FEBRUARY 2001
Vera Mae Pollard Hand ~ February 2, 2001
Richard D. (Dick) Slater ~ February 5, 2001
Douglas Allen Keller ~ February 6, 2001
Patricia Ann Sheets ~ February 6, 2001
Frank R. Brady ~ February 7, 2001
Christena Irene Bowers ~ February 7, 2001
Scott Raymond Keller ~ February 8, 2001
Hattie Sue (Susie) Wilkins ~ February 9, 2001
Ernest Gonzales ~ February 9, 2001
Mildred Genevieve Limberg ~ February 10, 2001
Ruth Lura Hunnicut ~ February 11, 2001
Katherine Mary Scheeler Most ~ February 12, 2001
Kenneth Martin Vontz ~ February 14, 2001
Mary E. Brunton ~ February 16, 2001
Tom T. McLeran ~ February 17, 2001
C. Victor Christensen ~ February 18, 2001
Raymond W. (Ray) Campbell ~ February 18, 2001
Muriel Viola Neisess ~ February 21, 2001
Lee J. Hamilton ~ February 24, 2001
Vera Mae Pollard Hand ~ February 2
Vera Mae Pollard Hand, 72, died Friday, Feb. 2 at Riverton's Memorial Hospital of complications from cancer.
She was born Feb. 20, 1928, in Riverton, daughter of Paul B. and Irma (Bybee) Pollard, and was raised by Paul and stepmother Gertrude. She attended Riverton schools and the University of Wyoming.
She married Harold R. Hand of Riverton. They raised their two daughters, Lee Ann and Jay, in Powell.
She was librarian at Northwest College and the Park County Branch Library in Powell and hosted "Children's Story Hour" there. She then returned to the University of Wyoming and graduated in elementary education.
She began teaching in Lander at North Side Elementary, continued in Powell at Westside Elementary and finished her career at South Side Elementary in Lander, where she was recognized for initiating the school's first student council.
She retired from teaching in 1991 and returned to Riverton. She loved retirement, traveling to Mexico, the Panama Canal, Russia and British Columbia; raising her flowers and her two adopted stray dogs, Angel and Shadow. Vera also loved the opportunity to build so many friendships through active membership in PEO, Reach to Recovery, The Coffee Club, The Top of the Hill Gang and St. James Episcopal Church, where she was active in the Daughters of the King, Altar Guild and a lay reader.
Her approach to life was one of generosity and service to others. She delighted in supporting the community by sharing her passion for reading while instructing the illiterate, counseling cancer patients and volunteering at the Riverton Food Bank. She treasured her family, her dogs, her friends, Sinks Canyon, her clubs, her church and her God. Despite her illness, she lived each day to the fullest with bravery, courage and spirit of survival.
In addition to her two beloved dogs, Angel and Shadow, survivors include two daughters, Lee Ann Hand-Francik and husband Keith of Cody and Jay Ellen Hand of Chicago, Ill.; one brother, Jack A. Pollard and wife Lavonne of Riverton; one sister, Margery Richardson and husband John of Kansas; a sister-in-law, Helen Mitton of Casper; former husband, Harold R. Hand of Powell; and numeous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, Paul B. Pollard; her mother, Irma H. Pollard; her stepmother, R. Gertrude Pollard Kittle; her stepfather, Harley Kittle; and a brother, Billie Pollard.
Cremation has taken place. Memorials can be made to Help for Health Hospice, P.O. Box 808, Riverton, WY 82501, or to St. James Episcopal Church, Riverton.
Richard D. (Dick) Slater ~ February 5
Funeral services were held Monday morning, Feb. 12, at Union Presbyterian Church for "the flower man," Richard D. (Dick) Slater, 73, who died Monday, Feb. 5 at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Mont., after a long battle with Wegener's Granulomatosis.
Mr. Slater, with his wife Ellen, was responsible for planting and maintaining 42 flower beds in public spaces in Powell. These included the flower beds at the chamber of commerce building, the police station and along Coulter Avenue through town.
Mr. Slater was born Aug. 23, 1927, in Grant, Iowa, the only son of Harold and Georgia (Hobbs) Slater. After graduation from high school in Glenwood, Iowa, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, being honorably discharged on Aug. 20, 1948.
On Oct. 9, 1949, he married Ellen M. Fleming in Glenwood, Iowa. They made their first home in Omaha, Nebr., then moving to Tennessee with the Southern Railroad. They returned to Iowa where they lived in several communities until October of 1976 when they moved to Powell.
