JANUARY 2004
James S. Graham ~ January 2, 2004
Jack Richard Stahn ~ January 2, 2004
Carol Sue Smalley ~ January 5, 2004
Agnes Conant Moore ~ January 7, 2004
Jeffrey A. Harrison ~ January 8, 2004
Velda Durfee ~ January 12, 2004
Kallin Nicole Smith ~ January 17, 2004
Deodora C. Letran ~ January 19, 2004
Sandy Graham ~ January 22, 2004
William Frank Keller ~ January 23, 2004
Eva Lou Vredenburg ~ January 24, 2004
Velma Berryman Kessel ~ January 26, 2004
Midge Knapp ~ January 29, 2004
Pablo Velasquez ~ January 29, 2004
James (Jim) Sanford Graham died Friday, Jan. 2 at the Powell Valley Healthcare Center. He was 85.
Cremation has taken place per his wishes.
A memorial service is planned Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Union Presbyterian Church in Powell. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery with Powell Veterans Honor Guard providing military honors.
He was born July 17, 1918, at the Graham family homestead east of Powell to Herf Stewart Graham and Nellie Grace Allen Graham. He was the fifth born of five brothers and two sisters.
After graduating from Powell High School in 1937, he worked for the REA prior to going into the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon returning from the service, he married Jacqueline (Jackie) Evon Pederson on July 10, 1946. They made their home in Powell and raised two children, Tom and Cindy.
Jim was an electrical contractor throughout his life as a partner in the Modern Electric Store and later as the owner of Jim's Electric on Clark Street for 35 years.
He will be fondly remembered for his playful sense of humor, his love for extended family and many friends, and his steadfast support of his community. He was active in American Legion Post 26 for more than 60 years, serving as Post Commander, Trustee and many other offices.
He was a charter member of the Eagles Lodge in Powell and a member of the Presbyterian Church and Homesteader Museum. He enjoyed hunting with his brothers and friends, as well as fishing at the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. In later years, he enjoyed camping with family and friends in his trailer on the North Fork of the Shoshone River.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Jackie Graham; daughter Cindy Sinclair of Sultan Wash.; son Tom Graham of Powell; son-in-law Rick Sinclair; grandchildren Shayla, Tyler, Drew, Christina, and Daniel; great grandchildren Alexis and Brett; sister EvaLou Vredenburg; sisters-in-law Ila Graham, Beverly Farmer and Bettina Darling; brothers-in-law Amos Vredenburg, Bert Farmer and Dick Darling; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Kenneth, Everett, Vern and Edwin; one sister, Marge; and granddaughter Nicole Graham.
For those who wish, the family suggests donations to the Powell Veterans Memorial, c/o Powell High School, 245 North Evarts, Powell, WY 82435 or a charity of choice.
Funeral arrangements are by Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home of Powell.
Jack Richard Stahn, a life-loving, generous, and humorous man, peacefully passed away in the presence of family members at his home on January 2, 2004 following a lengthy illness. He was born on January 19, 1918 in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Lingle, Wyoming with his parents, John and Cleta, when he was eight. They moved to Powell in 1929 when he was eleven.
After his mother died, Jack grew up spending summers in the Powell area. He attended school in Omaha, Nebraska with his Grandmother Stahn and Aunt Beulah (Boodie) Stahn. He graduated high school in Omaha and attended Creighton University for his D.D.S. degree.
He met the love of his life, Rose Norton, in Omaha, and they married in 1942; they had 51 loving years together.
Jack joined the Army Medical Corps as a dentist in 1943 and spent time in England and France during World War II. After his discharge from the military, Jack and Rose moved their family to Powell, where he joined his father's dental practice. Jack practiced dentistry for 50 years serving the Powell area. Jack was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the Eagles, the American Legion, the Elks Club, and was one of the inaugural members of the Powell Kiwanis Club.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman, and had a lifelong love of horses. He often told how he would ride his horse from Powell to Cody as a child. Jack truly loved the Shady Boreen, the family cabin on the North Fork, where there are many happy memories with family and friends. Jack was always up for a good game of cards, especially Cribbage (he was the best!). Jack loved Wyoming, with its natural splendor and good people. He stated many times that he had never met a man he didn't like, and that is the way he lived his life.
