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Doug Rockafellow
CLEARMONT — Doug Rockafellow, 62, of Clearmont died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, in Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette. Funeral services were 10 a.m. today at Adams Funeral Home, Buffalo, with Mike Lovato officiating. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. today in Dayton cemetery. Mr. Rockafellow was born Nov. 26, 1939, in Alma, Mich., to Hubert and Alfretta (Fuller) Rockafellow. He received his education in Alma. After high school, he enlisted in the Army in September 1963. He was honorably discharged in February 1965. He married
Ann Louise Berry June 10, 1967. They moved to the Ucross/Clearmont area, and he worked on the Lake DeSmet project. He married
Lillie Craig Nov. 14, 1992. She preceded him in death. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and playing pool and darts. A brother also preceded him in death. Survivors include three sons, Dan of Story, David of Clearmont and Levi of Sheridan; a daughter, Debbie Cranford of Worden, Mont.; two sisters, Dorothy Snyder of Weidham, Mich., and Marilyn Whitney of Crystal Lake, Mich.; and nine grandchildren.
Alice Sowada
Alice L. Sowada, 88, of Sheridan died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Viewing will be 1-5 p.m. Friday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home.Funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ron Stolcis officiating. Interment will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center or Holy Name Catholic Church.
Jean Conley
Jean M. Conley, 75, of Sheridan died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, in Sheridan Manor. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Latter-day Saints Church with Bishop Richard Welch officiating. Viewing will precede services. Interment will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Champion Ferries Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Mrs. Conley was born Sept. 21, 1926, in Bridger, Mont., to Frank and Roxanna (Foust) Starina. Her mother died when she was an infant, and she was raised by her grandparents, Charles and Gertrude Starina, in Wyola, Mont. She attended high school in Lodge Grass, Mont. She married
James Conley Jr. June 2, 1945, in Miles City, Mont. They came to Sheridan that year. She was active in the LDS Church and enjoyed cooking, canning and needlework. Survivors include her husband of Sheridan; three sons, David of Sterling, Colo., and Robert and Tommy, both of Sheridan; a half sister, Helen Hogan of Seattle; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Senior Citizens Center Day Break program, 211 Smith St., Sheridan, WY 82801.
Josephine Polito
Josephine Polito, 91, of Sheridan died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, in Sheridan Manor. Vigil will be 7 p.m. today at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Liturgy will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Robert Fox as celebrant. Burial will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Miss Polito was born Dec. 2, 1910, to Bruno Leonard and Elizabeth (Varcelli) Polito in Cirella, Italy. The family came to the United States when she was 10 years old, and ranched at Decker, Mont. Miss Polito graduated from Kleenburn School. She moved to Sheridan in 1940 and worked for Superior Laundry. She retired in 1975. She returned to her hometown in Italy in 1977, then went on to Sydney, Australia, to fulfill a lifelong dream. She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church. Survivors include four sisters, Rose Baker, Mary Bach and Ellen Polito, all of Sheridan, and Lois Lewis of Hardin, Mont.; and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Memorials may be made to Holy Name Catholic Church or Holy Name School.
Dorothy Morosok
Dorothy M. “Dodie” Morosok, 89, of Sheridan died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, at her home. Vigil services will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ronald Stolcis officiating. Mrs. Morosok was born Oct. 24, 1912, in Sheridan to Hugh “Pop” and Maude (Ferguson) Snively. She attended Linden Elementary School. The family moved to Ranchester when she was 15, and she played basketball and graduated from high school there. She married
Andrew “Spider” Morosok Aug. 7, 1931, in Hardin, Mont. They renewed their wedding vows in 1962 at Holy Name Catholic Church. She worked two years at Sheridan Coil Factory, then worked at F.W. Woolworth 25 years as a department head. She was known as the “Candy Lady.” She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Saint Agnes Altar & Rosary Society, Eagles Auxiliary, Senior Citizens Center and the YMCA. She enjoyed playing bridge, pinochle and water exercise, and had a longtime passion for fishing. She loved being with her children, grandchildren and her dog, Buffy. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1978 and by a brother, Jack, and sister, Betty. Survivors include two sons, Andrew “Moose” Marosok Jr. and James, both of Sheridan; a daughter, Dorothy “Dodie” Watts of San Antonio; 11 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center Mini-bus Fund, 211 Smith St., Sheridan, WY 82801.
