JUNE 2003
Robert W. Honeysett ~ June 4, 2003
Robert Merle Black ~ June 5, 2003
William H. Kysar ~ June 6, 2003
Donald W. Pierson ~ June 6, 2003
Jeanne E. Byrd ~ June 14, 2003
Katherine L. Milburn ~ June 21, 2003
Esther Myrdal ~ June 24, 2003
Meah Anne Krum ~ June 28, 2003
Melvin Sessions Boyce ~ June 30, 2003
Howard T. Wilder
Robert William Honeysett- June 4
Powell native Robert William (Bob) Honeysett died June 4 at his home in Soldotna, Ala., after a long illness. He was 75.
Mr. Honeysett was born March 11, 1928, in Powell to James and Irene Honeysett. He spent four years in the U.S. Navy and received his honorable discharge Jan. 7, 1948.
He married Norma Jean Fetzer in 1948, and they had four children. He traveled the world, drilling for oil in the North Sea and Iran before moving to Alaska in 1964 to work the Alaskan oil fields.
He drilled for oil from the North Slope to Cook Inlet to Cold Bay, employed by various oil companies. He retired in 1989.
He enjoyed all sports, especially basketball.
He led his sons into the oil industry and they exhibited the same work ethic which he always employed. The family says chances are they will all meet on "the rig."
Mr. Honeysett was preceded in death by his parents; brothers James E. and Richard S. Honeysett; and sons, William Robert and Robert Edward Honeysett.
He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Honeysett of Anchorage, Alas.; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Michael Munger of Soldotna; and 10 grandchildren.
Robert Merle Black, formerly of Powell, died Thursday, June 5 in Billings. He was 66.
Bob was born on Oct. 22, 1936 in Seattle, Wash., the son of Jack Black and Barbara Pratt.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education at Montana State University, Billings (formerly Eastern Montana College). During his college years, he traveled to Spain as an exchange student and studied Spanish and taught English.
He married Nancy Mollet (now Nancy Grant) of Cody on Nov. 1, 1966 in Billings. They were married 25 years before divorcing. The couple served in the Peace Corps in Mexico shortly after they were married.
Bob owned R&S Construction in Casper and Powell, sharing his talent at decorating and remodeling homes.
Bob was a member of the Roman Catholic Church and loved reading, music and gardening. He participated in many bowling, golfing and bridge clubs as well.
He will be remembered as a devoted family man and Christian.
He is survived by his mother, Barbara Black of Billings; son Tyler (Keli) Black of Powell; daughters Chantel (Scott) Wiles of Ruskin, Fla., and Karina Black of Los Angeles, Calif.; sister Pam (Fred) Scott of Billings; grandchildren Morgan Wiles and Zak Black; nieces and nephews Tarey and Tanya Mayn, Jay Lieveke and Dione Scott, and Tawnia West.
He was preceded in death by sons Weston and Justin; sister Jackie Holeman; and his father Jack.
Graveside services were held Monday, June 9, at Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell, with Father Peter Johnson of St. Barbara's Church officiating.
Memorials would be appreciated by the family and may be sent to Horizon Hospice Home, PO Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Memorial services will be conducted today (Tuesday, June 10) at 2 p.m. at Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in Powell for William H. (Bill) Kysar, Sr.
He died at age 70 on Friday, June 6 at Powell Valley Healthcare Center, surrounded by family and loved ones following his two and one-half year battle with quadriplegia. He died due to kidney failure and other complications from his injury.
He was born April 9, 1933, to Carl and Eva Kysar in Alluwee, Okla., one of five children.
He attended Powell High School and entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 18. He served his country from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict.
On Nov. 21, 1956, he married his wife of 46 years, Kathleeen "Kay" Wick in Absarokee, Mont. Bill did many things during his lifetime, but above all else, he will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, brother and son and "a real family man."