After Rose's death in 1993, Jack married longtime friend, Ruth Sipe, in 1995. He spent his remaining years with her companionship. Jack is preceded in death by his first wife, Rose, his mother, Cleta, his father, John, and his daughters, Karen Anicito, Toni Wren, Teresa Stahn, and his stepmother, Isadore Stahn.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, his children; Jeff and Elvira Stahn of Tohatchi, NM, son-in-law, Sal Anicito of Miami, FL, Joni and Johnny Hazlitt of Arvada, CO, Geri and Dan Prell of Powell, WY, and Tomi and Mike Welsh of Manistee, MI, Marta and Dan Conlon of Corona, CA; his 22 grandchildren; Joel, Jeanette, and Jolynn Stahn, Joseph and Jacob Damon, Trena Gumuscian, Jody Cunningham, Kris Long, Suzanne Santos, Tracy Gilmore, Tasha Plew, Tamera and Todd Wren, Jason and Jill Hazlitt, Vicki Burke, Rocky Melger, Casy and Kelly Welsh, and Danici, Graham, and Katie Conlon; his 26 great-grandchildren; his 2 great-great-grandchildren; his sisters; Nicki Anderson and Julanne Weisberg, his brother, John, his cousin, Maxine Stell, who was like a sister to him, and his faithful dog, Fritzie.
Visitation was Monday, January 5, 2004, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home, Powell. Services will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2004 at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara's Catholic Church in Powell, Wyoming. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery with the Powell Veterans Honor Guard according military honors. Memories of Jack will be shared following the burial at the VFW in Powell. Memorial contributions may be made to: Powell Valley Hospice, 777 Ave. H, Powell, WY 82435.
Funeral services for Chelsea, Okla., resident, Carol Sue Smalley, will be held at 1 p.m. today (Tuesday) at Chelsea Funeral Home Chapel. She died Monday, Jan. 5 at the age of 59.
The daughter of Bob and Helen (Reiter) Cox was born Aug. 26, 1944, in Vinita, Okla. She attended White Oak and Vinita schools before moving to Wyoming where she graduated from high school in Cody.
While living in Wyoming, she met Lawrence Smalley. On June 6, 1962, they were married in Cody. Fourteen years ago, the Smalleys moved to the Chelsea area from Billings, Mont.
She was of the Methodist faith. She was a member of the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Her hobbies included gardening and horse racing. Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Lawrence H. Smalley of the family home; sons Wayland R. Smalley and wife Marci of Chelsea and Jeffery L. Smalley and wife Sandra of Richland, Wash.; a sister, Betty Brenner of Chelsea; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob Cox and Helen Ramsey; and brother, E.W. Cox.
Burial will be in Washington Cemetery in Chelsea. Chaplain Charles Boyle will officiate at services.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. at First Methodist Church for pioneer Powell resident, Agnes Conant Moore, 93, who died Friday, Jan. 2 at the Powell Hospital. She was born in 1910 in Worland, daughter of Edwin and Katherine Frisby Conant. She graduated from Worland High School and attended the University of Wyoming, studying music education. She married Russell O. Moore in 1930, and they moved to the Willwood farming area south of Powell in 1934 as homesteaders. Agnes, like many Powell pioneers, helped to provide the foundation of what Powell is today. She and Russell broke out their farmland while he ran dragline for the Deaver Irrigation District. Their farm house was built with logs that Russell and his brother, Ted, cut and hauled from Rattlesnake Mountain with Ted's team of horses. For every two logs they cut, Russell could keep one, and the logging company kept one. At the time, they had two small sons, Richard and Russell Jr. Her love of music was shared with her family, her piano students and communicants of the Methodist Church, where she actively attended until shortly before her death. She was the organist for the church and active in all parts of her beloved church's music department. Travel was a great joy for Agnes. She traveled to Europe to hear music and across the United States to visit family and friends. She was a charter member of the Fine Arts Club, and a member of Rebekah's, the Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star and the Willwood Women's Club. Survivors include her sons and their wives, Richard and Lydia of Powell, Clifford and Betsy of Vashon, Wash., and Lawrence and Brooke of New Windsor, N.Y.; eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell O. Moore; her son, Russell Jr.; her parents; and brothers Edwin and Donald Conant. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For those who wish, the family would appreciate donations to the First Methodist Church in Powell or to a charity of choice.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Union Presbyterian Church for Jeffrey A. Harrison, 16, who died Thursday evening, Jan. 8 at the family home outside Powell.
