Obituaries

Marjorie MacGill

Marjorie Doris (Anderson) MacGill was born Jan. 30, 1920 the first child of Royal Maxfield and Catherine May (Plumridge) Anderson. She went to her heavenly home to meet her Lord and Saviour on Feb. 8, 2007, just shortly after her 87th birthday.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was a delight to her loving parents. She had one younger brother, Robert Anderson, born 12 years later. The family moved to Allendale, NJ. It was there she met and married her sweetheart, Alexander Morrey MacGill on June 28, 1941.

To this marriage were born four sons: Alexander Morrey MacGill Jr., Robert Roy MacGill, Richard Lee MacGill, and David Paul MacGill (Sr.).

During World War II, she volunteered as a spotter and helped watch the skyline for incoming aircraft. She only worked outside the home for two other brief periods of time - once for a dentist shortly before her marriage and once for a nearby mink farm when her sons were mostly grown. Her great love was to be in her home with her family and pets. Both Alex and Marjorie had a desire to move west, so they packed up the house, the children and the collies, and moved to the mountains of Colorado - arriving on January 1, 1960. She taught Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School for many years, and loved taking time to create handcrafts to illustrate the Bible verses she was teaching her students. She would often recruit Alex’s help in making lesson props for the stories.

A couple of years after Alex retired, they moved to Pinedale. Both used to talk about how much they loved their “little gray home in the west.” Marjorie greatly enjoyed making her house into a home and truly appreciated having people come to visit her there. She was always excited to hear of an upcoming marriage or birth in the family, and was looking forward to both of those events soon. She loved her family and friends, her pets, her doll and teddy bear collections, her husband and her Lord Jesus Christ.

She spent the last two years of her life at the Sublette Center, and still loved having people come over to visit her there.

After a very short illness, she joined her husband once again, rejoicing at the feet of Jesus.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her eldest son, Alex Jr. She is survived by her brother, Robert (& Pat) Anderson, sisters-in-law Rose and Betty MacGill, sons Robert (& Caroline), Dick (& Deirdre), and Dave (& Kay) MacGill, grandchildren Rebecca (& Jess) Covey, Shawn (& Dixie) MacGill, Shane MacGill, Chad (& Tammie) MacGill, Jeff (& Diana) MacGill, Cory (& Marla) MacGill, Candace (& John) Kramer, Deanne (& Jamie) Swain, Caleb MacGill, Kendra MacGill, Joshua MacGill, David MacGill Jr., Anita Kay MacGill, Tina (& Trevor) Daniels, and Jennifer MacGill, and 13 great grandchildren (with another on the way).

A family graveside service was held Saturday, Feb. 10. Memorial service will be held for the public Monday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Margie E. Jones

Margie E. (Spomer) Jones of Pinedale, formerly of Julesburg, Colo., passed away Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007.

Margie was born October 19, 1932 to Henry and Basil Spomer of Ovid, Colo.  She grew up in Ovid, and then moved to Denver, Colo., to attend Nursing School.  She proudly graduated in 1956 as a Registered Nurse.  Margie also met her husband of 49 years, Larry L. Jones and married him Sept. 21, 1956.  Margie and Larry had two daughters, Kathleen, born 1961 and Susan, born 1962. 

Margie worked St. Anthony’s hospital in Denver for several years until she and Larry moved to Lander, then to South Pass. Margie worked at the Lander Hospital and the Wyoming State Training school during this time.

She and Larry enjoyed camping and fishing and had many good times doing so with their family. Margie and her husband later returned to Farson, where they bought a small farm and finished raising their girls. Margie worked at the hospital in Rock Springs during this time until her health no longer allowed it.

 She enjoyed her farm animal and being outdoors. Margie and Larry eventually moved to Julesburg, Colo., where they lived for 22 years. Margie loved being a grandmother to Cody, born 1984 and Courtney, born 1993.

Margie moved to Pinedale in July 2006 to be near daughter Susan, after Larry passed away. She resided at the Sublette Center. Margie and Susan attended as many Pinedale events as they could. The last being the Doggy Fashion Show where she took her beloved dog Harry, whom she loved very much. They gave each other much entertainment and companionship.

Margie was preceded in death by her husband Larry, parents Henry and Basil, infant brother, nephew Steven, and several aunts and uncles.