Dorothea Beckwith
Former Sheridan resident Dorothea Lucilla Beckwith, 89, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis. Services are pending with Atwood Family Funeral Directors Inc. in Basin. Mrs. Beckwith was born July 5, 1912, in Basin to Owen and Francis Johnson. She graduated from Basin High School in 1931 and married
Donald Borner in Billings. He died in 1932. She married
Louis Leroy Beckwith March 26, 1933, in Billings. She traveled with him while he worked in construction and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He preceded her in death. She later lived in Diamondville for 26 years and was employed 18 years, until age 82, at the Senior Center of Kemmerer. She was active with the Kemmerer Business and Professional Women’s Club and a member of the First Baptist Church of Kemmerer. She moved to Sheridan in 1995 to reside with family. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Edna Louise (Beckwith) Cheatham, three sisters, two brothers and two grandchildren. Survivors include three sons, Leroy Owen of Basin and Larry Edward and Robert Eugene, both of Sheridan; a daughter, Sybil Marlene Bonar Hannah of Thermopolis; a brother, Paul Stanley Johnson of Basin; 12 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 21 step-great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Wyoming Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society or to the Cancer Society in care of Security State Bank, 201 S. Fourth St., Basin, WY 82410.
Helen McKinley
BUFFALO — Helen Grace Heare McKinley, 78, of Buffalo and Darien, Conn., died Friday, Jan. 11, 2002, at her home in Darien. Funeral services were Tuesday at Noroton Presbyterian Church of Darien with Dr. George S. Cladis officiating. Interment will be Thursday in Buffalo under direction of Adams Funeral Home. Edward Lawrence Funeral Home of Darien handled arrangements in Connecticut.
Josephine Polito
Josephine Polito, 91, of Sheridan died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at Sheridan Manor. Vigil will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Liturgy will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Robert Fox as celebrant. Burial will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Memorials may be made to Holy Name Catholic Church or Holy Name School in care of Delphine Toner at First Interstate Bank in Sheridan.
Dorothy Marosok
Dorothy “Dodie” Marosok, 89, of Sheridan died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, at her home. Vigil will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Liturgy will be 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ron Stolcis as celebrant. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center bus fund.
Jean Conley
Jean Marie Conley, 75, of Sheridan died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at Sheridan Manor. Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Richard Welch officiating. Burial will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Champion Ferries Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center for Day Break, 211 Smith St., Sheridan.
Charles Helvik
Charles Samuel “Chuck” Helvik, 76, of Sheridan died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Vigil service will be 7 p.m. today at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ronald Stolcis officiating. Interment will be in Sheridan Elks cemetery. Mr. Helvik was born May 21, 1925, in Beulah, N.D., to Gerhard and Ida (Niedermeyer) Helvik. He graduated from high school in Beulah and from Wahpeton (N.D.) School of Science. He married
Vi M. Schock in 1950 in North Dakota. They came in 1953 to Sheridan, where he worked for Montana-Dakota Utilities until retiring in 1986. He was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Elks Lodge 520. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed music.