Survivors include his loving wife Kay of Basin; seven children and their families, Diana Foretich of Green River, Janet Tanner of Rock Springs, William Kysar, Jr. of Bismarck, N.D., Michael Kysar of Parma, Idaho, Karen Retzman of Basin, Carl Kysar of Basin and Amber Marie of the U.S. Navy; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a brother, Jerry Kysar of Powell; a sister, Anna Hoch of Wagner, Okla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents and two brothers, Jack Kysar and Bob Kysar, preceded him in death.
According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Former Powell resident Donald Woodrow Pierson of Chubbuck, Idaho, 85, died Friday, June 6 in a Pocatello, Idaho, hospital.
He was born in the village of Grasston, Minn., to Edward and Olga Ostrom Peierson on Dec. 5, 1917. He was raised in Minn., Detroit and Powell, where he graduated from Powell High School in 1936.
He married Virginia Nye in 1938. She died in 1973, and he later married Mary Allred in October of 1976.
He was a millwright and worked in construction. Later he was a salesman and worked in the oil fields and then owned Pierson Mobile Homes.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Pierson, of Chubbuck, Idaho; two sons, Lee (Lynda) Pierson and Miles Pierson, both of Pocatello; three daughters, Jody (Skip) Hissong of Post Falls, Idaho, Susan Crump of Owings, Md., and Debra (Tony) Moreno of Simi Valley, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Pierson, Jr.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, June 18 at 10 a.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home for Jeanne E. (Reed) Byrd, 83, who died Saturday, June 14 at Powell Valley Care Center.
Eathan Eadens will officiate. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.
She was born June 21, 1919, in Washington, D.C., to Stanley R. and Ruth Leola (Ferguson) DePue.
Survivors include two sons, Ronald A. Reed and wife Arlene of Clark and Bruce Reed and wife Karleen of Westminster, Colo.; four grandchildren, Tiffany Reed of Park City, Utah, Christopher Reed of Cody, Jame Reed and Sarah Reed, both of Westminster, Colo.
Her parents and two husbands, Jerome Reed and James Byrd, preceded her in death.
Should friends desire, memorials might be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Wyoming Chapter, 400 E. 1st, Casper, WY 82601.
Long-time Powell resident Katherine L. Milburn, 93, died Saturday, June 21 at the Powell Nursing Home.
She was born Jan. 12, 1910, in Sumner, Tenn., to Abraham John Lee and Lovina Catherine Hall. She attended high school in Iowa and continued her education at a teaching college in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She finished her degree at Eastern Montana College in 1964 and taught fifth grade in the Powell schools from 1964 to 1975.
She married James W. Milburn on Aug. 1, 1935, and moved to Edgar, Mont., and then to Powell in 1938. She lived in Deaver from 1939 to 1948 and then moved back to Powell for substitute teaching and private tutoring.
She was a 4-H leader from 1935 to 1947 and a volunteer Red Cross and Civil Defense worker from 1947 to 1960. She also participated in the Gray Ladies hospital volunteers and the Heart and Cancer Foundations. She was a long-time member of the PEO Sisterhood and enjoyed painting, pottery, flower gardening and sports.
Survivors include two sons, James L. Milburn and wife Elfriede of Powell and Michael D. Milburn and wife Sherry of Billings, Mont.; grandchildren Jeanette (Kent) Ohman of Lovell, Debra (David) Dryer, Regan (Valerie) Milburn and Jason Milburn, all of Billings; and four great-grandchildren.
She was the last of her family generation. Two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.
At her wish, cremation has taken place, and family services will be held. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Long-time Powell resident centenarian Esther Myrdal died Tuesday, June 24, 2003 in Las Vegas at Nevada Summerlin Hospital. She was 100.
She was born to Sigridur and John Myrdal on Dec. 9, 1902 in Edinburg, N.D. She was a former resident of Powell. For 33 years of her life, Esther taught fourth grade and also was the principal at Parkside school in Powell from 1935 to 1968.
Upon retirement, Esther moved to Escalon, Calif., where she lived with her sister Marie Dalson. She taught in the Escalon schools while living with Marie, and once Marie retired, they both moved to Arcadia. Calif. When Marie passed away in 1995, Esther moved to Las Vegas, Nev.
