Obituaries

Bill Dickson

William Ross Dickson was born in Rock Springs on Dec. 28, 1915. He died on Nov. 20, 2004, at the age of 88.

Bill was born to a ranching family and intended to join his uncle Isaac Brooks in the ranching business that had been established by his grandfather in the late 1880s in Sweetwater County.

Bill graduated from high school in 1934 as president of his class and a member of the basketball team. While attending the University of Wyoming, he switched majors from agriculture to business law, and met and married his college sweetheart, Donna Spence, on May 14, 1937. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the university.

Bill and his wife lived in Rock Springs, where his first business was managing the credit bureau and reporting office for Rush DeNice. He soon became a partner and later bought the business. Eventually Bill established the WR Dickson Real Estate and Insurance Agency, which he ran for many years. In 1971 Bill was the youngest person ever appointed as a director for the First Security Bank, and when he retired from that board in 1997 he was their senior director.

During his years in business, Bill was an entrepreneur and developer. He bought land and developed two subdivisions in Rock Springs, – the Lynn and the Donalyn additions. At various times he owned and operated various other businesses. He also established a golf course with a swimming pool and supper club. He eventually turned the golf course area into a 15-unit apartment complex, also called the Donalyn.

Bill was active on several of the governor’s boards, including the Real Estate-Credit Bureau Board and the State Insurance Commission.

He belonged to the Eagles, Elks, Shriners and Masons, and was an excellent marksman. He was a member of the Rocky Mountain Oysters Trap Club. While a member of the Exchange Club, he made money trips to Cheyenne to lobby for the successful establishment of Western Wyoming Community College.

In 1999, Bill and his wife moved into an independent apartment at the Sublette Center in Pinedale. The Dicksons had kept a summer home at Fremont Lake, where the couple had hunted and avidly fished for years.

Bill had a quiet manner with a twinkling eye and delightful sense of humor that endeared him to family, friends and fellow bridge players. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather — he had recently become a great-grandfather for the first time.

Bill passed away in his sleep in the medical wing of the Sublette Center after a few days of being acutely ill.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Donna Spence Dickson; one beloved daughter, Jamie Lynn Kaul, and her husband, Mike Kaul, of Pinedale; two grandsons: Richard Kaul and his wife Abby and their two daughters Kaillen Margaret and Madeline Dickson of Grand Junction, Colo., and David James Kaul of New York City; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: John and Joseph.

There was a memorial in his honor at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28, at the Community United Church of Christ with Pastor Jean Wade presiding. Immediately following the service was a social and coffee hour held in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the CUCC Church, Bell Tower Fund, P.O. Box 646, Pinedale, Wyo., 82941 or any other local charity of your choice.

Ralph “Brandy” Manning

Ralph Lamont Manning, 72, died on Nov. 15, 2004, at his home in Pinedale. He was born on Nov. 11, 1932, in Ogden, Utah, the son of Benjamin and Virgie Manning. He was raised in Hooper, Utah.

After graduating from Weber High School in Ogden, he enlisted in the army. He served his country in the Korean War, where he was wounded in action. During his military experience, he received the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, 16 ribbons and five medals.

He married Jacqueline June Bennett on April 15, 1955, in Big Piney. They had thee sons. He worked on ranches and dude ranches in the area and also served as sheriff.

He and his family moved to Tucson, Ariz., in 1965, where he had a barbershop, then later retired from a sand and gravel company.

Brandy returned to Wyoming in 1989 and ran a store and bar in Arvada. He later moved to Sheridan.

He had moved to Pinedale in July of 2004, where he was close to family. It is here that he passed away.

He is survived by his former wife, Jackie; sons Benny (wife Debby) of Acton, Calif., Steve (wife Becky) of Pinedale and Keith (wife Talli) also of Pinedale; two brothers, Claude and Gerald; and four sisters Margaret, Mary, Cleone and Margene.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings: Theda, Keith and Belva.

A memorial was held on Friday, Nov. 26, 2004, at noon at Hudson’s Funeral Home in Pinedale.