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(May 25, 1978 - June 20, 2010)Leslie Dawn (Hill) Gabrielsen died at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper on Sunday, June 20, 2010, after battling cancer. She was 32.
Leslie, known affectionately in her family as “The Favorite” was born on May 25, 1978, at the Bar S Saloon just outside of Great Falls, Mont. She was born in the back of a station wagon while her mother was on the way to the hospital. She was the daughter of William Oscar Hill and Betty (Strauser) Hill.
She attended elementary school in Geyser, Mont., and graduated from Powell High School in 1996. She attended Northwest College and graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2000 with a degree in elementary education.
On June 17, 2000, she married John Gabrielsen at Washington Park in Powell.
Her first job out of college was as a first grade teacher in Riverton School District No. 25, and she continued in that position until her death. At Jackson Elementary School in Riverton, she created a system of integrating her “Smart Board” with reading lessons, and her method is now used district-wide.
While in college she worked as a daycare provider and at Hastings in Laramie.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Pavillion, PEO Chapter AZ in Riverton, FFA and 4-H.
Her family said her children were her primary focus, and she attended all their activities. They said she had known she wanted to be a teacher from an early age and enjoyed photos, music and dancing, and being with her family.
Survivors include her husband, John Gabrielsen of Riverton; daughter Jaylyn, 8; son Kade, 5; her parents, Oscar and Betty Hill of Lovell; brother Randy Hill (Vanessa) of Cowley and their two children; sisters Echo Koger (John) of Wheatland and their three children, Dallas Noon of Lovell and her son, Lindsay Williams (Steve) of Columbus, Mont., and their three children.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Hill, who died at birth.
Funeral services are at 2 p.m. today (Thursday, June 24) at St Margaret's Gym in Riverton, under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Cremation will follow the service.
Memorials may be made to the Tough Enough To Wear Pink Cancer Fund, in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main, Riverton, WY 82501
Online obituaries are available and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thedavisfuneralhome.com.