During his life's work, he had varied experiences. He worked for the railroad for five years; was employed by BF Goodrich Tire Co.; was a district sales rep for Gulf Oil Corp.; was owner/operator of a gas service station; partnered with his oldest son, Mike, in an auto repair business; and then worked as an auto mechanic in Powell for several years. In 1985, he slowed the pace by driving school bus for the Powell School District while continuing to help Ellen develop their commercial greenhouse business which they started in 1978.
He was active in the Presbyterian Church as an elder, deacon and member of the committee responsible for the expansion of the church. He was a member of the American Legion and the Optimist Club, a troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America, and a leader in the Powell Kiwanis Club. He was Kiwanian of the Year in Powell in 1991-92 and again in 1994. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis for Division 10 of the Rocky Mountain District from 1991-1994.
He also enjoyed many years of fishing, golfing, woodworking, playing cribbage and softball.
Survivors include his wife, Ellen of Powell; two sons, Mike and Lil of Waukee, Iowa, and Pat and Diana of Powell; daughter Jaci Johnson and husband George of Powell; two brothers, Allan Slater and wife Jeanie of Arkansas and Jerry Slater and wife Sue of Colorado; a sister, Marlene Boyer and husband Cliff of Silver City, Iowa; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Rev. David Hunter officiated at funeral services. Burial will be held at a later date in Glenwood, Iowa.
The family will receive memorials which will be divided between the church he served and medical research of Wegener's Granulosmatosis.
Patricia Ann Sheets ~ February 6
Patricia Ann Sheets, 65, died Monday, Feb. 6 at her rural Cody home.
She was born June 18, 1935, in Manhattan, Mont., daughter of Howard (Tag) Talbott and Hester Foote Talbott. She began her schooling in Montana before moving with her family to Cody in 1947.
The family lived at the relocation camp during its first year in the area while homesteading on Heart Mountain. She completed her education in Cody, graduating from high school in 1953.
She worked for Husky Oil Company and later Flying J for a number of years before retirement.
She married William B. (Bill) Sheets on Sept. 19, 1980.
She enjoyed her home and working in her yard on Heart Mountain. She loved the smell of the snapdragons and sweet peas that she planted. The love of her life were her children and grandchildren, her husband Bill and their dog Tosh. Attending sporting events of her children and later her grandchildren was always important to her.
Survivors include her husband Bill; four daughters, Debbie Clark and Linda Miller of Cody, Cheryl Stewart and husband Dan of Portland, Ore., and Lisa Miller of Browning, Mont.; grandchildren Justin Miller, Ben, Cory and Matt Clark of Cody and Katie, Betsy and Mary Stewart of Portland; nieces and nephews, Mark Talbott of British Columbia, Canada, Mona Talbott and Jim Talbott, both of New York and Jackie Talbott Taggart of British Columbia; and children and grandchildren of her husband Bill, Cindy Mattson and children Jane and Nichelle Mattson and grandson Elija Mattson of Cody, Philip and Toby Sheets and their children, Sonja, Stephanie and Skylar Sheets of Cody, and Mina and Keith Briggs and their children, Eric and Britt Briggs of Hyrum, Utah.
Douglas Allen Keller ~ February 6
Douglas Allen Keller of Powell died at the Powell Hospital Tuesday, Feb. 6 at the age of 60.
He was born Aug. 9, 1940, to Harry and Helen (Petty) Wood in Stevencity, Va.
Survivors include his wife, Diane (DeeDee) Roby Keller of Powell; their daughter, Karlie M. Keller of Powell; a son, Darren Keller of Powell; a daughter, Kim Askew and husband Jason of Damascus, Md.; a step-daughter, Chrissie Gould of Boise, Idaho; three grandchildren; sisters Jolene Wood of Virginia and Gay Nell Wood of Florida; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 12 in Colorado Springs, Colo., for Frank R. Brady, 43-year-old husband of a former Powell resident.
Mr. Brady died Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Colorado Springs, where he had lived for the last five years. He was a computer programmer for Great West Life and Annuity of Denver.
He was born Oct. 5, 1947, in Babylon, N.Y., son of William Brady and Mary E. (Zizzo) Brady. He married Lorri A. Bishopp of Powell on July 31, 1982.
Survivors include his wife of Colorado Springs; two daughters, Michelle Brady and Nicole Brady; three sisters and one brother.