The Rev. David Hunter will officiate at services. Cremation will follow. He was born Feb. 22, 1987, in Bountiful, Utah, to Thomas R. and Diana D. (Duke) Harrison. During his short 16 years, he lived in Utah, Bozeman, Mont., and Powell. During the summer of 2003, he was employed at Plaza Fuels in Powell. He was a member of Shoshone Rock Club, Rocks & Bugs 4-H Club and the Hounds-Around 4-H Club. He enjoyed motorcyle trail riding with his dad and brother Marc; pheasant hunting; rock hunting; tinkering with his truck; training his dog Bhudda; and hanging out with his friends. For the past two years, he participated in the Youth Leadership Conference. He will be remembered as a loving son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend. Survivors include his parents; brother, Marc Harrison; sisters, Angela Harrison and Jennifer Harrison; nephew, Jak Harrison; grandparents, James and Susan Duke, and Ernestine Harrison, all of Powell; aunts, Bonnie Duke and Milton Jordan of Fornley, Nev., and Donna and Greg Koelfgen, cousins, Quinn and Hayley Koelfgen of New Brunsfeld, Texas. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bob Harrison, and an uncle, Max Duke. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be Friday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Cowley LDS Church for Velda Durfee, 83, Deaver, who died Monday, Jan. 12 at New Horizon's Care Center in Lovell. Burial will follow in the Deaver Cemetery. Haskell Funeral Home of Lovell is in charge of arrangements.
Funeral services will be today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at the Powell Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for Kallin Nicole Smith, 12, who died at her home Saturday, Jan. 17. Bishop Gib Condie will officiate at services. She was born Sept. 17, 1991, in Powell to Scott B. and Barbara A. (Cummins) Smith. She was a member of the LDS Church and was a sixth grader at Powell Middle School. She was a member of the Poetry Club, Math Counts and Word Power. She loved reading, swimming and diving and playing the piano. She received the Presidential Academic Award for perfect WYCAS scores in two areas. Survivors include her parents, Scott and Barbara Smith; brother Kenny Smith and sisters Natalee Smith and Amy Smith, all of the family home west of Powell; grandparents B.J. Smith of Dillon, Mont., and Kent and Janet Cummins of Arco, Idaho; great-grandmother Margaret Waymire of Howe, Idaho; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Her Grandma Kennette K. Smith and an uncle, Doug Cummins, preceded her in death. For those who wish, memorials to the Powell Music Boosters would be appreciated by the family. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 375, Powell, WY 82435, or dropped off at First National Bank in Powell. Burial will take place Saturday in Mountain View Cemetery, Dillon, Mont. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Deodora (Dory) C. Letran, 49, died Monday, Jan. 19 at her Powell residence at 472 N. Hamilton. She was born Jan. 5, 1955, in Capoocan Leyte, Philippines, daughter of Elpedio Letran and Florentina Carolina. Her hobbies were fishing, needlework and gardening. She was a blue ribbon award winner in crocheting in both the Park County Fair and the Wyoming State Fair. She worked at the Skyline Cafe in Powell for many years. Survivors include her best friend, Darrel J. Van Deest of Powell; a son, Sgt. Timothy Letran (Allison Dawn) in the U.S. Army; and one grandchild, Cameron L. Letran. Memorial services are pending at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
Sandy Graham, 91, died Thursday, Jan. 22 at Aspen Meadows in Billings, Mont.
