Emil Junior Sayles ~ March 2, 2005
Dorothy Ann Sell ~ March 3, 2005
Roy Barnes ~ March 5, 2005
Donald Lee Liner ~ March 6, 2005
Donna Belle (Gillett) Harris ~ March 7, 2005
Geneva Kendall ~ March 7, 2005
Ellen Adell Shook ~ March 8, 2005
Dora Natalie Olmsted ~ March 9, 2005
Max Burke ~ March 11, 2005
Marjory Joan "Jo" Mullan ~ March 12, 2005
Guadalupe Ramirez ~ March 12, 2005
LaRae Ottesen Johnson ~ March 12, 2005
Mattie Pearl Sinks ~ March 18, 2005
Tommy Harold Holt ~ March 18, 2005
Marvin W. LaFarge ~ March 21, 2005
Allen Kline ~ March 21, 2005
Funeral services were Saturday at Atwood Family Chapel in
Basin for Emil Junior Sayles, 71, who died Wednesday, March 2 at his sister's
home between Basin and Greybull.
The Rev. George Pasek officiated at services and burial in Mount View Cemetery,
Basin.
He was born March 10, 1933, at Grass Creek, son of Emil John and Jennis (Crosswait)
Sayles. He was schooled in the Big Horn Basin area.
As a young man, he was an avid horseback rider. His life was devoted to his
work, and he loved to read. He made many friends in the miles he traveled as
an independent truck driver.
Survivors include his son, Leroy (Crystal) Sayles of Ten Sleep; one grandson,
Christopher Sayles of Ten Sleep; his brothers and sisters, Mary (Ray) Dorr
of Worland, Etta May Hojio of Greeley, Colo., Margaret (Roy) Hojio of Greeley,
Colo., Kathy (David) Vigil of Worland, Bill (Sandy) Sayles of Greeley, Colo.,
and Bonnie (Winston) Miller of Basin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials to the Big Horn County Library in care of Security State Bank, P.O.
Box 531, Basin, would be appreciated by the family.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated today (Tuesday) at 10 a.m.
at St. Barbara's Catholic Church for Dorothy Ann Sell, 63, who died Thursday,
March 3 at the Powell Hospital.
Father Pete Johnson will officiate at services. Burial will follow in Cody's
Riverside Cemetery.
She was born Nov. 5, 1941, in Sundance, daughter of Wilbur Dillavou and Dora
(Caswell) Dillavou. She graduated from Sundance High School and married William
Sell on June 5, 1960, in Sundance.
A small business owner, she formerly lived in Cody and moved to Powell in 1995.
She was devoted to her family and spent many years caring for her loving husband.
Her interests included crocheting and gardening.
Survivors include sons Robert Sell of Greeley, Colo., and Russell Sell (Gayle)
of Cody; a daughter, Lynn McGarvin (Clinton) of Denver. Colo.; a sister, Shirley
Nilles (Ray) of Sundance; and two grandchildren, Jessica and Nicole Sell.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Sell; and a son, Ross Sell.
'Rocky Mountain Cowboy'
Benton LeRoy Barnes, better known as the Rocky Mountain Cowboy, died Saturday,
March 5 of natural causes at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell. He was
98.
He was born Oct. 11, 1906, in Goodman, Mo., the eldest of six children born
to Oliver Benton Barnes and Susie Shadwick. They later moved to Kansas City,
Mo., where he met Frances LaFollette. They married Dec. 28,1924.
In August of 1925 they came to Powell by train. On Feb. 26, 1926, their only
son, Robert Leroy Barnes,was born. Frances died in 1987 after a marriage of
63 years.
He is survived by his son, Bob of Powell; two grandsons, Jack and Dan Barnes;
four great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
He farmed with his in-laws and bought the first truck used for hauling sugar
beets in the Powell area. He paid for the truck by hauling beets and groceries
for Sawyer's and Jeffries General Store from Billings, Mont., to Powell. He
also worked at the Buffalo Bill Dam when they were putting in a third turbine
and relining the tunnels. He worked as the night man at Roney's Sales and Service
Garage and later ran Roney's Mobil Service station. Later he bought the Husky
Service Station on 2nd and Clark streets and drove a school bus for 36 years
for the Powell school district.
