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	OBITUARIES March 2007 Obituaries we have received are listed below. We are only able to post obituaries if and when the funeral homes send them to us. If an obituary you are interested in is missing, it's because we were not provided with the information from the funeral homes. Thank You for your patience. VISIT THE OBITUARY ARCHIVE HERE

Rose Baker, age 84, of Sheridan, WY died Monday, March 5, 2007, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Rose was born March 15, 1922, in Kleenburn, WY to Bruno & Elizabeth (Varcalli) Polito.

Rose grew up on the ranch near Decker, MT attending grade school at Monument Creek School.  In 1940, the family moved into Sheridan and she graduated from Sheridan High School in 1942.  She worked at the Lotus Café until 1944 when she began she began her 50 year career as a sales clerk for Von Ragsdale Co., C.R. Anthony’s, J.M. McDonald’s and Conrads where she retired in 1994.  Rose married Maxon Baker on July 13, 1947, in Sheridan. She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church and enjoyed sewing, crocheting and cooking for her family.

Rose was preceded by in death by her parents, sisters Josephine Polito and Mary Bach.

Rose is survived by her husband Maxon of Sheridan; daughter Janus Powell of Ranchester, WY; sisters Ellen Polito of Sheridan and Lois Lewis of Hardin, MT; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Vigil service will be 7:00pm on Thursday (Mar. 8th) from Champion Ferries Funeral Home.  Funeral Liturgy will be 10:00am on Friday from Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ronald Stolcis officiating.  Interment will be in Sheridan Elks Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials may benefit the Diabetes Foundation.

Daniel G. Balkenbush, 53, of Story passed away at his home on Saturday, March 10, 2007.Dan was born June 26, 1953, in Buffalo, WY, the fifth of seven children to Lois (Peters)and Jim Balkenbush. He was one of the first babies born in the "new" Buffalo hospital. Dan grew up in Buffalo and Story and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1972. After high school he attended the University of Wyoming.
On June 5, 1981, Dan married Michelle Sabell in Golden, CO. They made their home in Story and Dan worked as a foreman at Decker Coal until 1983. The family then moved to Gillette and Dan worked at the Caballo Coal Mine. In 1997 they moved to Big Fork, MT, where Dan went into business for himself refinishing log buildings. In 2002, Dan moved back to Story where he spent the remainder of his life.  Dan was a devoted father and loved spending time with his two children, Carly and John. He coached youth wrestling, baseball, football, track, and soccer. He was also a volunteer for the CHAPS program in Sheridan. He was an avid outdoorsman and an accomplished horseman and spent his free time hunting, fishing, training horses, and packing in the mountains.

He is survived by his parents, his children, John Michael Balkenbush of Fredrick, CO, and Carly Jo Balkenbush of Key West, FL; his four brothers, John (Candy) Balkenbush of Conrad, MT, Pete (Cheri)Balkenbush and Bob (Tammy) Balkenbush of Sheridan, and Ken (Wendy) Balkenbush of Story, WY; his sisters, Jalene (Steve) Sorenson of Gillette, WY, and Judy Balkenbush of Sheridan; three aunts, seven nieces, seven nephews, eight great-nieces, and eleven great-nephews, numerous cousins and many life-long friends. Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Laurel and Ethelyn (Rowden) Peters and JP and Anna (Schroeder) Balkenbush; six uncles; and two aunts.

A vigil for Dan will be held at Kane Funeral Home, 689 Meridian St., Sheridan,

Clarence R. Cates, 88, of Sheridan, passed away in Billings, MT on Saturday, March 17, 2007.

Clarence was born December 13, 1918 on a small ranch 10 miles south of Arvada, WY. He attended school thru the third grade, then the family moved to Gillette. He graduated from high school in 1937. After graduating he went to work for his father, who had started the first truck line between Sheridan and Gillette. He later went to work for Buckingham Transportation Co. before joining the U.S. Navy in April 1942. While in the Navy he served aboard the Destroyer Escort #136 Fredrick C. Davis. He was discharged in December 1945. Upon returning home from the Navy he and his brother started Lou’s Transfer & Storage Co. He had been the owner since his brother’s death in 1955. He retired and sold the business in 2001. He married Helen J. Clark August 10, 1946. Clarence was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, the Elks Lodge, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus.

