Mostly Cloudy, 47° F
(Dec. 12, 2009)
Donald Lee “Sarge” Beerline, formerly of Powell and Cody, died Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at his home in Gillette. He was 74 years old.
Don was born on July 24, 1935, in Broadwater, Neb., the son of Howard and Bertha (Sanders) Beerline. In 1948, he moved to Powell with his parents. Don attended Powell schools, graduating from Powell High School in 1953. He was a member of the state wrestling team in 1952 and of the Powell Unit of the civil air patrol. He served as first lieutenant and, in 1952, was the only cadet from Wyoming selected to represent the state at a congressional dinner for the air corps in Washington, D.C.
After graduating high school, he attended a year at Northwest College and worked for Okay Chevrolet Company in Powell. In 1956 he married Judith Mae Schmitt, also of Powell. They shared almost 30 years together until Judy’s death in 1986. Together they lived in Powell, where Don worked for the National Guard. He was later transferred to Cody, where he continued to serve as first sergeant in the Guard until his retirement in 1986. He was lovingly and respectfully known as “Sarge.”
He is survived by his sons Greg (Vera), Gary (Charlene) and Jerry; granddaughters Jennifer Beerline (Bill Wood), Erynn Beerline (Melody Brazelton), Bridget McNamara, Crystal White (John) and Elizabeth Edwards (Colt); grandsons Daniel Jauregui (Martie) and Nicholas Beerline; great-grandchildren Annie, Josie and Loradae Wood; Jordan, Jessie and Brohdi McNamara; Abby and Royce White; and Natalie, Daniel Jr. and Crystal Jauregui.
There will be a private graveside service at Riverside Cemetery in Cody on Dec. 18. A reception will follow the service at 4 p.m. in the basement of the Cody Elks Lodge at 1202 Beck Ave.