While running the Mobil station he and some of his musical buddies formed the
Wyoming Range Riders band. The band consisted of Slicker Stanwaity, Ed Markley,
Alkali Ike (real name forgotten over the years), Albert Scott, and later Clark
and Don Kindler and Harold Pierson. They played every Saturday at Sage Creek,
near Cody, and at other dance places in the Big Horn Basin. In 1934, he auditioned
for KGHL radio in Billings and they put him on the air that same day and asked
him to bring his band and return every Wednesday night. They made the 100-mile
trip every week in a 1926 Chevy for several years.
In 1941, when KPOW radio station went on the air in Powell, he and his band
were there on April 1, and he performed as "the Rockly Mountain Cowboy" for
many years on the air waves. In 1990 he was invited to Cheyenne to perform
for Wyoming's 100th birthday celebration. In 2003 he was inducted into the
Wyoming Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He was a self taught guitarist and had written many songs, though he couldn't
read music. One song he wrote gained national attention and a commendation
from General Doolittle. It was "We Didn't Invite Them Over but We're Going
to Repay the Call". That song went to No. 1 on the Hillbilly Hit Parade
as well as No. 1 on KRLD a Texas radio station. He received many letters from
armed services personnel who were overseas where it was also played for them.
He also wrote "The Legend of Earl Durand" which he sang at the World
Premiere in Powell of the movie of the same name. His last years he could no
longer play the guitar but he would still entertain people with his voice and
songs.
His funeral will be Thursday, March 10 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist
Church in Powell. Memorial donations to the Powell Valley Hospice would be
appreciated by the family.
Services are pending for Donald Lee Liner, 52, of Powell,
who died March 6.
He was born on Feb. 20, 1953, in Powell to Charles Raymond and Marie Anderson
Liner. He graduated from Powell High School and worked in the oilfield and
as a carpenter's helper all his life.
He had a great sense of humor and was well-liked by all who knew him.
Survivors include two brothers, Jim (Judy) Liner and Harold Liner of Powell;
four sisters, Charlene (Jim) Paben of Lovell, Linda (Ray) Adams of Powell,
Sandra (Greg) Kincheloe of Cody and Lori (Mike) Smith of Billings; seven nieces;
four nephews; five great-nieces and three great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of his life will take place at
a later date.
Donna Belle (Gillett) Harris - March 7
Former Powell resident Donna Belle (Gillett) Harris died
in her sleep Monday, March 7 at Humboldt Nursing Home in Winnemucca, Nev.
Cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be announced in June.
Graveside services for long-time Powell resident, Geneva
Bonnie Kendall, 91, were held Friday, March 11 at Crown Hill Cemetery, Powell.
She died Monday, March 7 at Powell Valley Hospital.
Pastor Billy McKee of First Southern Baptist Church presided at services.
Geneva was born in Delaware County, near Maysville, Okla., on Feb. 2, 1914,
daughter of John and Eva Hammontree. As a teenager, she moved to Powell with
her father and siblings. She graduated from Powell High School in 1933.
She married Joe Lester Kendall at the First Baptist Church in Billings, Mont.,
on Dec. 9, 1933. They returned to Powell to make their home. To this union
were born three children: Bonnie Jo, Bert and Eva.
Her days with filled with joy when she was tending to her flowers and garden.
Survivors include her daughter, Eva Havens and husband Jim of Joliet, Mont.;
nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Kendall; her daughter, Bonnie
Jo Egbert; her son, Bert Kendall; and her sister, Hettie Rood.
Pallbearers at the services were Dan Schuster, Bruce Souder, John Johnson,
Jim Havens, Ralph Wensky and Don Adams.
Memorial services were Saturday at Community Congregational
Church in Garden City, Kans., for former Powell resident, Ellen Adell Shook,
68, who died Tuesday, March 8 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.
She was born in Powell Aug. 10, 1936, daughter of Lowell O. and Phebe M. (Vaught)
Stephens. A resident of Garden City since 1973, moving from Kansas City, Kans.,
she was a speech therapist.
She received a B.a. degree from Colorado State College in 1959 and her M.A.
degree in speech in 1964 from the University of Missouri.
She was a member of the Community Congregational Church in Garden City. She
was on the Garden City Unified School District 457 board of education for 20
years.
Survivors include one son, Byron Q. Shook, Garden City; her mother, Phebe M.
Stephens, Mullen, Nebr.; two brothers, Robert E. Stephens of Seattle, Wash.,
and Lowell O. Stephens of Casper; and one sister, Virginia Wright, Mullen,
Nebr.