Clarence is survived by two sons, Michael and Jaybe, and one grandson, Jonathan. He was preceded in death by his wife, six brothers, and one sister.

A Christian Wake service will be held at Kane Funeral Home on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be at Holy Name Catholic Church at 10:00 am on Friday, March 23, 2007 with The Reverend Ron Stolcis officiating. Interment will follow in the Sheridan Elks Cemetery. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Charlotte Ekwall, 71, of Sheridan passed away at Sheridan Manor on March 28, 2007. Charlotte was born on April 25, 1935, in Wheatland, Wyoming, to Charles E. and Marjorie E. (Ankney) Bergman. She married Roy Ekwall on June 30, 1959, in Rapid City, South Dakota, and they had six children.

Charlotte was a homemaker and she enjoyed playing Bingo, collecting spoons, magnets and other knick knacks. She was a member of the Big Horn Mountain Eagles Aerie 4169 Auxilary for 19 years, serving as a Trustee for 12 years. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #42 for 33 years, and the VFW Post #1560 Auxiliary for 29 years. Charlotte volunteered at the Catholic Church Thrift Shop for a number of years and also at VFW Bingo. She was also an election judge for many years.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents and she is survived by her husband, Roy, and her children, Rose Cita (Wayne) Heaton of Hubert, Utah; Duane Ekwall of Sheridan, Robert (Sophie) Ekwall of Rock Springs, Wyoming,; Steve (Rhonda) Ekwall of Manhattan, Kansas; Michael Ekwall of Sheridan; and Kathryn (Jamie Bistram) of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and her four brothers and a sister.

Charlotte was an incredible lady who always welcomed anyone into her home and lent a helping hand wherever needed. She touched more lives than she could ever know.

Cremation has taken place and Memorial Services are planned for April 28, 2007, at the Big Horn Mountain Eagles at 1:00 pm.

Donations may be made to the donor’s choice or the Welch Cancer Center or the Dialysis Clinic in care of Kane Funeral Home.

Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Hattie C. Gleason, age 78, of Gillette, WY died Saturday, March 3, 2007, in her Gillette home.

Hattie was born July 24, 1928, in Crow Agency, MT to Edward & Elnora (Kelsey) Bixby

Hattie grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation as a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.  She attended boarding school and graduated high school in Busby, Montana in 1944.  Hattie married W.P. “Bill” Gleason on September 19, 1945, in Hardin, MT.  They lived in Sheridan until moving to Gillette in 1957.  She worked for Boyd’s Supermarket in Gillette.  They returned to Sheridan in 1972 where she worked for Boyd’s in Sheridan.  Mr. Gleason died in 1999 and she then returned to Gillette to be near family.  Hattie enjoyed gardening, yard work, cooking, camping and fishing.  She loved being with her grandchildren.

Hattie was also preceded in death by her son Gary; great grandson Jonathon SoRelle; three brothers and five sisters.

Hattie is survived by her son William “Bud” Gleason of Sheridan; daughter Sandra Reynolds of Gillette; sister Darlene Bowman of Auburn, WA; 13 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be 4:00pm until 6:00pm on Wednesday (Mar. 7th) from Champion Ferries Funeral Home.  Memorial service will be 11:00am on Thursday from Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Rev. Douglas Goodwin officiating.  Committal of cremains will be later in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home, Sheridan.

Memorials may benefit the Gillette Hospice, in care of Campbell County Memorial Hospital, P.O. Box 3011, Gillette, WY  82717.

Michael R. Herbison, 65, of Sheridan died Thursday, March 29, 2007 at home.

Mike was born May 3, 1941 in Los Angeles California, the son of Ray and Elizabeth Herbison.

He attended school in Cheyenne and graduated from Central High School in 1960.

Mike received a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Texas-Austin in 1966. Upon graduation he and his family re-located to Casper, Wyoming where he was the head of Libraries at the University of Wyoming-Casper.