He was preceded in death by a son, Mark, and by three sisters and three brothers. Survivors include his wife of Sheridan; two sons, Timothy C. of Sheridan and Patrick D. of Buffalo; a brother, Jerome of Albany, Ga.; a sister, Jeanette Isaak of Hugo, Colo.; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Diabetes Research or the Cancer Institute in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
Gerald Salveson
STORY — Gerald R. “Jerry” Salveson, 61, of Story died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Services will be 2 p.m. today in Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Rev. Wilbur Holz officiating. Mr. Salveson was born Aug. 23, 1940, in Wildrose, N.D., to Carl E. and Della A. (Skistad) Salveson. He grew up and attended school in Ray, N.D., graduating from Ray High School in 1958. He attended Minot (N.D.) State Teacher’s College. He married
Carma Sue Holland June 17, 1960, in the Lutheran church in Ray. He worked in oil fields in Sidney, Mont., and Tioga, N.D., before moving to Gillette, where he worked for Halliburton Inc. for a number of years. He started BNS Testers with Dean Boese, serving the drilling industry until 1989. The Salvesons moved in 1990 to Florida, where he managed a recreational vehicle park and storage units in Melbourne. They moved to Story in September, and he drove a van for Rehabilitation Enterprises of North Eastern Wyoming. He was preceded in death by two brothers. Survivors include his wife of Story; two sons, Randy and Scott, both of Melbourne; a daughter, Jerri Lynn Hodges of Janesville, Calif.; three brothers, Marland of Casper, Lloyd of Farmington, N.M., and Curtis of Williston, N.D.; a sister, Mary Ware of Casper; and four granddaughters. Memorials may be made to RENEW, the American Heart Foundation or the charity of the donor’s choice in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
Thomas Cotton
BIG HORN — Thomas Wendell “T” Cotton, 81, of Big Horn died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, in Sheridan. No services are scheduled. A private family gathering will be this summer. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Mr. Cotton was born May 2, 1920, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Montana to Dr. Wendell Thomas and Ruth Cotton. He was raised by his grandmother, Ella Cotton Henschke, in Sheridan, where he attended school and graduated from high school in 1938. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1940 and was stationed in Panama, where he trained as a fighter pilot. He was among the first U.S. pilots assigned in 1942 to Gen. Claire Chenault’s “Flying Tigers,” which became the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Air Force. He was stationed at the air base in Hengyang, China, during his tour of duty. He married
Lovena “Jinx” Pettit Feb. 22, 1946, in Reno, Nev. They spent their first year in Sheridan with Mr. Cotton’s grandmother, later moving back to Mrs. Cotton’s hometown of Coalinga, Calif. Mr. Cotton operated an air-charter business serving oil companies, and was a flight instructor at Coalinga Junior College before going to work for Flying Tiger Airline, a cargo company. He retired in 1980. He returned to the Sheridan area permanently in 1997. He was an active member of the Emergency Ham Operators network in Los Altos Hills, Calif., and a member of Sheridan Elks Lodge 520, the 14th USAF Association and the “Quiet Birdman.” Survivors include his wife of Sheridan; two sons, Wendell Reed of Bonny Doone, Calif., and Gregory Thomas of Scotts Valley, Calif.; a sister, Aloha Pettit Schaefer; and a grandson.
Aileen Tate
Aileen Marie Tate, 82, of Sheridan died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, in Billings. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Duprey officiating. Arrangements are with Kane Funeral Home.
Edward Patik
BUFFALO — Edward Joseph Patik, 79, of Lander died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo. No services will be held in accordance with his wishes. Interment will be in Mount Hope cemetery in Lander. Arrangements are with Adams Funeral Home of Buffalo. Memorials may be made to the Barbara Davis Diabetic Center in Denver or donor’s local home health care service in care of Adams Funeral Home, 351 Adams St., Buffalo.
Rolinda K. Payne
Rolinda K. Payne, 55, of Sheridan died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at the VA Medical Center in Sheridan. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Kane Funeral Home with Pastor Terral Bearden officiating. Interment of cremains will be at a later date in Bozeman. Ms. Payne was born Sept. 2, 1946, in Columbus, Mont., to Gene and Glyta (Bolick) Payne. After graduating from high school, she served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1968. She attended college in Minneapolis, where she received a bachelor’s degree. She rejoined the Army in 1976 and was discharged in 1979. Survivors include a son, Bret W. Coffey of Butte, Mont.; a daughter, Ileen R. Coffey of Anderson, S.C.; her parents of Bozeman, Mont.; her brother, Wallace G. Payne of Kalispell, Mont.; and one granddaughter. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter in care of Kay Roush, First Federal Savings Bank, P.O. Box 6007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
Treasa Feaster
Treasa Feaster, 65, formerly of Sheridan, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, in Mesa, Ariz. Mass was celebrated Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Cheyenne. Burial was in Bethel cemetery, Cheyenne. She was born in Vale, S.D. She was a former telephone company clerk, Survivors include two daughters, Debora Nielsen and Diane Louks; two sons, Jamie and Rick Feaster; two sisters, Mary Ann Powers and Francie Jacobsen; six brothers, Joe, Pius, Jim, Tom, Louie and Lefty Werlinger; and three grandchildren.
