July 2007
Clifton (Skip) Smith- July 28, 2007
Nicole Libra- July 27, 2007
Velta Berryman Ellis- July 24, 2007
Albert G. (George) Gay- July 23, 2007
Ruth Helen Hein Reichert- July 22, 2007
Howard Michael Madaus- July 21, 2007
Helen Bambauer- July 19, 2007
Lois Jean (McMillin) Underwood- July16, 2007
Richard Lee Chapman- July 14, 2007
Conzuelo G. Garrison- July 3, 2007
Barbara Moore- July 3, 2007
Dale Dee “Pete” Hitt- July 2, 2007
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church in Powell for Clifton Ray (Skip) Smith, 79, who died Saturday, July 28, at the Powell Valley Care Center.
He was born Nov. 7, 1927, on the family farm to Otto and Francis Smith and lived all of his life in Powell. During his youth, in addition to helping with the family farm, he was active in FFA and received the award of American Farmer.
He married Shirley Usher in Lincoln, Neb., on Aug. 9, 1959. From this union the family grew with two daughters, Larissa and Wendy, and one son, Bradley.
In 1965, Skip began to fulfill is dream of building a cabin in the mountains in Crandall. He was an avid fisherman, both fly and reel, as well as a hunter of Wyoming game and birds. He especially enjoyed sharing the cabin with family and friends for elk hunting, fishing and hiking.
Skip served in the Wyoming National Guard, serving in Japan and Korea (1946 to 1947), as well as active duty in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He retired in 1972 with the rank of major having been the Battery “A” commander for two years from 1963 to 1965. He continued as a member of the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion (“the Cowboy Cannoneers”) and was proud of the contributions he made while in the service of his country. In 2004, Skip was inducted into The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara, a brotherhood within the Field Artillery Association.
In 1952, Skip began his career at the U.S. Post Office. He retired after 39 years of service after achieving the designation of Superintendent of Mails.
He was a member of the following organizations: Elks Lodge (charter member), the American Legion (commander for one year), Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce, Powell Kiwanis, the Union Presbyterian Church (elder 1973 to 1976) and the Korean War Veterans Association.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Shirley; son, Bradley (Germany – Iraq post) and sons Cody and Clifton; daughter, Larissa (Charles Stone) of California and children Brandie, Ryan and Angelo; daughter Wendy (James) Bailey of San Jose, Calif., and children Jordan and Kelly; brother, Denman (Janet) Smith of Kent, Wash.; sister, Betty Rockhold of Powell; sister-in-law, Jeannette Smith of Powell; nephews, Warren (Barbara) Smith of Fairbanks Alaska, Spencer (Laurie) Smith of Powell, Kurt (Peggy) Smith of Wrangles, Alaska, Regan (Wendy) Smith of Powell, Steve (Tammy) Rockhold of Aurora, Colo.; two nieces, Kathryn Smith of Vashon, Wash., and Virginia (David) Mangin of New Zealand. There are also numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Dick Smith; sister, Dorothy Cline; and brothers-in-law, Orville Cline and Jack Rockhold.
Burial will be at the Powell Crown Hill Cemetery immediately following the service.
For those who wish, the family requests donations be given in Skip’s name to the Northwest College Foundation, 231 W. 6th St., Powell, WY 82435, or a charity of choice. Thompson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Nicole Libra
Nicole Catherine Libra, 20, formerly of Fulton, N.Y., died Friday, July 27, 2007 after a long and courageous battle with heart disease.
She was a resident of 10 Heather Rd., Cody, and attended high school in Cody. Her future plans included attending a culinary school. She grew to be a selfless, strong-willed, and delightful young woman.
She is survived by her mother, Teresa Libra, of Cody; her father, John Libra of Cody; three sisters Kelly (Crowe) Graves of Fulton, N.Y., April Kubistek of Derry, Pa., and Rebecca Jean Libra of Cody; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins of central New York.
A formal burial was held at St. Mary’s Cemetery located in Fulton, N.Y., on Aug. 3.
On Saturday, Sept. 8 at 10 a.m., a memorial and dedication ceremony will be held at Heart Mountain Healthcare, 615 15th street, Cody. All friends and family are welcome to attend. The family will gladly accept donations to help cover medical expenses incurred.