Mike had a long successful career in academia holding positions as the Director of Libraries for many esteemed universities:

1992-2004 Dean of Library Sciences-University of Nebraska-Kearney

1983-1992 Dean of Library Sciences-University of Alaska, Juneau

1968-1983 Director of Libraries-University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Mike was active in the communities in which he lived and worked. While in Colorado Springs he was responsible for securing the property currently owned and operated by the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. This property is currently the site of the University Libraries, Dorms, ball-parks and soccer fields. He was an active volunteer at the theater group in Kearney Nebraska and was an active member on the University accreditation committee-responsible for reviewing and performing evaluations for universities across the Northwest as well as past president of the American Libraries association. During his career Mike was responsible for the oversight and building of new library facilities at both the University of Alaska-Juneau and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Mike loved to read, backpack, play chess and enjoyed Wednesday night poker with buddies.

He is survived by his wife Diana of Sheridan, whom he married July 1, 2006; 2 daughters, Shelley Parra of Worland, Wyoming and Andrea Boortz of Denver, Colorado, a brother, Alan Herbison of Riverton, Utah, 2 sisters Janet Cowley of Cheyenne, Wyoming , Lenore Howen Northern California, 2 granddaughters, Breanna Parra-5 and Kayla Boortz-17, 3 step-sons, Mark Sonderby of Sheridan, Wyoming, Anthony Sonderby of German Town, Tennessee and Michael Sonderby of Tumwater, Washington, a step-daughter, Diedry Arzy of Billings, Montana.

Viewing will be from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday April 1, 2007 at Kane Funeral Home.

Memorial services will be 11:00am, Monday April 2, 2007 at Kane Funeral Home with Reverend Ron Stolcis officiating.

Friends may contribute to Hospice of the Big Horns, Sheridan Memorial Hospital, 1401 W. 5th Street, Sheridan WY 82801 or The Nebraska Medical Center Organ Transplant Program, 983285 Nebraska Medical Center Drive, Omaha, NE 68198-3285.

Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Helen E. Kinney, age 81, of Sheridan, WY died Sunday, March 25, 2007, in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Billings, MT.

Helen was born December 21, 1925, in Sparta, Wisconsin, to Worley & Margaret (Sullivan) Fish.

She grew up and graduated high school in Sparta.  Helen received her nursing degree from St. Francis School of Nursing at Viterbo College, LaCrosse, WI.  She moved to Cheyenne, WY in 1948 and worked at Memorial Hospital.  Helen married Richard “Pete” Kinney on September 2, 1950, in Sparta, and they moved to Boulder, CO.  They moved to California in 1955 and then moved to Sheridan in 1960.  Dr. Kinney died in 1978.  Helen worked as Director of Nursing for Sheridan Manor until she retired.  Helen was an active member of Holy Name Parish singing in the choir, volunteering at the school and as a member of St. Patrick’s Group.  She also was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary.  Helen enjoyed traveling, reading, storytelling, cooking and china painting.  She loved her grandchildren and had an attic full of toys for them.

Helen was also preceded by a son Richard Jr.; brother Eugene and sisters Mary Alice and Marguerite.

Helen is survived by sons John of Chicago, IL, Peter of Watertown, SD and Drew of Belton, TX; daughter Susan Kinney-Lowther of Cody, WY; sisters Delores Rigg and Kathleen Fish both of Scottsdale, AZ and seven grandchildren.

Vigil service will be 7:00pm on Thursday (Mar. 29th) from Champion Ferries Funeral Home.  Funeral service will be 10:00am on Friday from Holy Name Catholic Church with Father Ronald Stolcis officiating.  Interment will be in Sheridan Elks Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials may benefit Holy Name Catholic Church.

Fred Miller, 95, of Sheridan, WY, died Friday, March 16, 2007 in Sheridan Manor.

Mr. Miller was born March 31, 1911 in Park City, MT to Jacob and Katherine (Zier) Miller.  His parents came from Saratov, Russia in 1908 to Canada, and then to the United States.  The family moved to Hysham, MT when he was two years of age.  They then moved to Ranchester, WY in 1918, and to Sheridan in 1923.

Fred took over his parents beet farm just south of Sheridan when he was in his early 30’s.  Mr. Miller ranched in the Sheridan area his whole life, retiring in 1980.