Gerald R. (Jerry) Salveson
Gerald R. (Jerry) Salveson, 60, of Story died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Rev. Wilbur Holz officiating. Memorials are suggested to RENEW, the Heart Foundation, or donor’s choice in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, Sheridan.
Damara Velikaneye
Damara Rae Velikaneye, 28, of Sheridan died Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Cremation has taken place, and memorial services will be 2 p.m. today at Kane Funeral Home with the Rev. Ron Stolcis officiating. Ms. Velikaneye was born April 30, 1973, in Rock Springs to Joseph and Delores (Sekerak) Velikaneye. She graduated from Sheridan High School. She moved to Hawaii for several years, then returned to Rock Springs, where she attended school and began a career as a hairstylist specializing in razor cuts and chemical processing. She moved back to Sheridan in 1999 and continued her career as a hairstylist while also working at the Country Bounty. Survivors include a daughter, Mikani Doak; her parents; two sisters, Debi Klemo and Dawn Velikaneye; two brothers, Dean and Dan; and nine nieces and nephews.
Mike Legerski
Kooi native Mike J. Legerski, 84, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Dyer, Ind. Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Sunday in the Hirsch Funeral Homes Hirsch Spindler-Koelling Chapel in Crete, Ill. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday in the Hirsch Spindler-Koelling Chapel. Mr. Legerski was born July 12, 1917, in Kooi. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and later worked for the Abex Corp. in Chicago Heights as a saw operator. He owned a farm in Crete township and was a founding member of the Crete Township Fire Department. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; a sister, Mary; and two brothers, John and Joe. Survivors include two sons, Gerald Jerome of Story and Michael John of Crete; a sister, Anne Aksamit of Ranchester; and a brother, Tom of Sheridan. Memorials may be made to the Crete Township Fire District, 26064 S. Dixie Highway, Crete Township, Ill. 60417.
Wilbur Fisher
BUFFALO — Wilbur Fisher, 78, of Buffalo died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at Deaconess Medical Center in Billings after a brief illness. He was father of Frank Fisher of Arvada. Visitation will be 1-10 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. until noon Monday at Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Charles Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Willow Grove cemetery with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars in charge of military graveside rites. Mr. Fisher was born July 8, 1923, in New Harmony, Ind., to Hugar and Nellie Fisher. He served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He married
Chriss Johnstone of Kaycee and worked for the Three T Ranch and in oil fields in Wyoming. He retired in 1978 in Powell. He married
Jaci Nagel in Billings in May 1989, and they resided in Buffalo. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Ralph, Melvin, Bill and Jim; and a sister, Erna Mae Culiver. Survivors include his wife of Buffalo; a second son, Dick of Powell; two daughters, Linda Fisher of Casper and Lori Burgener of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.; two stepdaughters, Diane Canton of Billings and Cara Engstrom of Kingman, Ariz.; a stepson, John Rockwood of Phoenix; a sister, Betty Jo Hobbs of Midland, Mich.; and 10 grandchildren.
Barbara Gutz
Barbara G. Gutz, 76, of Sheridan died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday at First Congregational Church with Pastor Bob Miller officiating. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home. Mrs. Gutz was born Aug. 28, 1925, in Burns to Robert and Anna “Lennie” (McConnaughey) Gutz. She graduated from high school in 1942 in Cheyenne and received a bachelor of science degree in home economics from the University of Wyoming.