Funeral services are scheduled today (Tuesday), July 24 at 10 a.m. at the Lovell United Methodist Church for Velta (Berryman) Ellis, 90, who died Thursday, July 19 at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell.
She was born Sept. 14, 1916, at the home of her grandparents in Powell to Walter and Lena Durland Berryman. They owned the Racket Store and Cafe.
Her family moved to Deaver, and a sister, Velma, and a brother, Ivan, were born there. She finished her high school education in Deaver and went on to the University of Denver, graduating in 1939 as a teacher. She returned to Lovell and taught fifth grade for one year.
She married George Ellis May 18, 1940, in Billings, Mont. She served as postmistress at Kane until 1965 and then worked in Lovell. After 41 years, she retired at 65.
She was a lady farmer with pigs, chickens, cows and her favorite horses until rheumatoid arthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) took over her life. George became her caregiver for 10 years until she went into the New Horizons Care Center.
Survivors include George, her husband of 67 years; her children, daughter Karen Spragg (Wayne), son Larry Ellis and daughter Elaine Good (Ron Hermes), all of Lovell; grandchildren, Sam Spragg, Shannon Ellis (Christy), Spencer Ellis (Annette), Scoti Kober, Lisa Wilkerson (Dean), all of Lovell; and Shana Bartle (Ken) and Chris Good (Miria), both of Powell; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
For those who wish, the family would appreciate donations to North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center. Funeral arrangements are by Haskell Funeral Home, Lovell.
Albert G. (George) Gay died Monday, July 23 in Powell at the age of 70.
He was born Jan. 15, 1937, in Pocatello, Idaho. His father moved him and his mother to a Heart Mountain homestead in 1949, and George graduated from Powell High School in 1955.
He married Sandra S. Bristor of Powell on Oct. 12, 1957. He served a distinguished career as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army from 1956-1980. He served two tours in Vietnam.
He completed a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1972 and a master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. After retirement, George and Sandra moved returned to Powell in 1997.
He is survived by his wife Sandra; three daughters, Tammy Gay of Kansas City, Mo., Christi Chavez of Albuquerque, N.M., and Traci (Serdar) Akgul of Plano, Texas; and three grandchildren, Kayla and Jessica Akgul and Christian Chavez.
A military graveside service will be held Friday, July 27 at 9 a.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery.
The family requests memorial donations to Heart Mountain Volunteer Medical Clinic, c/o Powell Medical Foundation, 777 Avenue H, Powell, WY 82435 or the Powell Valley Hospice at the same address. Thompson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Ruth Helen Hein Reichert of Powell died Sunday morning, July 22 in Billings, surrounded by her family.
The daughter of George and Mary Hein, she was born at home, west of Billings on Feb. 5, 1926. She lived on the family farm and attended Elder Grove Elementary and Billings Senior High Schools.
Ruth married Jacob Reichert on Jan. 29, 1944 in Laurel, Mont. In 1952, they purchased a homestead and moved into a Heart Mountain Relocation Center barracks on the Heart Mountain Project west of Powell.They cleared 160 acres of sagebrush and rocks to build an irrigated farm.
In adulthood, Ruth was primarily a homemaker and loved playing cards with friends. Her hobbies included hunting arrowheads, raising bum lambs, painting, and growing flowers and vegetable gardens. She was a hard worker and wanted the best for her family.
Survivors include her husband, Jacob Reichert of Powell; her four children, Lynnette (LeRoy) Feusner of Cheyenne, Jack (Sandy) Reichert of Johnson City, Texas, Patti (Steve) Reichert-Dalby of Libby, Mont., and Timothy (Carrie) Reichert of Billings; her brother, William Hein of Worden, Mont., and family pets, Ridge and Czar (little sweetie).
She also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Kristi (John) Warden of Las Cruces, N.M., Katreena (Joe) Mullican of Huntsville, Ala., TyAnn Robinson of Round Rock, Texas, Dustin Reichert of Johnson City, Texas, Heidi (Brad) Lane of Kalispell, Mont., Adam (Erika) Close of San Diego, Calif., Alisha (Elie) Soueidi of Billings, Zachary Reichert of Denver, and Bethany (James) Wiesner of Billings and nine great-grandchildren.