He was a member of Absarokee Lodge AF&AM Masonic Lodge of Powell and a member of York Rite and Al Bedoo Shrine in Billings. Cremation has taken place.
William Frank "Bill" Keller - Jan. 23
William Frank "Bill" Keller, 66, of Idaho Falls died Jan 23, 2004 at his home.
He was born February 8, 1937, in Penrose, Wyo., to Julius and Marie Ertl Keller. He attended schools in Powell, Wyo., graduating from Powell High School in 1955. He married Millie May McCumber of Cody on November 25, 1955 in Billings, Montana. The Kellers moved to Idaho Falls in 1966 and have lived there since that time. They managed O.K. Tire Builders for 26 years. They own and operate Busy Bee Transportation in Idaho Falls. Bill enjoyed riding four-wheelers, camping, collecting antiques, gardening, animals of all kinds, helping others and target practice. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Keller of Idaho Falls; children, Connie Irene (Phil) Johnson of Billings, Montana, Dan Eugene (Cheryl) Keller of Nebraska, Julie Marie (Jon) Faler of Gillette, Wyoming, Wayne W. (Karla) Keller of Nashville, Tennessee, Lisa Mae Cripps of Idaho Falls; sister Lea (Ken) Lane of Salt Lake City, Utah; 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and one grandson. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held this spring. Arrangements have been under the direction of Wood Funeral Home, 273 Ridge Ave. in Idaho Falls.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Eva Lou Vredenburg, who died at her home in Powell on Saturday, Jan. 24, will be Friday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. in the Powell-Cody Community of Christ Church 16 miles west of Powell on U.S. 14-A. She was 80.
Her family will remember her as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Cremation has taken place as per her wishes.
She was born June 13, 1923, at the Graham family homestead two and one-half miles east of Powell. She was the youngest of seven children born to Herf Stewart Graham and Nellis Grace (Allen) Graham.
After graduating from Powell High School in 1941, she trained at Great Falls Commercial College in Montana. Her secretarial career took her to Kansas and New Mexico before she returned to Powell in 1944 and became secretary to R.A. Nelson at First National Bank and Nelson Insurance.
She married Amos S. Vredenburg of Missouri on Sept. 17, 1948. They settled in Powell, raised five children and provided a temporary, loving home and shelter to many others. Eva Lou never met a stranger. She had a smile, kind word and "love" to share.
She was a dedicated, lifelong volunteer who served her community and state as a member and officer in many organizations, including the Riverside Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Gray Ladies, the American Red Cross and her church.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Amos Vredenburg; her children, Laurel Vredenburg, Scott Vredenburg, JoAmy Rice, Matt Vredenburg and Mark Vredenburg; son-in-law, Fred Watkins, and daughters-in-law, Sheri, Sheree and Laurie Vredenburg; grandchildren, Taya, Jessica,
McKenzee, Casey, Ryan and Kira; sisters-in-law, Ila Graham, Jackie Graham, Betina Darling, Rose Vredenburg, Dorothy Traynor and Sadie Vredenburg; brothers-in-law, Bernley Vredenburg and Dick Darling; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Kenneth, Marge, Everett, Vern, Jim and Edwin; and son-in-law Max Rice.
For those who wish, donations may be made to the Herf Graham Memorial Scholarship in care of the Northwest College Foundation, 231 West 6th St., Powell, WY 82435, or a charity of choice. Funeral arrangements are by Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
Velma Berryman Kessel - Jan. 26
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 26 at Hope Lutheran Church for Velma Berryman Kessel, 85, who died Thursday, Jan. 22 at Powell Valley Nursing Care Center.
She was born to Walter and Lena Berryman in Deaver on Aug. 8, 1918. She graduated from the Deaver school system and then graduaed from Billings Deaconess Hospital in September of 1940 as a Registered Nurse. She worked at the county hospital in Billings and then joined the medical staff Oct. 19, 1942, at the Heart Mountain Relocation Camp west of Powell.