She married
John Mason Gutz June 30, 1946. She taught for 15 years in schools including Afton, Pinedale, Casper, Rawlins, Sheridan and Big Horn, where Mr. Gutz was employed. They came to Sheridan in 1961. Mrs. Gutz was the first director of the Sheridan Senior Citizens Center, and she and her husband were the first managers of Sheridan Square. She was the Western Welcome hostess in Sheridan for 15 years, before she retired in 1995. She was a member of First Congregational Church and Daughters of the Nile. She was active in volunteer work and enjoyed crafts, playing cards and being with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband in June 2001. Survivors include two sons, Henry of Tooele, Utah, and Mark of Belle Creek, Mont.; a sister, Lenore Berry of Cheyenne; a grandson; six step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to First Congregational Church.
James Blare
James D. Blare, 65, of Casper died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, in Casper after a short bout with cancer. He was a former Dayton resident and father of Iris Stanton of Dayton. Services will be Saturday at the American Legion in Martin, S.D. Mr. Blare was born Aug. 4, 1936, in Gordon, Neb., to Doc and Grace Blare. He attended school in Martin. He served in the Army. After his honorable discharge, he married
Millie Sully. They later divorced. He spent most of his working years in business with his father, for Blare Truck Line. He and his wife later owned and operated a restaurant and bar in Upton before he returned to the trucking business in Wyoming and South Dakota. During those years he lived in Martin, Dayton, Lander and Casper. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Patrick. Other survivors include two sons, Monty of Casper and James of Riverton; another daughter, Katie Randich of Olympia, Wash.; and nine grandchildren.
Marion Compton
TEN SLEEP — Former Sheridan resident Marion Potts Compton, 86, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, at Poplar Living Center in Casper. Services are 1 p.m. today at United Methodist Church in Ten Sleep with the Rev. Judith Bither officiating. Veile Mortuary of Worland is handling arrangements. The casket will be open at the church today until service time. Burial will be in Ten Sleep cemetery. Mrs. Compton was born Sept. 23, 1915, in Grand Island, Neb., to Evart Ray and Hazel Jemima (Tharp) Potts. She married
Uel W. Compton June 20, 1937, at Potts Ranch near Weston, and they lived in several places while she taught school. They lived in Sheridan 19 years before moving to Ten Sleep. She was preceded in death by her husband and a grandson. Survivors include two daughters, Sue Verley of Sheridan and Ula Dickerman of Casper; sons Bert, Norman J., and Rex, all of Ten Sleep, Bob of Billings and David of Casper; a sister, Eva Burton of Glendo; 15 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to Ten Sleep United Methodist Women in care of Ten Sleep United Methodist Church.
Ruby Stetter
Former Sheridan area resident Ruby Ray (Pilch) Stetter, 84, of Frannie died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002, in the Powell hospital. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with Father Robert Fox officiating. Burial will be in Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Mrs. Stetter was born May 30, 1917, in Zortman, Mont., to Joseph R. and Lucy F. (Poulin) Holt. She grew up and attended schools in the Mills and Casper area and graduated from Casper High School. She married
Earl Mason Ray Sept. 6, 1939. They lived in the Hamilton Dome area. Mr. Ray died in an oil field accident in 1954. She moved to Sheridan, where she worked for the Ice Box Grocery on Coffeen Avenue. She married
George Walter “Tony” Pilch Dec. 27, 1956, in Worland. They bought the Dayton Locker Plant, then started the Pilch Processing Plant in Acme. They moved to Alaska in 1975, and she worked as a police dispatcher in Seward. Mr. Pilch died in 1976. She moved to California, where she married
Mudge Stetter Dec. 26, 1978, in Eureka. They moved to Frannie in 1986. Mr. Stetter died in March 2000. Mrs. Stetter was a member of the Catholic Church. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a son, Earl Wayne Ray, and by one brother and one sister. Survivors include two sons, Rod Pilch of Moose Pass, Alaska, and James A. Pilch of Lawrence, Kan.; three daughters, Adele Hooglund, Mary L. Pilch and Jane Perdue, all of Lawrence; a sister, Winnie Bond of Frannie; 13 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank in Sheridan.