Her father and mother, sisters Lena Glantz, Rose Schleining, Millie Weigand, Lydia King, and brother George Hein, preceded her in death.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, Cary Street and Avenue H, in Powell, at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25. Interment will be at the Crown Hill Cemetery.
For those who wish, the family requests donations to Hope Lutheran Church in memory of Ruth Reichert.
Howard Michael Madaus died peacefully Saturday, July 21, at his home in Cody. He was 63.
He was born Aug. 17, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Sylvia Niles Madaus and Howard Otto Madaus. He married Patricia Baumhover Aug. 17, 1974.
He graduated from Marquette University High School in 1961 and then earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Marquette University in 1965. Following some post-graduate work at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., he took a position with The Milwaukee Public Museum as an assistant curator of history from 1968 to 1992. From 1992 to 1999 he was curator of the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. Subsequently he became chief curator of the newly opened National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa., in 2000. He returned to Cody in 2003 to focus on his consulting work through “Old Glory” Flag Consultants L.L.C.
Howard was a member of the Company of Military Historians, the American Society of Arms Collectors, the North-South Skirmish Association and the Maryland Arms Collectors Association. He has written numerous books and articles on firearms, the Civil War and flags of our country’s history. His first major book was “The Battle Flags of the Confederate Army of Tennessee” (1976), and his most recent was “The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict” (2006). He has also appeared in programs on the History Channel, A & E and PBS.
He is survived by his mother Sylvia; his wife Patricia Baumhover, and their daughters; Elizabeth Madaus of Seattle, Wash., Theresa Madaus of Minneapolis, Minn., and Kathryn Madaus of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He is also survived by numerous relatives and friends.
Vigil Services will be Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, in Cody. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 28, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Helen Bambauer of Powell, 82, died Thursday evening, July 19, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer.
Born Dec. 21, 1924, to John and Anna Videyko in Harrison, N.J., Helen was the second of eight children. She graduated from nursing school as a registered nurse in 1946.
She served as a nurse at Fort Dix, N.J., during World War II where she met her future husband, John Bambauer. They were married May 12, 1947, and they relocated to Queens, N.Y., where she continued nursing at Wycoff Heights Hospital in Brooklyn.
Helen and John were the proud parents of two children, John and June. After 35 years of service, she retired and moved to Powell with her husband in 1981.
Helen was a loving wife, mother, sister, friend and grandmother who was a connoisseur of books, movies and Broadway plays.
Her family will remember her as a first class dresser with a fascination for anything leopard print and zebra-striped. She was a fantastic cook who made sure no one ever went hungry. Helen was the kind of person others strive to be.
Survivors include her children, June (Rick) Armstrong of Powell and John (Jacquelyn) Bambauer of Nanuet, N.Y.; her sisters, Jennie (Mal) Healy of St. Petersburg, Fla., Pauline Roman of East Newark, N.J., and Anna (Joe) Baum of Nuttley, N.J.; and five grandchildren, Tarna, Kayla and Tysen Armstrong, all of Powell, and John and Jackie Bambauer of Nanuet, N.Y. Helen also leaves behind countless friends whose lives have been touched by her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Bambauer; her parents; her sister, Mary Eckenbrack; and brothers John Videyko, Joey Videyko and Michael Videyko.
Her family will remember her as a one-of-a-kind woman who will be loved and missed always.
No services are planned.
Lois Jean (McMillin) Underwood died Monday, July 16 at Edgewood Vista in Missoula, Mont., at the age of 80 as a result of complications of Alzheimer’s with which she had been suffering for 10 years.
She was born Jan. 24, 1927 in Cody to Joseph Norval and Clarice Ellen (Chase) McMillin, the youngest of nine children. She married Dale Underwood in 1948, and together they had two daughters: LaWana Friis of Post Falls, Idaho and LaNette Fowler of Missoula.
She is survived by her daughters; her son-in-law, John Fowler; her grandchildren, Brian Fowler, Brandon (Corey) Friis, Nikki (Jeff) Newcomb and Kara (Justin) DeArmond; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, on Oct. 13, 1975; her parents, Joseph Norval and Clarice McMillin; her sisters, Folsom (Pete) Schultz, Norma (Basil) Underwood, Ruth (Roy) Underwood; her brothers, Cecil (Dorothy) McMillin, Kenneth (Leola) McMillin, Harold (Mildred) McMillin, Clinton McMillin and Irvin McMillin.