She married John Kessel in Billings, Mont., on April 13, 1943. They spent the first three years of their marriage apart, John overseas and Velma working at the relocation camp. After the war, they settled in Powell and opened OK Tire Store.
Velma was bookkeeper at the family business for a number of years, but later returned to her love of caring for others as a school nurse and then obstetrical nurse at the Powell Hospital. She retired from nursing when she started helping to deliver babies from the babies she had once delivered.
She was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church and served as Sunday School superintendent for a number of years and participated in the making of quilts. She delighted in the fact that she learned to tat when she was 80 years old. She truly enjoyed the company of friends.
She enjoyed traveling with her husband later participated in trips with her daughters. She was an avid reader, enjoyed painting, ceramics, crocheting, dollmaking and watching John Wayne movies. Her book, "Behind Barb Wire," chronicles her experiences at the Japanese relocation camp and makes a contribution to national history. She loved corn candy, but most of all, she loved her family. She would say, "I love you and I'm so glad you're mine."
Survivors include her daughters, Cheryl Kolesien (Jim) of Powell and Arleen Kessel of Colstrip, Mont.; her sister, Vella Ellis (George) of Lovell; a brother, Ivan Berryman of Garland; her grandchildren, Kim Moore (Jim) of Meeteetse, Tamara Alexander (Ryan) of Yakima, Wash., Brandee Dahill (Robert) of Cheyenne, and Josh Degraffenreid (Carl) of Billings; seven great-grandchildren, Jon, Rylee and Bailee Moore, Zacheri and Ellie Alexander, Spencer Dahill and Dakota Degraffenreid; and many nieces and nephews.
She was a woman of many roles and touched many lives. Her family says, "We are so blessed that she was ours."
Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday morning, Feb. 2 at St. Barbara's Catholic Church for Pablo Velasquez, 15, who died Thursday, Jan. 29 at Powell Valley Healthcare Center due to complications from Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy.
Father Pete Johnson officiated at services and burial in Crown Hill Cemetery.
He was born June 3, 1988, in Powell to Salome and Rosa (Ayala) Velasquez. He completed the eighth grade.
He loved to attend school, play Nintendo and have children around him.
Survivors include his mother, Rosa Velasquez; brothers Javier Velasquez and Martin Velasquez; sisters Melisa Velasquez and husband Adrian De la Cruz, Jackie Velasquez, and Maria Morales and husband Victor; nieces and nephews, Erick Morales, Monserrat Morales, Elizabeth Morales and Salome George De la Cruz; godmother, Maria Abarca, and godfather, Victor Abarca; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father in October 2003, and his brother, Salome Velasquez, Jr.
Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Former Park County Treasurer Agnes "Midge" Knapp of Cody died Thursday, Jan. 29 after a long illness. She was 67.
She was born Oct. 18, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., to Michael and Agnes Rose Wilson LaSchiava, who were both hearing impaired. Raised by a grandmother, she became an accomplished dancer, figure skater and pianist. In her teens, she was unofficially adopted by the Becker family of Chicago. She was forever fond of her adopted brothers, Michael Becker of Cody and Ray Becker of Dillard, Ga., and their families.
She was the office manager for the firm that built the Chicago O'Hare Airport. She moved to Cody with the Becker families in the early 1970s and married long-time Cody resident Lynn Knapp on June 5, 1974.
She worked for Park County for 21 years, the last eight as county treasurer.
She loved music, animals, traveling, fishing and people. She was active in the Cody Soroptomists and teh Republican Women's organization. Survivors include her husband, Lynn Knapp; a son, Major Karl Knapp in the USMC, San Diego, Calif.; two grandchildren, Kyle and Amanda Knapp of Temecula, Calif.; and a brother, Bill LaShiava of Chicago.
At her wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are planned. Memorial contributions to the Humane Society of Park County, Box 203, Cody, would be appreciated by the family.