(Oct. 15, 1922 - Aug. 25, 2010)Lifetime Byron dairy farmer, Wilder True Hatch III died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010 at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell, surrounded by loving family members. He was 87.
He was born in Lovell, the oldest child of Wilder True Hatch II and Fern Fitzgerald Neilson on Oct. 15, 1922. He grew up on a farm founded by his grandfather, Wilder True Hatch I, around 1902. After the passing of his father he purchased the land from his grandmother, Patti Hatch Mann and worked hard making it productive and beautiful. The Hatch farm is located 3 1/2 miles northeast of Byron, where Don and Janene Hatch reside.
He graduated from Byron High School and participated in sports and the band. He attended the University of Wyoming for one quarter, studying agriculture, but was called home when his father became ill. Due to his father's subsequent death, Wilder was exempted from military service during World War II to operate the farm.
He met Ella Mae Allphin at the open-air dance pavilion in Byron and they were married on June 23, 1943 in the Logan, Utah Temple. They became the parents of five children and spent 45 happy years together working side by side.
Their home was always open to friends and family. Wilder, Mae and their youngest son, Shane, moved to Lovell in 1979, where he continued working on the farm for several years before his retirement.
Wilder was a prominent dairy farmer and raised many other crops. He was also active in public works, serving on the Byron School board, the Byron Cemetery board, County ASCS committee, county weed and pest board and as a representative to the State Dairy Herd Improvement Association, where he served as local president.
He also served on the Board of the Western National Bank of Lovell and was a Friend of 4-H.
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held various callings within that organization which brought him great happiness. Wilder enjoyed hunting, fishing and horseback riding, especially the pack trips east of Cody.
After the death of Ella Mae in 1998 he married Doris Allphin. What could have been many lonely days and nights were spent playing Skip Bo, taking rides, watching sports, holding hands and enjoying being together in the later years of their lives.
They enjoyed a sweet companionship for 13 years.
Wilder was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ella Mae; sisters Myra Durfey, Irene Workman, and Patty Jean Hatch; brothers Calvin (Neil) and Marlin N. Hatch; grandson Clinton Whaley Hatch; great-granddaughters Katelyn Caturia, and Ari Reed; daughter-in-law Dee Hatch; and son-in-law Charles Durfee.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Allphin-Hatch of Lovell; his children, Kim Hatch of Lovell, Ray and Sue Hatch of Omaha, Neb., Colleen Durfee of Rock Springs, Don and Janene Hatch of Byron, and Shane and Brenda Hatch of Orem, Utah.
He leaves posterity of 27 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Wilder, who was known for his honesty and integrity left this council for his posterity, “Always use wisdom in all that you do.” He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services were held on Aug. 30 at the Lovell LDS Stake Center. Burial was in the Byron Cemetery. Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell was in charge of arrangements.