During the 1930’s, Mr. Miller was a boxer, participating in numerous “smokers” in the Sheridan area.  He was a member of the Lion’s Club, the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan, enjoyed playing cards, cribbage, & traveling .  He loved little children, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family.

Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clurus, in February of this year; and 8 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by one daughter, Beverly Medlock, of Westminister, CO; one sister, Lydia Miller, of Casper, WY; 3 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.

Memorial service for Mr. Miller will be 2:15 P.M. Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at Sugarland Ridge with the Rev. William Heine officiating.  Private family committal of cremains will be in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home. 

Memorials in memory of Mr. Miller may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1300 W. 5th St., Sheridan, WY  82801

Jack Louis Newman, 79, of Sheridan passed away at his residence on Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

Jack was born on February 10,1928, in Sundance, Wyoming, to Clarice and Carl Newman. He has been in the Sheridan area Since 1967. Jack helped start the Decker Coal Mine as a blade operator and worked there for 17 years. On April 23, 1966, he married Lesta Confer. Jack was a member of the Elks Lodge #520 and the American Legion. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and carpentry.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Lesta Newman in 1995; and one son Kevin Newman in1993. Survivors include his sons, Bill Newman of Parker, Colorado and Lonny Newman of Buena Vista Colorado; his daughters, Jackie Newman of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Terri Frank of Louisville, Colorado; one brother Billy Edward Newman of Gillette, Wyoming; his nine grandchildren Brandi D. and Becki D. Newman, Charles K. and Jack C. Scheckla, Caitlin R., Annalyn V., Asheton A., and Jillian S. Frank, and Lindy Newman-Latham,

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, April 3,2007, at Kane Funeral Home at 11:00 am with Pastor Tony Forman officiating. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

The family has requested that memorials be made in Jack’s name to the Dog and Cat Shelter, 84 East Ridge Rd., Sheridan, WY 82801

Lelin E. Owings, 78, of Sheridan, WY, died Thursday, March 22, 2007 in Sheridan Manor.

Mr. Owings was born October 28, 1928 in Sheridan, WY.  He grew up and attended schools in Sheridan.  When he was in the 8th grade, Mr. Owings went to work for the railroad in Sheridan where he learned to weld.

Lelin joined the U. S. Army in 1945 and worked on the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project in Las Alamos, New Mexico.  He was discharged in June of 1947 and returned to Sheridan.  Mr. Owings married Patricia R. Doyle December 24, 1947 in Hardin, MT.  Lelin worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad in Sheridan for 47 years, retiring in June of 1991.

Mr. Owings enjoyed fishing and hunting, but his greatest joy was spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Mr. Owings was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, and 1 brother.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of Sheridan, WY; two sons, Jeffrey and John Owings, both of Sheridan, WY; three daughters, Aspen Dumas, of Sheridan, WY, Shelmer Pinyan, of Englewood, CO, and Shannon Chambers, of Champion, NB; two brothers, John Carr, of Price, Utah, and James Carr, Wahiwa, Hawaii; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

Memorial service for Mr. Owings will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 30, 2007 at the Sheridan Salvation Army Chapel, with Captain Jason Gill officiating.  Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials in memory of Mr. Owings may be made to the Salvation Army, 150 Tschirgi St., Sheridan, WY  82801, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. 

Frank Elmer Ross passed away on March 24, 2007, at the VA Nursing Home in Sheridan, where he had resided for the past three years. He was born on June 19, 1918, in Sedro Wolley, Washington and he was raised in Aberdeen, Idaho and graduated from the University of Idaho as a Civil Engineer.

Frank served as an aviator in WWI on a B17 bomber and was shot down over Germany. Frank was married to Dorothy Scott for twenty-one years. They were divorced and Frank continued to raise his two children, Tara and Frankie in Ephrata, Washington.

Frank was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Basin Air Barber Shoppers and he was a Boy Scout leader.