Margie is survived by daughters Kathleen of Elko, Nev. and Susan and husband Ron Orcutt of Pinedale, grandson Cody Orcutt of Naval Air Station, Lemoore, Calif, granddaughter Courtney Geary of Belt, Mont., sisters Lois and husband Skeeter Peyton of Ovid, Colo., Ag and husband Rob Kinnison of Littleton, Colo., and Lola Henry of Ovid, Colo., brothers Dick and wife Susan Spomer of Denver, Colo., and Henry and wife Peggy Spomer of Tempe, Ariz., Aunt Ruth and husband Dee Webb, several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 Services for Margie E. Jones are Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007 at 10 a.m. at the Julesburg Mennonite Church in Julesburg, Colo., with Pastor Arthur Roth officiating and interment in Hillside Cemetery.

Austin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jerry Rathbun

Jerry Rathbun, 45, of Meadow, SD, died in Spearfish, SD.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 at the Hulett Civic Center in Hulett, with Reverend Larry Kellner officiating, burial will follow at Moore Hill Cemetery near Hulett.

A memorial has been established in his name.

Jerry was born on January 23, 1962 to Harley and Shirley (Proctor) Rathbun.  He grew up in New Haven, Wyo., attending country school until the 4th grade.  He then continued his education in Hulett, Wyo., graduating from Hulett High School in 1980.  During high school Jerry was active in basketball and wrestling.  He was a member of FFA and held the state office of Sentinel. He was also active in the Rodeo Club.  The events he took part in were team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling.  Jerry also enjoyed Range Riders 4-H Club where he showed horses, cattle and pigs and was on several state horse judging teams.  Jerry attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton, WY, graduating in 1987 with an Associate of Arts Degree.  While in college he was on the CWC Rodeo Team, taking part in team roping and steer wrestling.

Jerry spent his life doing what he loved, ranching and working with animals. He also cut logs.  Jerry also guided horse back rides at Devil’s Tower because he enjoyed meeting new people and helping them to experience a new adventure.  Jerry enjoyed hunting for elk and deer as well as packing and camping. 

Jerry married Lisa Lam in Casper, on Oct. 19, 1985 and the couple later divorced.   

Jerry was very good with a rope. He was a very good header and truly enjoyed it, although he was known to heel for his dad.  He won numerous trophies and belt buckles for his success in team roping, many of which he gave to family members. 

Jerry spent the last few years ranching with his dad near Meadow, SD.   

Jerry is survived by his father Harley Rathbun of Meadow, one sister Jolene (Jim) Henderson of LaBarge, one brother Jeff Rathbun of Hulett, one nephew Shane (Bridget) Stinson and their sons, Dawson & TK of Douglas, nieces, Shaunna (Jeremiah) Owens and their son Brody of Silverdale, Wash., and Ashley Henderson of St. Paul, Minn., and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Shirley in 1989, grandparents, Richard & Mildred Proctor and Art & Myrtle Rathbun.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance, WY.

Harley Rathbun

Harley B. Rathbun, 77, of Meadow, SD, died Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007 at Ft. Meade VA Medical Center. 

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 at the Hulett Civic Center in Hulett, with Reverend Larry Kellner officiating, burial will follow at Moore Hill Cemetery near Hulett.

A memorial has been established in his name and memorials can be sent to Summit National Bank in Hulett, c/o Harley Rathbun Memorial.

Harley was born Dec. 24, 1929 to Art & Myrtle (Lantz) Rathbun at the family home near New Haven. He grew up around New Haven, attending the New Haven School through the eighth grade when he quit to help on the ranch.

Harley enlisted in the United States Navy on Dec. 29, 1950.  He served on the USS Okanogan during the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged on Sept. 28, 1954.

Harley married Shirley Proctor on June 23, 1955.  The couple had three children; Jolene, Jeff, and Jerry. The family lived in and around the Hulett and New Haven area, working on various ranched until they purchased the Rathbun Ranch at New Haven in the mid 1960s. Along with ranching, the couple raised coon hounds for hunting bobcats. Harley loved to ranch and rodeo. He was a pick-up man for many years with various stock contractors in the 5 state area.  Harley also participated in rodeos as a team roper.  In 1971, with Harley as the heeler and Gerald McInerney as the header, the team were runners up in the NRCA.  Harley was a hazer for many champion steer wrestlers and was also a calf roper in his younger days. 

Harley was a member of the Hulett Roping Club, Horse Creek Roping Club, NRCA and IOOF Order of Odd Fellows.  He held various offices in each of these clubs and organizations.  Harley was actively involved in all of his children’s activities through the years.  He was a Rope Craft Leader for 4-H and also coached team roping. 

Harley enjoyed breaking and training young horses and always had a good string of “all around horses.”  He also broke teams in the winter.  He enjoyed hunting and took many friends elk hunting in the Teton and Big Horn Mountains.  He also guided deer hunts on the ranch for hunters from many different states.  Harley ran the guided horseback rides at Devil’s Tower for a few years, where he enjoyed meeting