The family requests memorials to the Ellen A. Shook Memorial Fund, in care
of Price and Sons Funeral Home, 620 N. Main, Garden City, KS 67846.
Dora Natalie Olmsted - March 9
Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 19 at 11 a.m.
at Ballard Funeral Home in Cody for Dora Natalie Olmsted, 77, who died Wednesday,
March 9 at her home in Powell.
Burial of cremains will follow in Powell's Crown Hill Cemetery.
She was born April 2, 1927, near Mesa, N.M., to Robert H. and Goldie V. Porter
Elliott. She married Gene Olmsted March 25, 1960, in Powell.
Over the years, Natalie (as she was known by all) became an accomplished seamstress
and quilter and skilled at knitting and crocheting. Still, her special interest
and greatest accomplishment was being the world's best grandma! She was a member
of the Church of Christ.
Following her graduation from nursing school, she began working in Portales,
N.M., then moved to Indiana where she worked in nursing. Then she moved to
Cody in 1957. She worked at the hospital in Cody and became director of nursing.
Survivors include her husband Gene of Powell; a daughter, Diann K. (Fred D.)
Kidder of Castle Rock, Colo.; four sons, Mark A. (Victoria A.) Olmsted of Lakewood,
Colo., Andrew J. (Patricia A.) Olmsted of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Frederick
J. (Tracey L.) Olmsted of Ramona, Calif., and Richard G. Olmsted of Eagle,
Colo.; two brothers, John H. Elliott of Portales, N.M., and Tommy M. Elliott
of Meade, Kans.; eight sisters, Lois W. Cavasos of Stanley, N.M., Irene H.
Marshall of Las Cruces, N.M., Joan F. Goyne of Lubbock, Texas, Alice A. Gossett,
Betty S. Gossett, R. Rose Rector and Burma L. Stark, all of Portales; and Mary
E. Burch of Christianburg, Va.; and nine grandchildren, Gregory A. and Michael
L. Kidder, Leilani A. Olmsted, Marquis A. Olmsted, Shawn M. Olmsted, Ryan A.
Olmsted, Ronnie Borrelli, Chance L. Olmsted and Trevor J. Olmsted.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18 at Ballard Funeral Home.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Wayne C. Elliott.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, March 11 at 11
a.m. at the Cowley LDS Chapel for Teddy Max Burke, who died Monday, March 6
surrounded by family and friends in Lovell, the town of his birth. He was 67.
Bishop R. Ray Peterson will officiate. Burial will be in the Lovell Cemetery.
The viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 10 at Haskell Funeral
Home in Lovell.
He was born to Rufus and Ella (Hoffman) Burke, on June 19, 1937, in Lovell.
Born at a time when things were hard, he brought much joy to his family. Over
the years, Max became well-known and highly thought of by all who knew him.
He became accomplished in everything he did.
Max grew up and attended school in Lovell, graduating in 1955. He married Bernice
Green on Sept. 1, 1956, then joined the Navy, serving his country for 25 years.
During these years, Tammy, Lisa, and Danny were born. Max was a weather forecaster
and flight briefer for most of his naval career, during which he served on
three aircraft carriers and saw much of the world.
After his retirement from the Navy, Max married Ida May Young in Lake Tahoe,
on Jan. 2, 1982. He returned to his roots in the Big Horn Basin, and he and
Ida made their home in Cowley, where Max adopted Clay, one of Ida's biological
sons. Later, in November, 1992, Max and Ida were sealed to each other for time
and all eternity in the Denver Colorado Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Adding to the special moment, Max's brother, Noel,
performed the sealing, and his two other brothers, Doug and Ron, served as
official witnesses.
Along with the move to Cowley, Max found a renewed faith in God, and became
an active member of the LDS Church. He served the Lord faithfully in various
capacities, including High Councilor, Bishop, and Teacher.
Max's natural ability to get along with people allowed him to be successful
in his continued employment, first as a business partner and salesperson with
Townsend Agricultural Services, then finishing his working days as an insurance
agent for Prudential Financial.
He worked hard, with Ida by his side, and won numerous achievement awards with
The Prudential, including the prestigious "Leading Client Builder of the
Year" award.
Though his work was generally rewarding, Max's real joy was in spending time
with his eternal "honey," Ida. Whether at work, church or play, wherever
one was seen, the other was rarely far off. It was like they were joined at
the hip and their love seemed to grow stronger as they spent time more together.