Memorial contributions to the Epilepsy Foundation, 234 Columbine St., Ste. 333, Denver, CO would be appreciated by the family.
Christena Irene Bowers ~ February 7
Long-time Powell resident Christena Irene Bowers, 93, died Wednesday, Feb. 7 in the Powell Nursing Home.
She was born Sept. 5, 1907, in Hurdland, Mo., daughter of Charles Henry Schrage and Nina F. (Wiles) Schrage. She attended schools in Missouri.
On Dec. 15, 1929, she married Everett Bowers in Hardin, Mont. The family moved to Powell in 1944.
She was fond of reupholstering furniture, crocheting and sewing.
Survivors include two sons, Donnie E. Bowers and wife Evelyn of Powell and Harvey J. Bowers and wife Sharon of Byron; a sister-in-law, Madderine Bowers of Hardin; 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett, in 1995; three sisters; four brothers; a grandson and three step-grandchildren.
Scott Raymond Keller ~ February 8
Former Powell resident Scott Raymond Keller died Thursday, Feb. 8 at his Riverton home. He was 43.
He was born Aug. 21, 1957, in Powell and attended Powell schools. He was the son of Bob and Jackie (Pyatt) Keller.
He had lived in Riverton for over 20 years. He was the artist who made the logo for the Wyoming Centennial Wagon Train.
He enjoyed fishing, camping and his art, but mostly spending time with his children.
Survivors include his son, Dustin Keller of Riverton; daughters Holly Keller and Jackie Keller, both of Riverton; brothers Mark and Brian Keller, both of Evanston; sister Laurie Dykman of Pocatello, Idaho; and aunts Marge Wheeler and Janice Fritz of Powell and Pat McPherson of Casper.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Randy.
Hattie Sue (Susie) Wilkins ~ February 9
Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon, Feb. 12 at Miratksy-Easton Funeral Home for Hattie Sue (Susie) Wilkins, 80, who died Friday, Feb. 9 at the Powell Nursing Home.
The Rev. Jarrell Tharp, former pastor of First United Methodist Church in Powell, officiated at local services. A second funeral service was scheduled Friday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at Showgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Ill., with Gary Sheets officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Township, Ill.
Sue Wilkins and her husband, Gerald Wilkins, were part of the Powell business community for more than 45 years.
She was born Sept. 12, 1926, in Macomb, Ill., to John Albert and Bonnie B. (Curless) Wherley.
She married Gerald Wilkins on Sept. 8, 1944, in California while he was based in Hawaii with the U.S. Navy. After his military discharge, they made their first home in Astoria, Ill., where he opened his first jewelry store. He was in business in Astoria from 1945 to 1952.
After a brief stop in Casper, the family came to Powell in 1955 to open Wilkins Jewelry. She assisted regularly at the store on main street.
In 1972, she and her husband purchased the Bonner Store across the street, and she managed the department store while her husband continued the jewelry business. A few years later, she sold the department store business and again became a helper at the jewelry store.
Survivors include her husband Gerald Wilkins of Powell; a son, Gerry Wilkins and wife Pat of Salt Lake City, Utah, and their five children, Christopher, Scott and his wife Tiffany, Chris and his wife Kori, Brandy and Cody; daughter Sallie Wentz of Scottsbluff, Nebr., and her two children, Scott Wentz and wife Jody and Mike Wentz and wife D'Lee; daughter Nancy Hargrove and husband Dick of Helena, Mont., and their daughter, Bonnie; and daughter Teri Ann Drake and husband Paul of Helena, Mont., and their children Lisa and Steven; and four great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by an aunt and uncle, Robert and Emily Curless of Astoria, Ill.; a brother, John Phillip Wherley and wife Lois Ann of Scottsdale, Ariz., and their sons Tim and Tom.
Former Powell resident Ernest Gonzales, 68, died Friday, Feb. 9 in Cheyenne.
He was born Feb. 26, 1932, in Powell. He lived and worked in Powell until 1987 when he moved, first to Arizona, and then to Cheyenne.
Survivors include four brothers, Stanley Gonzales and wife Anita of Lynwood, Calif., Ben Gonzales of Denver, Colo., Alfred Gonzales and wife Ellie of American Falls, Idaho, and J.R. Gonzales and wife Helen of Byron; four sisters, Ann Ramirez and husband Jose of Worland, Guadalupe Cortez of Powell, Mary Josephine Gonzales of Denver and Angie Carrasco and husband Jesus of Powell; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Encarnacio and Josefa Gonzales; a sister, Carmen Gutierrez; and brothers Marcelino and Donald Gonzales.
