Cloudy, 30° F
(June 29, 2007)
Edward J. Vandersloot, 81, formerly of Powell, died Friday, June 29 at Bonnie Blue Jacket Rest Home in Basin. He had been in ill health for the past two and a half years.
He was born May 13, 1926, near Hardin, Mont., to Anthony F. and Barbara Feller Vandersloot and was the eldest of eight children. He attended school at Soap Creek and Hardin High School. He worked for Warrens in Hardin before entering the army.
Ed was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving in Hawaii.
He married Eldean K. Moos in Hardin, April 24, 1949. She preceded him in death on April 1, 2004.
Ed managed the Hardin Farmers’ Union until 1967, when he moved to Joliet to manage the Roberts Co-op and then the Laurel Co-op before “retiring” for a short period of time.
He moved to Powell in 1982 and managed the Powell branch of the Big Horn Co-op until his retirement. He continued working for area farmers during harvest and driving fertilizer truck until his health prevented him from driving truck. Ed enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking, horseshoe pitching and teasing his grandkids.
He moved to Greybull in 1999 and lived there until he entered the rest home.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife; as well as brothers Tommy, Tony and Charles.
Ed had four children: his daughter, Julie and husband Greg Frensko, Tensleep; sons, Rick and wife Joyce Vandersloot, Rock Springs, Dave and wife Elaine Vandersloot. Livingston, Mont., and Pat and wife Claudia Vandersloot, Greybull. He has 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and three more on the way. He is also survived by sister Catherine (Sis) and husband Dave Smith, Billings, Mont.; brothers, Lawrence and wife Bonnie Vandersloot, Hardin; John and wife Elaine Vandersloot, Columbus, Mont.; and Jim Vandersloot; Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation will take place, and a memorial service and spreading of his and Eldean’s ashes will be at a later date.