An avid golfer, bowler, and fisherman, if one ever wanted to find Max and "the
dynamic duo," they generally had to look no further than the golf course,
bowling center, or on the river. He excelled at and was especially accomplished
as a bowler and golfer, winning numerous tournaments in both sports, even obtaining
the ultimate in both sports: 300 games and holes-in-one.
Survivors include his widow, Ida; children Tammy of Denver, Lisa of Long Beach,
Calif., Danny of Cowley and Clay of Denver; step-son and partner Brandon Wong
and Jacki Gerber of Hanford, Calif.; and two beloved grandchildren, Brittnee
Maddox, and Brandon Wong II. He is also survived by two brothers, a sister,
and their spouses: Douglas and Rachel Burke, Noel and Marge Burke, and Viva
and James Ellis; as well as in-laws Ellen Salvador, Mary Ann and James Gong,
Barbara and Russell Gin, Liz and Paul O'Neil, Sue and Jim Waters, Cecil Young
and Ray Young.
He was preceded in death by both parents and beloved brother, Ronald Rufus
Burke.
He cherished relationships with people, especially those with his family. He
will be deeply missed.
Memorial services for Guadalupe Ramirez, 83, will be held
at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Cody,
1202 29th St.
She died Saturday, March 5 at the Powell Nursing Home where she had resided
for eight years.
A private viewing was held March 5 for immediate family.
She was born Jan. 15, 1922, to Manuel Aquilar and Maria Aquilar, in Los Angles,
Calif. She moved to Wyoming in 1942, where she made her home with her husband
Jesus Ramirez, and their four children. Guadalupe enjoyed cooking, sewing and
gardening.
She is survived by her sons, Armando and Ramon and a daughter Evangeline, 15
grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her
parents, a daughter and her husband.
LaRae Ottesen Johnson - March 12
Funeral services took place Saturday, March 12 in Spanish
Fork, Utah, for Jennie "LaRae" Ottesen Johnson, who died Tuesday,
March 8 in Powell.
She was 75.
She was born in Palmyra, Utah, on Dec. 10, 1929, to Ervin and Jennie Ottesen.
The family moved to Moody Creek, Idaho, in 1936. She attended most of her grade
school years at the old Moody School and spent her High School years at Sugar
City. After graduation, she moved to Provo, Utah, to continue her education
at Brigham Young University.
She married Ivan Johnson on Nov. 16, 1949, and they raised five daughters at
their home in Spanish Fork, Utah.
She worked many jobs, but the most rewarded one for her and her husband was
fostering more than 100 young girls. After her retirement, she enrolled in
the Foster Grandparents Program at Brockbank School where her love of children
continued.
She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, crocheting and spent many happy hours
researching genealogy and writing histories of her ancestors.
Her greatest joy in life was her family. She spent hours cooking for them and
also baked many loaves of bread and goodies for her neighbors and friends.
She is survived by her daughters, Vickie (Danny) Edmonds, Christie (Jim) Allison,
Tamara Johnson, Ronda Lloyd, Charlotte Russell and stepdaughter Liz (Dick)
Bona; two brothers, Max and Doyle Ottesen; two sisters, Marla Russell and Sandra
Stevens; 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three sisters, two grandsons
and one great-grandson.
Interment was at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.
Marjory Joan "Jo" Mullan - March 12
A private service was held for former Powell resident Marjory " Jo" Mullan,
74, who died on March 12 in Phoenix, Ariz., after a long battle with emphysema
and lung cancer.
Mrs. Mullan, the wife of former Powell High School assistant principal, Ken
Mullan, was born on Sept. 6, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa.
She is survived by her husband, Ken Mullan and two sons; Tim and Russ Mullan
all of Phoenix; and daughter Kendra Jamerman of Douglas; sister Sally Morse
of Florida; and brother Bill McCracken of Mobile, Ala.; six grandchildren;
Dawn Connolly, Dustin White, Kenny Mullan,and Aaron, Kelsie and Eric Jamerman
and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a daughter, Mary Catherine "Cathy" White,
who died in 1996.
Donations in her memory can be made to American Lung Assoc. 102 W. McDowell
Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85003-1297.
Services are planned Thursday for Mattie Pearl Sinks of Ralston,
who died Friday, March 18 at the Powell Hospital.
She was 85.