In 1916, she was confirmed in the "Luthers Church," in Gardar, N.D. by Rev. Kristin K. Olasfson.
In 1929, Esther graduated from Valley City State Teachers College. She received her Bachelor's of Science degree in 1948. Prior to her Powell move, Esther taught in Penn, N.D., Grace City, N.D., and Lavina, Mont.
Esther was a 50 plus year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Alcyone #27 in Powell, and held a lifetime teaching certificate issued by the state of Wyoming.
As an avid baseball fan, Esther always rooted for the San Francisco Giants, but she also listened to the Los Angeles Dodgers so she could compare the two teams.
Esther was also an accomplished artist and her family and friends cherish her watercolor and oil paintings.
She and her sister Marie enjoyed vacationing together. They made trips together to the Scandinavian countries, including Iceland, to Great Britain and Ireland, to Egypt, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska and a Caribbean cruise.
She is survived by one sister-in-law, Mrs. Fred (Verta) Myrdal of Washington; nephews Richard Dalson of Las Vegas, Robert Myrdal of California, Don Myrdal of North Dakota, John Myrdal of Minnesota, Paul VandenBiesen of Oregon, John VandenBiesen of Illinois.; nieces Norma Tiffany of Ohio, Pauline Cobean of Washington, Jean Jensen of North Dakota, Nancy Brandvik of North Dakota., Sigrid Myrdal of Oregon, Susan Myrdal of Washington. Additional survivors include 56 great nephews and nieces and numerous great-great nephews and nieces and several great-great-great nephews and nieces.
She was proceeded in death by her parents; sisters Martha Myrdal, Ranka Stoering, Kristie VandenBiessen, Pauline Myrdal and Marie Dalson; brothers Steni, Einar, Barney, Magnus and Fred Myrdal; three infant sisters; one infant brother; and eight nieces and nephews.
At her request there were no services. Her ashes will be scattered over the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.
Our little angel, Meah Anne Krum, died of natural causes on Saturday, June 28, 2003.
Her parents are Jeramie and Jessie Krum of Bozeman, MT, formerly of the Belfry area. Meah was born June 8, 2003 in Billings.
Surviving besides her parents are: Grandparents, Julie and Darrel Krum of Belfry, Noralee Hoefer and Harvey Willis of Clark, WY; Great-grandparents, Les and Maybelle Judkins of Bridger, MT, Martin and Cindy Krum of Belfry, MT, Florence Krum of Billings, MT, Wilda Hoefer of Clark, WY, and Mary Willis of Powell, WY.
Cremation is planned. A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bridger. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge is in charge of arrangements.
Melvin Sessions Boyce- June 30
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, July 5 at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church in Lovell for Melvin Sessions Boyce of Lovell, who died Monday, June 30 of natural causes. He was 70.
He was born March 7, 1933, in Byron to Golden Clifford Boyce and Emma Lou Sessions. He grew up in the Big Horn Basin where he lived most of his life.
He served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
He worked in the oil fields and drove water wells and repaired water pumps in his spare time.
His family was the center of his life. He loved all family gatherings, barbecues and other family occasions.
He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and tinkering in his garage. In his younger years, he collected arrowheads. He made a hobby of attending garage sales, and he was fond of recording movies and music which he shared with his neighborhood.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie; children, Melvin R. (Connie) of Gillette, David W. (Janet) of Raymore, Mo., Melanie F. Hotz (Gary) of Oacoma, S.D., and Linda G. Yengst (Bob) of Powell; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard; an infant son, Terry; and grandsons, Bryan Boyce and Terry Heath.
Visitation will take place at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell Friday, July 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will follow Saturday services in the Byron Cemetery.
A memorial service for Howard T. Wilder is planned for July 8 at 2 p.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery. The graveside service will be officiated by the I.O.O.F. Powell Lodge.