanics. He served in the 97th Bomb Group in Fogga, Italy and received an honorable discharge in 1946. He attended Kansas State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry in May of 1950.
While attending college in Manhattan, Kans., he met Martha Weathered, and they were married in Norwich, Kans., Oct. 21, 1950. Everett and Martha lived near Cherokee, Kans., farming and dairying. In 1953, Everett moved his family to Powell where he worked for Associated Seed a short time, then he worked for John Krause three years. They moved a mile east of Powell on the Cemetery Road in 1957. It was there they would raise their three children and live for the next 40 years, dairying and farming. He taught his children to stand up for what they believed, and he practiced that all of his life.
Everett was involved with many organizations and served as officers and on committees in all of them. He was a member of the Powell First United Methodist Church, serving as District Lay Leader in UMC many years; Park County and Wyoming Farm Bureau; Shoshone Milk Producers; Wyoming Dairy Control Board; Director of American Dairy Assn.; Rotary Club; Powell Flyers Club (earned his pilot’s license in 1976); Wyoming Civil Air Patrol; Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce and President of the Mayor’s Committee for the Handicapped. He also spent three months in Kenya, Africa as a “Volunteer In Mission” helping with a water project.
After he retired from farming, he enjoyed mowing the roadside with his riding lawn mower. He never gave up living life to the fullest as long as it was possible. Everett and Martha moved to town in 1996, and they continued walking and keeping active. In August of 2002 he entered the Powell Valley Care Center, where he loved and appreciated the staff and their caring ways. He participated in activities there, as long as possible.
He is survived by his wife, Martha; three children, Steve (Debbie) Christiansen of Powell; Gala (Stephen) Brown of Lansing, Mich.; and Jill (Seaton) Smith of Powell; six grandchildren, Christy (Larry) Larsen, Mike (Betsy) Christiansen, Shannon and Jessica Brown, and Forrest and Alyssa Smith; two great grandchildren, Bianca and Mattie Larsen; one brother, Ted (Carol) Christiansen of Powell, five sisters, Grace Loyd, Jean Fitzgerald, Vera McMillian, Dorothy Yaege and Mary Nolte, all of Kansas. His parents and one brother, Fred, preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made to the Powell United Methodist Church, Powell Valley Care Center, or Big Horn Basin Parkinson’s Support Group.
Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joshua Nathaniel Cornell - April 30, 2006
Josh Cornell, 23, died April 30 in Boise, Idaho, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Born Oct. 5, 1982, at Ft. Wainwright, Alas., he was a former resident of Powell and attended middle school and his first year of high school in Powell.
Survivors include his daughter, Madison Cornell of Powell; his mother and stepfather, Chris and Devin Butterfield, both of Powell; his father and stepmother, Frank and Dedde Cornell, both of Boise; his brother, Brock Cornell of Boise; two step-brothers, Kevin Butterfield of Byron and Zachary Nikkhooy of Boise; and grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Gulfport, Miss.
Memorial services were held May 4 in Boise. A memorial gathering will be held in Powell at a later date for family and friends who wish to say goodbye. Josh was loved very deeply and will be missed.