She owned and operated Underwood Catering in Cody for 17 years prior to moving to Missoula in 1999 to be closer to her family.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be announced at a later date this fall in Cody, where Lois will be laid to rest next to her husband in Riverside Cemetery.
Richard Lee Chapman of Elko, Nev., died July 14 in a car accident at Elko.
He was 29.
He was born May 13, 1978, in Casper to Dan and Jeanette Chapman.
He was an employee of Eklund Driving in Elko.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Diamond Guitar; a daughter, Alexia Dawn Chapman of Elko; his parents of Oklahoma City; one sister, Keca Chapman of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; two brothers, Kirk (Tara) Chapman and nephew Wyatt of Powell, and twin Raymond (Misty) and niece Marriah of Elko; two grandmothers, Wilma Willey of Webster, Minn., and Barbara Chapman of Sulphur Springs, Ark.; in-laws, Steven and Becky Guitar of Elko, Nev.; grandparents-in-law, Dolores and Gary Willard of Spring Creek, Nev., and Eloise McMahon of Elko; and a sister-in-law, Charish (Conor) Flanagan of Fort Collins, Colo.
A memorial gathering has taken place.
Funeral services were conducted Friday, July 6, at Thompson Funeral Home in Powell for Conzuelo G. Garrison, 81, who died Tuesday, July 3, at her Powell home.
She was a native of California, born Oct. 16, 1925, in Los Angeles. California funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, at Rose Family Funeral Home in Simi Valley, with interment to follow at 1:30 p.m. at Rose Hills Cemetery.
She was the daughter of Ysabel Gonzalez and Guadalupe (Garcia) Gonzalez. She attended Compton Junior College in California and married Jake Garrison Nov. 5, 1947.
They lived in Torrance, Calif., Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Powell. Before moving to Powell, she worked for Lutheran Social Services in Ventura County, Calif.
Conzuelo was a member of the Methodist Church. She loved all sports and loved to fish and bowl. She was a dedicated Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers fan.
Her family will remember her first and foremost as a wonderful mother and awesome grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family was the light of her life. She was a woman ahead of her time — independent and headstrong — and loved driving fast cars.
Her faith in the Lord was constant.
Survivors include her daughter, Maria Ogburn (Bruce) of Powell; a sister Isabelle Niemann (Wesley) of Whittier, Calif.; a brother, Ruben (Rose) Gonzalez of Lakewood, Calif.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two sisters and three brothers.
Pallbearers at the funeral were Bruce Ogburn, Doug Roberts, Larry Roberts, Rosendo De La Rosa, Juan Lopez Haller and Joey P. Moss. Honorary pallbearers were Ruben Gonzalez, Alfonzo De La Rosa, Michael Gonzalez, Joe Gonzalez, Steward Deats, Candice Lopez Haller, Maria L. Moss, Lupe MacAlpine, Ursula Ballard and Monique Roberts.
Barbara Moore, 88, died Tuesday, July 3 at the Powell Valley Hospital.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, July 9 at the First Methodist Church in Powell. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.
A full obituary will follow. Thompson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Dale Hitt
Dale Dee “Pete” Hitt, 78, died Monday, July 2 at Bethany Home in Minden, Nebr.
He was born in Marshall, Okla., on March 24, 1929, to Fay Dee “Fred” and Gladys Jett Hitt. Hemarried Clara Joan Brown in Marshall on Feb. 14, 1946. As newlyweds, they followed the oil fields to Colorado, North Dakota and Wyoming. They lived in Rock Springs from 1956 to 1966, then settled in Powell, where they lived until his retirement from Johnston Testers/Schlumberger.
After retirement, he returned to his native soil in Oklahoma. Two years ago, he moved to Nebraska to be near his daughter, Dawna.
Pete is survived by one son, Dale Dee “Shorty” Hitt, Jr. of Rock Springs; three daughters, Anita Wall and husband Ray of Rock Springs, Jetta Kragovich of Rock Springs and Dawna Sigurdson and husband Randy of Kearney, Nebr.; eight grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; two brothers and one sister. He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan and his parents.
Funeral services were Friday, July 6.