Obituaries

Terry Allen Messerli

Published by admin on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 9:08am

June 11, 1945 - April 20, 2023

Terry Allen Messerli was born June 11, 1945, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the second child of Howard and Claretta (Mortensen) Messerli. Terry’s father died when Terry was just a few months old and Claretta loaded up him and his sister Judy and moved to Greybull to be near her sister Ruth (Red) Deveraux. In Greybull Claretta met Chester A. Whaley, they married and three more siblings were added to Terry’s family.

Chester was a wonderful father to Terry and made sure he never lost touch with his Messerli family. Terry grew up on Shell Creek and loved raising sheep. After graduating from Greybull High School, he joined the Air Force and was stationed in Vietnam for a year. That time of his life was never far from Terry’s mind and he was proud to serve his country. He was always willing to share stories of his time there.

Claudia Evelyn Hendryx

Published by admin on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 9:06am

Feb. 20, 1945 - April 18, 2023

Claudia Evelyn Hendryx, 78, a longtime Greybull, Wyo., resident passed away April 18, 2023, at the North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell with her loving family by her side. 

Claudia was born Feb. 20, 1945, in Portland, Ore., to parents Fredrick Claude and Evelyn (Hetrick) Mitchell. Part of her childhood was spent in Portland and the other in Hialeah, Fla. She enjoyed the beaches, camping and fishing with her father and family growing up. Claudia met James Miller in 1962 and they were married thereafter. James was tragically taken in 1973. There were four children. 

In 1979 Claudia married longtime family friend John Allen Hendryx in Hood River, Ore. She loved raising and showing shaded silver Persians and also Arabian horses. She loved all animals and they loved her. 

Sara Lynn Wilson

Published by admin on Thu, 04/20/2023 - 1:43pm

Jan. 8, 1947 -  March 27, 2023

Sara Lynn Wilson, 76, returned to her heavenly home surrounded by family, her pastor and friends on March 27, 2023, in Thermopolis, Wyo. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God gave her peace.

Sara was a kind and beautiful soul. She was in the process of moving to Thermopolis to be closer to her son’s family and be able to spend more time with her grandson Sawyer, whom she dearly loved. 

Sara was born Jan. 8, 1947, to the late Roy and Julia Alberts, who later divorced. Julia married Robert Miller. Robert and Julia raised Sara and her siblings on a farm in Broomfield, Colo. She graduated from Arvada High School in 1965.

Edward W. (Bill) Kornkven

Published by admin on Thu, 04/20/2023 - 1:42pm

Edward W. (Bill) Kornkven passed away at his home in Casper on April 8, 2023 at the age of 90.  Bill had no siblings and was preceded in death by his parents, one son Eric, and a granddaughter Elsa Berri. He is survived by his wife, four children: Edward (Liz), Kristin (Tim) Graham, Kurt (Susie), and John (Kilty Brown), 18 grandchildren: Anne, Katrin, Elle (Nick) Perna, Anders, Brian Graham, Christian, Sarah (Kevin) Crank, Cody, Kelly (Dean) Scott, Ryer, Justus, Amanda, Jacob Brown, Ella-Berri, Trinity Godwin, Talia, Emily Brown, Joel, and one great-grandson, Colby.

Bill was born in Bottineau, N.D. in 1932 to Edward and Emma Kornkven. His family moved from North Dakota to Minneapolis, Minn. where he graduated from Central High School. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota and Colorado College. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Bill moved to Montana, then to Wyoming where he enjoyed the mountains and open spaces of his state.

Roderick "Dan" Brown

Published by admin on Thu, 04/20/2023 - 1:41pm

July 8, 1939 - April 11, 2023

Roderick "Dan" Brown, 83, a lifelong resident of Greybull, Wyo., passed away April 11, 2023, with his family by his side. 

Dan was born July 8, 1939, in Greybull to parents Cleo and Berniece Brown. He grew up surrounded by his siblings and attended Shell and Greybull schools. He met his future wife while driving his truck — he saw her riding her horse between Greybull and Basin and had to meet her. He married Carol Sue Dooley on March 1, 1960, in Greybull. He started his trucking company in 1958 and passionately ran the business until his last day with us for 65 years. His legacy will continue.  He enjoyed time with his family at home and in the outdoors. He loved boating, 4-wheeling, fishing and anything that he could do with his family.  Dan was hardworking, big hearted, honest and had a strong Catholic heart.

Lawrence Gunerius Hanson

Published by admin on Thu, 04/06/2023 - 4:32pm

October 19, 1929 – March 23, 2023

Lawrence Gunerius Hanson, 93, passed away at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Worland, Wyo., on March 23, 2023. 

Lawrence was born on Oct. 19, 1929, in Greybull, Wyo., the first of six children born to Gunerius and Ellen Ann (Behne) Hanson. Greybull was his forever home. Lawrence loved the life he had there, quiet and simple, just like him.  He was a very kind man who kept to himself for the most part.   He enjoyed going to the mountains whenever he could. The peace and solitude there was appealing to him. He painstakingly cared for his peony flower garden and was always generous each spring to share the beautiful blooms. He adorned many of the family graves each Memorial Day with the fragrant flowers.

Lawrence was a hard worker. He worked various jobs, but a few of his favorites included driving truck for Sweetheart Bread and working for Big Horn Co-op in Greybull and the bentonite plant.

Dixie Marjean Cummings

Published by admin on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 3:39pm

A memorial service for Dixie Marjean Cummings will be held Saturday, April 1 at 2 p.m. at the Atwood Family Chapel in Greybull.  A reception next door at the Greybull Elks Lodge will follow the service.

Dixie, 85, died Feb. 2, 2023.

 

Howard Rufe Gazaway

Published by admin on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 3:39pm

Howard Rufe Gazaway, 86, was born Nov. 11, 1936, in Riverton, Wyo., the son of Rufe I. and Hattie MaryAnn (Price) Gazaway.  He passed in the hospital at Basin, Wyo. 

He was married to Mary Etta (Rosenbaum) Gazaway, Aug. 7, 1968, in Casper, Wyo.

Nancy H. Miller

Published by admin on Thu, 03/16/2023 - 2:50pm

March 10, 1948 - Feb. 28, 2023

Samuel Wilson Smith

Published by admin on Thu, 03/09/2023 - 3:01pm

March 16, 1990 – March 1, 2023

Our well-loved Samuel Wilson Smith left this earth too soon on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, with family by his side in Casper from injuries sustained from a vehicle accident.

Sam was born on March 16, 1990, in Casper to James Henry Smith and Gladys Virginia Getz Smith. His brother Christopher joined the family a year later, and Patrick completed the trio of brothers two years after that. When Sam was five years old his father passed away and the family moved to Lovell, where he spent his remaining years.

Sam graduated from Lovell High School in 2008. In high school he was involved in track, but he attended all sorts of sporting events, beginning his predictable presence among the coaches, athletes and their families. After high school he attended Northwest College, receiving his degree in broadcast journalism, and then contining on to Brigham Young University-Idaho, receiving his bachelor’s degree.