She was born July 18, 1919, in Eldrado, Ill., to William Riley and Tilda Jane
Koker. She married George Sinks on April 9, 1919, and the couple lived in Galatia,
Ill., until 1941, when they moved to Detroit, Mich.
The couple moved to Powell in 1956, where she operated a furniture store for
many years. In 1967, they moved to Ralston where Mattie enjoyed working in
her flower gardens.
She is survived by two daughters, Patricia Pease and Shirley Middleton of Ralston;
five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by
her husband, parents, three brothers, three sons, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter.
Viewing is scheduled at noon Thursday at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home in Powell
and graveside services will follow at 1 p.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Funeral services for Mills resident Tommy Harold Holt, 65,
who died March 18, were conducted Wednesday, March 23, in Casper.
Holt died at the Wyoming Medical Center following a short illness.
He was born Feb. 23, 1940, in Dexter, N.M., to Tom and Inez (McClester) Holt.
He married Debra Ann Jones in Powell on April 11, 1973.
He attended Powell High School and then later moved to New Mexico where he
was employed as a heavy equipment mechanic for 47 years. He retired in 1991
and later attended Casper College to update his mechanical abilities.
He enjoyed fishing and camping with his family and also liked working around
his home. He loved playing pool with friends and family, as well as hosting
barbecues for his family and friends. He also loved to visit with friends at
Reds Market.
Survivors include his wife, Debra, of Mills; one daughter, Teresa Holt of Mills;
one son, T.C. Holt of Mills; three sisters, Carolyn Tucker of Riverton, Betty
Knopp of Powell and Ruby Bittenger of Accident, Md.; two brothers, Fred Riechel
of Casper and Gerald Riechel of Nashville, Tenn., and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.
Burial was to take place in Powell.
Funeral services for Marvin W. LaFarge, 84, of Billings,
who died March 21, are scheduled for today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at Shiloh
United Methodist Church in Billings. Internment will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery
in Powell at 3 p.m.
He was born May 25, 1920, in Morrowville, Kan., to Willett and Floy (Jones)
LaFarge and graduated from high school there in 1938. He married Hazel Hennerberg
and they were blessed with three daughters, Sharon Rae, Marvene Kay and Barbara
Ellen. The family lived in Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado and Montana, where the
couple retired in Billings to be near family.
He served in Pacific during World War II with the Sixth Marine Division.
He enjoyed sports and never missed a basketball game at Rocky Mountain College
while his grandson, Scott, played and later coached there.
For five years, he always had a ready smile as he served as a greeter of Wal-Mart
on the west end of Billings. He was a member of the Shiloh United Methodist
Church, the American Legion in Powell and was a charter members of the Elks
Club in Powell.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel; his daughters, Sharon (Lynn) Severance of
Spring Valley, Ariz., Kay (Ray) Green of Powell, and Barbara (Tim) Kirkwood
of Kokomo, Ind.; his grandchildren, Scott (Jane) Severance, Sharolyn (Chris)
Graves, Mark Green, LaRae (Mark) Stone, Kristie (Randy) Murphy, Darcee (James)
Jones and Deena (Chuck) Wyatt; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Marjorie
(Vic) Gabelhouse of Lincoln, Neb.; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn DeVera and Betty
Ryles of Billings; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Shiloh United
Methodist Church at 1810 Shiloh Rd; Billings, MT 59106; or a memorial of choice.
Long-time Garland area farmer, Allen Kline, died March 24.
Funeral services were held in Laurel, Mont., at Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel.
He was 91.
He farmed in the Garland area for 35 to 40 years. He lived in Powell until
last fall when he entered the nursing home.
He was born in Laurel, Mont., on April 7, 1913, the first of seven children
of Philip and Mary (Walker) Kline.
He married Ann Kalanick on June 1, 1941. They had two daughters.
His life was one of adventure and hard work in Laurel, the Bitterroot Valley
of Montana and Powell. He worked as a farmer and rancher, a logger and truck
driver. Afer retiring from trucking, he went back to his roots of farming and
ranching near Garland.
Survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Sherry and David Waddell of
Park City, Mont., and Judy and Chuck Goldy of Billings, Mont. He is also survived
by his brothers, Henry and Herman Kline of Laurel, and his sisters, Pauline
Honstein of Washington, Mary Magine of Stevensville, Mont., and Kay Metcalf
of Missoula, Mont.; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He loved his family, his friends, his horses and his dogs.