Mildred Genevieve Limberg ~ February 10
Mildred Genevieve Limberg, the mother of a Powell woman, died Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Powell Hospital. She was 88.
She had been a resident of the Powell Nursing Home, having moved to Wyoming four and a half years ago.
Born April 7, 1912, in Arizona, she was the daughter of Nicholas Monson and Caroline (Holt) Monson. She was married April 21, 1937, in Chicago, Ill., to Frank Limberg.
Survivors include her daughter, Karen Mouw of Powell and son-in-law Jim Mouw of Powell; one grandson, Jeremy Mouw of Powell; and three sisters, Dorothy Rinker in Iowa, Carol Hove in Texas and Gertrude Parrish in Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Robert; a daughter, Caroline; two sisters and a brother.
Ruth Lura Hunnicutt ~ February 11
Memorial services were conducted Wednesday, Feb. 14, at First Presbyterian Church in Cody for Ruth Lura Hunnicutt, 98, who died Sunday, Feb. 11 at West Park Long Term Care Center in Cody.
She was born March 2, 1902, in Fairfield, Iowa, the daughter of Adrian and Bertha (Stout) Frame. Her early years were spent in Iowa.
She and her family moved to South Dakota for three years, and in February of 1918, the family moved to Deaver to homestead. She graduated from high school there and attended two years of college in Greeley, Colo., to obtain her teaching credentials. She returned to Wyoming and taught school in Deaver and Garland.
She married Roy Williams in June of 1926 in Washington state. Mr. Williams was accidentally killed in 1932 while working in a Washington forest. Two children were born of this union, a daughter, Arite May, born in April of 1929, who died of a blood infection in 1935; and Joyce Evelyn, born in May of 1931. Following the death of her husband and daughter, Ruth and Joyce returned to Wyoming. She married Bill Hunnicutt in 1935. Mr. Hunnicutt had a 9-year-old son, Raymond, at the time of their marriage. In 1941, the Hunnicutt family moved to Cody. Mr. Hunnicutt preceded her in death in December of 1987.
She enjoyed gardening and had a green thumb, able to grow anything, especially flowers. She was a seamstress, making dresses and other family clothing, and was an accomplished cook and baker.
She was a charter member of the Presbyterian Church and held offices in the Ladies Aide Society, was a member of Circle 2 and a member of the Rebekah Lodge where she received her 50-year-pin.
Survivors include her daughter, Joyce McCollum of Concord, Calif.; her son, Raymond Hunnicutt of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Those wishing may make memorial contributions to West Park Long Term Care Center, Cody, or First Presbyterian Church of Cody.
Katherine Mary Scheeler Most ~ February 12
A Christian Wake Service will be held Monday evening, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at St. Barbara's Catholic Church for Katherine Mary Scheeler Most, 92, who died Monday, Feb. 12 at the Powell Hospital.
Rite of the Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Tom Ogg at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Barbara's. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Cody.
She was born Oct. 14, 1908, in Semenovka, Russia, the third child of Katherine and Peter Scheeler. When she was 5 years old, she traveled with her mother and four siblings- Julia, George, John and babie Annie -across the Atlantic Ocean to join their father in Dickinson, N.D.
She attended a Catholic grade school where the nuns taught her to crochet with string. Through the years, her children, grandchildren and friends were recipients of her beautiful afghans.
In 1918, the family moved to Lovell to work in the area sugar beet fields.
She married George Spomer on Sept. 6, 1930. Six children were born to this union. They were divorced, and she and her children moved to Cody in February of 1944.
After being a single parent for many years, she married Roy Most on Nov. 20, 1956, in Red Lodge, Mont. She accompanied her husband for 35 years as he worked road construction. This enabled her to fish the rivers and streams all over Wyoming and Montana. Her friend and neighbor for 30 years, Francis Smith, always enjoyed being supplied with fresh trout. She especially enjoyed fishing with her son Ron on Buffalo Bill Reservoir.
The children acknowledge, "Our mother never met a stranger, and many of her friends she made while fishing. Her family and friends were always her first concern."
She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and the Rebekah Olive Branch Lodge.
Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Harland Goodchild of Powell, Lydia and Dick Moore of Powell, and Sharon and Vernon Riley of Cody; her son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Nancy Spomer of Cody; 15 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Pauline and Emanuel Langolf of Port Huron, Mich., and Helen and Floyd Wicks of Riverton; and sisters-in-law Marie Scheeler of Lovell and Kate Spomer of Powell.
She was preceded in death by two sons; her husband Roy; her parents; nine sisters and seven brothers. Memorial donations may be made to the Kefar Shrine Travel Fund in care of Bill Locker, 514 Lane 11.5, Powell, or a charity of choice.
Kenneth Martin Vontz ~ February 14
Retired Powell businessman Kenneth Martin Vontz died Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the Powell Nursing Home. He was 83.
Mr. Vontz owned and operated the Powell Standard Oil bulk plant from 1952-1976.
He was born April 16, 1917, in Absarokee, Mont., to Henry J. Vontz and Mae Olive (Hill) Vontz. He attended schools in Worland and was graduated from Worland High School.
On Jan. 30, 1941, he married Ann Kostenko in Billings, Mont. He entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colo., for medical training before serving overseas as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
For six years he was area representative for Standard Oil of Indiana covering the Big Horn Basin.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a charter member of the Powell Kiwanis Club and a member of the American Legion and VFW. He enjoyed salmon fishing, hunting, being with his grandchildren, collecting and restoring antiques, singing and listening to music and storytelling.
Mr. Vontz was fond of athletics, participating in all sports in school and playing town team basketball and baseball.
He was a loving and generous man. If anyone needed help, he never hesitated in being there, especially for his family.
Survivors include his wife Ann K. Vontz in the Powell Nursing Home; three daughters, Judy Wilkins and husband Bob in Cheyenne, Martha Wood in Bozeman, Mont., and Laurie Lee and husband Bryan in Frannie; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, two brothers, and a great-granddaughter.
Memorial services will be March 10 at the Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ron Kapalka officiating. Cremation has taken place.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home for Mary E. Brunton of Powell, who died Friday, Feb. 16. She was 85.
Mrs. Brunton was born June 23, 1915, in Orleans, Ind., the daughter of Hugh E. Smith and Martha Alma Lund Smith. She married Robert W. Johnson in 1933 and later married Walter H. Brunton in 1951. She had retired from her work as custodian at the Park County Annex.
Mrs. Brunton enjoyed her garden and her children and grandchildren, who will officiate at her funeral.She is survived by her daughters and their husbands: Betty and Cecil Fish of Cody, Marjorie and Phil Flom of Powell, Bonnie and Robert Coorough of Powell and Linda and Tom Perrl of San Diego, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; a daughter, Shirley Johnson, brothers Gerald Smith and James H. Smith; and sisters Gretna Farmer and Roma Dove. Visitation will begin before the funeral at 8:30 a.m. Pallbearers will be Duane Fish, Perry Flom, Barry Flom, Shell Flom, Rick Fisher and Ned Coorough. Honorary pallbearers are Chad Fisher and Tyler Flom.
Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorials to a sofa for the Alzheimer's unit at Powell Nursing Home and the Powell Medical Foundation.
Tom T. McLeran, 83, of Powell died Feb. 17 in Wichita Falls, Texas.
He was born in Dallas, Texas on Sept. 29, 1917 to Grant E. McLeran and Ione McNeely McLeran.
Tom married Mary Jean Beacock Nov. 22, 1941 and they resided in Powell. Tom worked as a carpenter.
Tom served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Union Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Carpenter's Local Union 585.
Tom enjoyed gardening, woodwork, fishing and photography.
He is survived by sons Thomas and wife Minnie; Richard and wife Nona; Robert and wife Carol; and daughters Judie McManamen and husband Dennis, Jeri Taylor, and Tammie Baker and husband Randy; 17 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, wife Mary Jean and grandson David J. Taylor.
Funeral services are planned today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at the Union Presbyterian Church in Powell with the Rev. David Hunter officiating.
Pallbearers will include Roy McLeran, Brian McLeran, Jeff McLeran, Dennis McManamen, Gary Gillett and Bart Bullinger.
C. Victor Christensen ~ February 18
C. Victor Christensen, 88, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001 at the Powell Hospital.
Mr. Christensen was born March 9, 1912 in Cowley. The son of Emanuel and Susanah Heaps Christensen, he attended elementary and high school in Cowley.