He is survived by his daughter, Tara (Garry) Yake of Casper, Wyoming, and his son Frankie, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one sister and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at Oregon Trails State Cemetery in Evansville, WY on Friday, April 6, 2007 at 2:00 pm. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

John Ruzicka, 84, of Sheridan, passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

John was born on July 7, 1922, in Kleenburn, WY, to John F. and Milada (Kadlec) Ruzicka. He was raised on the Moncreiffe Ranch. He attended schools in Big Horn and was the Valedictorian of the Big Horn High School Class of 1940. In 1942, he joined the Army Air Corps and served as a bombardier on a B-24 Liberator in the Mediterranean and North African Theaters. At the time of his discharge in 1947, he had completed 50 combat missions and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. Following WWII, John returned to the University of Wyoming and graduated in 1947 with a Bachelors of Arts. He continued his education and, in 1961, received a Masters of Arts in Science, also from the University of Wyoming. He taught school from 1947-1951 in Green River, WY, and then moved to Sheridan where he taught science for 33 years at Central Jr. High School until his retirement in 1984. On August 17, 1947 in Rock Springs, WY John married Frances Krek. The couple had three children. Throughout his life John maintained an interest in both building models and restoring automobiles. His collection included 2 hand restored Model- T Fords, (a 1916 and a 1919), a 1929 Model-A Ford, and a 1947 Willey’s Jeep, which many area residents may have seen on the streets of Sheridan. He was an avid hiker and fisherman in the Big Horn Mountains. His other interests included photography (especially photographing wild flowers), geology, and astronomy. He was especially proud of being an educator.

John is survived by his wife, Frances of 59 years, of Sheridan; their children, Father Gary J. Ruzicka, Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Cheyenne, WY, Kathleen A. (Bernie) McManus of Sheridan, and Francy (Steve) Hoyer of Big Horn, WY; his four grandchildren, Bill (Jenni) Luckett Jr., Erin N. (Brian) Fowler, Megan Hoyer, and Melissa Hoyer.

A Christian Wake Service will be held at Holy Name Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am Thursday, March 8, 2007 at Holy Name Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, Big Horn, WY. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested Memorial’s be made in John’s name to Diocese of Cheyenne Permanent Deaconate Program, Box 1468. Cheyenne, WY 82003.

Icelene E. Simpson, age 93, of Story, WY died Sunday, March 11, 2007, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Icelene was born November 13, 1913, in Montezuma, Iowa, to Byron & Eva (Steele) Playle.

Icelene grew up and attended schools in Montezuma and Newton, IA.  She worked for Spiegel’s Catalog and then for Merle Norman Cosmetics.  She moved to California in 1969.  She worked for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office until she retired in 1975.  While working for the Sheriff’s Dept., she met Dale Simpson and they were married in 1979.  Dale died in 2003 and she then moved to Sheridan to be near family.  Icelene was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ.  She enjoyed shopping, baking for the Holidays and being with her family.

Icelene was preceded in death by her brother Kenneth and a sister Inez Vestal.

Icelene is survived by a sister Iris Cahhal of Story, WY and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 10:00am on Monday (Mar. 19th) from Halley Olsen Murphy Memorial Chapel, Lancaster, CA.  Interment is in Joshua Memorial Park, Lancaster. Local arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home, Sheridan, WY.

Memorials may benefit Story Volunteer Fire Dept., Box 4, Story, WY  82842

Alma Anna Steinfeld, 84 of Sheridan passed away on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at Sheridan Manor.

Alma was born on July 13, 1922 to Theresa Anna (Fraundorfer) and Henry Edward Arthur in Deloit, Nebraska. She married Arthur R. Steinfeld on February 4, 1946 in Kennebeck, South Dakota. The couple raised two sons together.

Alma was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; a son, Dennis; and four brothers John, Raymond, Joseph and Edward. She is survived by her son, Douglas, and his wife, Mabel of Sheridan; and her daughter-in -law, Shelley Steinfeld of Douglas, WY. Alma is also survived by two brothers Eugene Arthur of Rapid City, South Dakota and Milford Arthur of Lodi, California; two sisters Mildred Zadel of Clifton, Colorado and Leona Best of Rapid City, South Dakota; four grandchildren Samantha, Nichole, Jamie Steinfeld , Arthur Bradley Steinfeld and his wife Samantha.

In keeping with Alma’s wishes no services are scheduled at this time and cremation has taken place. Private family services will be held later.For those who wish to make a contribution to a worthy cause in Alma’s name, may we suggest the donor’s choice .

Mary Ann Twite, 49, of Sheridan, passed away on Friday, March 2, 2007, at her residence.

