From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 4, Number 30 - October 21, 2004
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

Obituaries

Dallas Robert (Chip) Hicks

Dallas Robert (Chip) Hicks of Mesquite, Nev., died Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, at Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. He was 72 years old.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Pavillion Recreation Hall in Pavillion.

Chip Hicks, the youngest of five children, was born in Bondurant on Sept. 10, 1932, to Anna May (Myrick) and Arthur Hicks. His early years were spent on the homestead in the Hoback, until the family moved to Big Piney in 1940. His father died in 1942 while working on the Marincic Muleshoe Ranch. In 1944, May married James P. Jensen. Chip graduated from Big Piney High School in 1949.

He married Querida Ellen Lewis on June 2, 1955. They later divorced. To this union, two daughters, Venyta Hope and Zane Marie, and a son Edward A. (Mickey), were born. Chip worked for several different ranches in the Sublette County area, including Miller Land and Livestock, rode for the association and was a heavy equipment operator for Skyline Construction.

On Nov. 24, 1984, he married Laura Jessie Gooch in Jackson Hole. They then moved to the Riverton area, where Chip worked for Parker Drilling. He retired from the Fremont County Road Department as a blade operator after buying a small ranch (MT Cattle Company) in Pavillion, where he raised longhorn cattle. This was the beginning of his famous “white shirt/black tie” brandings and the “Death Valley Gang.”

For the last several years Chip and Laura spent winters in Mesquite, and in 2003 they moved there permanently.

Chip loved and lived to rodeo. He started bulls and broncs at a very young age, competed with his son Mickey, and after turning 45, rode in old-timers rodeos. Whether it be a horse show at the Sublette County Fair, cheering on the sidelines at the Big Piney Puncher football games, or behind the chutes at a rodeo, Chip was there supporting his kids. He was always proud of his children’s accomplishments. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren as well.

He was also an avid Chicago Bear fan, loved playing cards and was well known for his ability to tell a great story. Chip never knew a stranger and always enjoyed visiting with his many friends and neighbors.

Chip is survived by his wife, Laura; daughters Venyta Miller and husband, Doug, and Zane Janzen and husband, Paul; son Mickey and his wife, Becky; the mother of his children, Querida Hicks; grandchildren Misty and Dallas Ham; Mickey and Brandon Miller; Jade and Tucker Hicks and wife; Tawna, McKayla Hicks and Billy Jack and Chip Janzen; great-grandchildren Autumn and K.J. Klinker and Jaden Miller; stepchildren Rusty Gooch, Patricia Spach and husband, George; 13 step-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, sisters Ruth Goss and Callie Slattery, and bothers Bill and Mickey Hicks.


Mary Beth Pringle

Funeral services for former Upton resident Mary Beth Pringle, 84, were held at 2 p.m. Oct. 1, 2004 at Upton United Methodist Church with Reverend Joe Spencer officiating. Burial followed in the Upton Greenwood Cemetery under direction of Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle.

Pringle died Monday, Sept. 27, at the home of her daughter in Big Piney.

Mary was born Sept. 5, 1920 in Moorcroft, the daughter of Harold and Fern (Spencer) Dumbrill. She attended schools in Michigan and Wyoming, graduating from Upton High School in 1938. She attended the University of Wyoming and later graduated from Black Hills State Teacher’s College.

She married Homer L. Pringle Jr. on Sept. 15, 1940. To this union three children were born. Mary and Homer spent most of their married life in Upton. While raising her family, Mary was very active in her church and helped with fundraising to build the United Methodist Church.

A central part in her life was her association with her church circle and Camp Farthest Out. After her children graduated from college she taught high school French and English and studied and traveled in Europe.

Mary’s greatest pleasure was spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed music, poetry, natural scenery and her large circle of friends.

Mary and Homer moved in Big Piney in 1999, near their daughter Kathy Pompy and her family. During their short time there, they met many friends through the senior citizens center and the Episcopal church.

Survivors include her son Homer Pringle (Lorna) of Jerome, Idaho; two daughters, Marilyn Hansen (Don) of Newcastle, and Kathy Pompy (Michael) of Big Piney; one sister Phyllis Williams of Redlands, Calif.; two brothers, Richard Dumbrill of Newcastle and John Dumbrill of Santa Rosa, Calif. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one grandson.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Upton United Methodist Church or St. John’s Community Aid Association in Big Piney or Community Home Care in Big Piney


Jack Conley

Memorial services are pending for Dubois resident Jack Conley, 84, who passed away Oct. 9, 2004, at Riverton Memorial Hospital.

Born Aug. 10, 1920, in Big Horn, he was the son of William O. and Mary Jane Anderson Conley, and graduated from Big Horn High School in 1938.

On June 14, 1941, he married Beulah L. Landen in Hardin, Mont. He began his career in 1939 with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as a temporary warden on the Little Horn located on the Montana-Wyoming border as was a temporary assistant at the Story Fish Hatchery

In 1942, he was appointed permanent fish hatchery assistant of the state fish hatchery in Daniel. After transferring to Dubois in 1946 as hatchery superintendent, he was promoted to supervisor for the hatcheries of Southwest Wyoming Region in 1954 and transferred to Boulder.

The Dubois hatchery was added to the Southwest Wyoming Region in 1956 and he returned to Dubois where he and his wife settled. He retired from WG&F in 1982 after 43 years of devoted service.

His interests included fly fishing, trap shooting, hunting and horseback riding.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years of Dubois, daughter Jackie Hill and her husband of Watford City, N.D.; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and two brothers.

Memorials may be made to the Dubois senior center. Davis Funeral Home of Riverton was in charge of arrangements.

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