He married Charlcie Cooley at the family farm near Cowley. Together, they farmed in the Cowley area until 1981, when they retired and moved to Frannie. They moved to Powell in 1994, then moved into the Heartland assisted living facility in Powell in December 2000. Mrs. Christensen died Feb. 3.
He is survived by four children and their spouses: Ronald and Margaret Christensen of Manzanita, Ore., Evelyn and Tom Frame of Frenchtown, Mont., Sherron and Orin Muller of Red Lodge, Mont., and Sue and Gordon Hansen of Las Vegas; three sisters: Bettina Darling and Ruby Lynn of Powell and Wilma Barns of Lacy, Wash.; 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were Wednesday, Feb. 21 in the Cowley LDS Chapel. Interment was in the Cowley Cemetery with Haskell Funeral Home of Lovell in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond W. (Ray) Campbell ~ February 18
Funeral services were held in Townsend, Mont., Thursday for Raymond W. (Ray) Campbell, 79, who died Sunday, Feb. 18 at Broadwater Health Center in Townsend.
He was born to Edgar and Mabel (Buckingham) Campbell on Duck Creek on May 5, 1921. He attended schools at Lower Duck Creek, Townsend and Helena.
He entered military service in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1943, he married Isabell (Izzy) Ruppel, and together they had three children. His wife Isabell and a granddaughter, Ivy Campbell, preceded him in death.
For a number of years, he worked at Townsend Lumber before retiring due to ill health.
In 1989, he married Winifred Adams in Townsend.
Mr. Campbell enjoyed the great outdoors, his family, wheeling and dealing and talking about the days gone by.
Survivors include his wife Winifred; three children, Lois Regan and husband Ed and Janet Kirksey and husband Steve, all of Townsend, and Mike Campbell and wife Raye Jean of Montpelier, Idaho; four step-children, Judy Clark and husband Jay of Ralston, Linda Miller and husband Bill of Cowley, Kris Lucus and husband Rick of Powell, and John Adams and wife Debbie of St. Anthony, Idaho; nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, 10 step-great grandchildren, and one step great-great grandchild.
Interment was in the Deep Creek Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials to Deep Creek Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 203, Townsend, MT 59644, the Broadwater Health Center Auxiliary, P.O. Box 362, Townsend, MT 59644, or the Montana Talking Book Library, P.O. Box 201800, Helena, MT 59620-1800.
Muriel Viola Neisess ~ February 21
Muriel Viola Neisess, 89, died Wednesday morning, Feb. 21 at the Powell Nursing Home.
She was born July 13, 1911, to Steven and Katie (Dedrich) Rumsey in South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her husand Walter Neisess and six siblings.
Survivors include her daughter, Lola Mae McRann and husband William, formerly of Powell and now residing in Sunlight Basin in the summers and Mesa, Ariz., during the winter months; grandchildren Mike McRann and wife Lynnie of Lander and Sheree Vredenburg and husband Matt of Riverton; great-grandchildren Collin, Chad, Colton and Kaitlyn McRann of Lander and Ryan and Kira Vredenburg of Riverton.
According to her wishes, cremation has taken place, with burial of cremains in Campbell, Minn., next to her husband.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday) at St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Powell for Lee J. Hamilton, 66, who died Saturday, Feb. 24 at West Park Hospital in Cody following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.
He was born in West Clarksville, N.Y., on Jan. 4, 1935, to Henry and Gladys Hamilton. He moved to the Cody area in 1954.
He married Joan Mackey of Powell in December of 1961. A printer by trade, he was employed in the printing industry in Cody for many years. The family moved from Cody in 1986 and recently returned to the Powell-Cody area.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Joan Hamilton; three sons, Patrick Hamilton and wife Kim and their children, Cody, Sarah, Jacob and Joshua of Medford, Ore., Shaun Hamilton and wife Kelly and their children, Taylor, Conner and Haylie of Bozeman, Mont., and Kelley Hamilton and his children, Jamie and Emily of Ft. Stewart, Ga.; a daughter, Theresa Stevenson and husband Ron and their children, Jennica and Meagan of San Angelo, Texas; three brothers, Bob Hamilton and wife Jackie, Vern Hamilton and Jim Hamilton and wife Kela, all of Cody; three sisters, Clara Wilbur and husband Vic and Jean Butts, both of California, and Mea Collins of Buffalo, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Norma Hamilton, Thelma Bixby and Dorothy Ross; brother-in-law Dale Ross; and many nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to St. Barbara's Foundation or Spirit Mountain Hospice, 707 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY 82414.