Mary was born on May 11, 1957, in Odessa, TX, to Miriam (Mayfield) and Burl Shumaker. Before moving to Sheridan Mary resided in Washington. She married Pat J. Twite on October 31, 1983 in Rawlins, WY. She was the mother to Andy Twite and enjoyed collecting elephant figurines. Mrs. Twite was employed by Albertson’s as a cashier for two years. Mary was a good girl. Loved by all and missed so much. So happy now, to be together again with her son.

Mrs. Twite was preceded in death by her son. She is survived by her husband, Pat, and her two sisters Irma Curl, of Dryson, Washington, and Donna Bloomer of Forestgrove, Oregon.

Cremation has taken place and at Mary’s request no services are scheduled. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and will be known at a later date.

Memorial’s in Mary’s name may be sent to 1050 Emerson, Sheridan, WY 82801.

DeLaine Ann Wagner, age 85, of Sheridan, WY died Tuesday, March 06, 2007, in Sheridan Manor.

DeLaine was born July 18, 1921, on a ranch near Gillette, WY to Earl & Christina (Zeigler) Camblin.

She grew up on the Pumpkin Butte Ranch and graduated from high school in Gillette.  DeLaine received her nursing degree from St. Johns McNamara nursing school in Rapid City, SD in 1942.  DeLaine married Wesley Traner in 1944.  They later divorced.  DeLaine married Albert Wagner in 1955.  They lived in Sheridan.  They later divorced.  She lived for a time in Gillette and worked at Campbell County Memorial Hospital.  Returning to Sheridan, she worked at Memorial Hospital, V.A. Medical Center and Sheridan Manor where she retired.  DeLaine was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and she enjoyed being an avid rockhound, being in the outdoors, camping, and collecting antiques.

DeLaine was preceded in death by one daughter Annadee Traner.

DeLaine is survived by her sons Russell Traner of Roseburg, OR and Tim Wagner of Buffalo, WY; daughters Christine Kelm of Olympia, WA and Carla Strain of Silverthorne, CO; sisters Josephine Fortin of Upton, WY, Betty Woods of Gillette and Alberta Cox of Moorcroft, WY; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 2:00pm on Friday (Mar.9th) from Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Weldon Treat officiating.  Interment will be in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorial may benefit the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Mary Ann Wilbur, 73, of Sheridan, WY, died Thursday, March 27, 2007 in Sheridan Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Wilbur was born August 8, 1933 in Marty, SD to Joseph L, and Mercedes (Picotte) Ament.  The family moved to Lame Deer, MT when she was 10 years old and she attended schools in Lame Deer.  They moved to Ashland where her father was a mechanic and took care of the dairy at the St. Labre Indian Mission.  Mrs. Wilbur graduated from the St. Labre High School in 1951.

Mary worked at the Hanson Hardware Store in Ashland as a bookkeeper and clerk.  She married Raymond F. Wilbur in Billings, MT in 1952 and the couple farmed and ranched in the Ashland area.  Mrs. Wilbur raised four children and worked for Hanson Hardware before going to work in 1972 at the St. Labre Indian Mission in administration and was the opening room supervisor.  She retired in 1991 and moved to Sheridan.

Mrs. Wilbur was an avid Atlanta Braves baseball fan, a wonderful seamstress, enjoyed crocheting, gardening and canning, and loved to read.  She was a member of the Catholic Church.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray in 1990; 2 sons; 1 great granddaughter; 2 brothers; and 1 sister.

She is survived by one son, Dan Wilbur, of Glenrock, WY; one daughter, Julie Moline, of Sheridan, WY; two brothers, John Ament, of Yankton, SD, and Tom Ament, of Rapid City, SD; four sisters, Gracie Gordon, of Soldotna, AK, Fran Hatfield, of Rapid City, SD, Jeanne Brunkhorst, of Tampa, FL, and Marcella Cook, of Casper, WY; 7 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.

Memorial service for Mrs. Wilbur will be 11:00 AM Saturday, March 31, 2007 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT.  Inurnment will be in the Custer County Cemetery, Miles City.  A reception will follow the inurnment at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.  Local arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorials in memory of Mrs. Wilbur may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

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