Dell Clark Rubis

Dell Clark Rubis

April 18, 1940 – Oct. 14, 2021

Dell Clark Rubis passed away peacefully at the New Horizons Care Center in Lovell, Big Horn County, Wyoming, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021.

He was born April 18, 1940, in Basin to his loving parents Ed and Erma Fontella Clark. Dell was then proceeded by two sisters, Carol Sue and June, and a younger brother, Johnnie. 

They were raised on a farm, where he was taught lifelong skills and how to work hard. Dell finished all his schooling in Manderson and graduated in 1958. After graduation he and his uncle, Jay Clark, went to Meeteetse to help build the Meeteetse High School. This is where he met his future wife, Alice.

On April 28, 1962, Dell married Alice Marie Phelps in Greybull. He celebrated 58 years of marriage to her. Following this union Dell and Alice resided in Manderson, where they were blessed with three daughters, Chadell Marie, Brandy Lynn and Ivy Jo. In November of 1965 they moved their little family to Gillette, where their two sons, Darin Dwayne and Earl Paul, were born. Soon after the youngest daughter, Misty Dawn, arrived, completing the family.  He raised their family for 48 years in Gillette until September of 2014 when Dell and Alice relocated to Lovell to live with their daughter, Chadell, and her husband, Eric, due to health concerns.

Dell always had a great work ethic. This ethic enabled him to gain very valuable experiences and knowledge thoughout his employment years. It started on the family farm working with animals, learning different varieties of grains, growing crops and running the required equipment. Dell then discovered his talent in construction, which is what led to helping build the high school in Meeteetse. 

From there he went into the field service with the Baroid company. He worked on drilling and driving truck. He was then transferred by the Baroid company to Gillette to help run the plant there. With his growing family he decided to make a company change and joined Gem Mobil, where he was lead serviceman. 

Following his service to Gem Mobil he made a career change to Stahla Mobile Homes, where he did delivery and maintenance of their mobile homes. Dell could park a mobile home in just about any area. If a driver couldn’t back a trailer in a lot, they would call him, and he got it accomplished. 

In 1978 Dell joined the Black Thunder Coal Mine, where he was plant maintenance supervisor for 28 years. After his dedicated service to Black Thunder and raising his six children, he determined it was his turn to retire. Although easier said than done for such a hardworking man like Dell, he decided to go back to the work field and finished his employment at Knecht Home Center as a customer relations representative.

Dell was a quiet man and always spoke with understanding and a caring tone. He had a quick wit and love for all jokes. He was always willing to help, and you never heard the word no. It didn’t matter what it was, he was there for you. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend and worked very hard to provide in different ways for everyone. He made a lot of lifelong friends through his employment career and always kept close to his family.

Dell loved camping. He always looked forward to yearly family reunions and enjoyed taking long drives to see wildlife. He also loved making small projects out of wood, such as wooden trucks, water wells and trains, and he created airplanes out of pop cans. He spent his free time in the garage tinkering on something or some project. 

He started the process of restoring older cars, which led him into purchasing a 1960 Thunderbird that was his pride and joy. Dell loved his country music and preferred to still listen to it on his 8-track player or record player. When he wasn’t in his garage you could find him doing crossword puzzles or playing solitaire. 

Dell is survived by his daughters, Chadell (Eric) Smith of Lovell and Brandy McKee, Ivy Serna and Misty (Scot) Henaghan, all of Gillette; sons Darin Rubis of Central Lake, Michigan, and Earl (Wendy) Rubis of Murray, Utah; and sisters Carol Sue Morris of Thorton, Colorado, and June Allen of Thermopolis. He was also blessed with 24 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, in addition to many cousins.

Cremation has taken place. A funeral service will be held on October 23 at 2 p.m. at Haskell Funeral Home, 605 East Main St., in Lovell.