Obituaries

KENNETH ROBERT FINSTAD

KENNETH ROBERT FINSTAD

Kenneth Robert Finstad, 65, was tragically taken from this life in an auto accident with his daughter, Quinn Leischer, on Monday, Feb. 4, 2008.

He was born Nov. 22, 1942, to Kenneth J. and Micky Finstad in St. Marie, Idaho. As a child, he attended different schools in Idaho, Washington and Montana. He received technical training in San Angelo, Texas, in service repair and worked as a repairman, lumberjack and a tool pusher at different times in his life.

He married Edith Tatro on Nov. 16, 1985, in Sweetwater, Texas. He had many interests and hobbies. He loved animals. As a young boy he raised a baby black bear whose mother had been killed by a train. He enjoyed flying and when he was in his early 20s he received his pilot’s license. He was a member of a band, “Steele Guitar,” where he played several instruments and met a few Country Western stars. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He was an avid coin collector and model train hobbyist. He was very friendly and outgoing and could talk and get along with anyone, both human and animal.

Both he and his daughter, Quinn, will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Edith of Daniel, Wyo.; sons Shawn Mathill of Pinedale, Wyo.; and Chris and Darrin Finstad of Green River, Wyo.; daughters Shannon Wieberg of Palm Bay, Fla.; and Vella Riggs of Green River; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at Covill Funeral Home in Pinedale. Friends and family called at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Interment followed the service on Sunday in the Pinedale Cemetery.

SUSAN QUINNANNA “QUINN” LEISCHER

SUSAN QUINNANNA “QUINN” LEISCHER

Susan Quinnanna “Quinn” Leischer, 28, was tragically taken from this life in an auto accident with her father, Kenneth R. Finstad, on Monday Feb. 4, 2008. Quinn was born Nov. 29, 1979, to Kenneth and Edith Finstad in Rock Springs, Wyo. As a child, she attended school in Rock Springs and Green River. She married Calvin Leischer in October of 2002. They later separated and she moved with her children to Daniel, Wyo. She was a member of the Baptist Church of Glenrock, Wyo., and also volunteered with the Boys & Girls Club there. She enjoyed scrapbooking and loved being in the outdoors, fishing and archery. She loved spending time with her family; most important to her was her children. She loved being with and raising them. She was an outgoing and a friendly, loving person.

Both she and her father will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Marvin and Ella Mae Mathill.

She is survived by her children, Daylynn icole Riggs, Hayden Anthony Riggs and Rylee Justice Pebbles; husband Calvin Leischer of Rangley, Colo.; mother Edith Finstad of Daniel; brothers Shawn Mathill of Pinedale, Wyo., Chris Finstad and Darrin Finstad both of Green River; sisters Shannon Weiberg of Palm Bay, Fla., and Vella Riggs of Green River.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at Covill Funeral Home in Pinedale. Friends and family called at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Interment followed the service on Sunday in the Pinedale Cemetery.

DOROTHY ISABELLA HECOX

DOROTHY ISABELLA HECOX

Dorothy Isabella Hecox, 91, passed away Feb. 6, 2008, at the Sublette Center in Pinedale. She was born May 19, 1916, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to Alex Stoddard Logan and Myrtle Mary Williams. Dorothy spent her younger years growing up in and around Rock Springs. She married Richard Hecox on June 30, 1934, in Manilla, Utah. He brought her back to Kendall Valley and started building their home on the hill in 1936. She resided there until the last five months.

Richard and Dorothy had three children, Betty Lou, Dick and Donna. They owned a lot of land in the Kendall Valley and ranched until Richard’s health went bad. Besides being a rancher’s wife, she cooked for fire crews and hunting camps, taught school, carried the mail and volunteered for years with the Forest Service as a campground host. Dorothy belonged to Sublette County Extension Homemakers, where she was awarded Homemaker of the Year in 1987, granted the Quealy Award for Outstanding Achievement in extension work. She taught 4-H for several years and helped at the county fair. She was a 50-plus year member of Pinedale Order of Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron with Richard and was past president of the Past Matrons Club. Her and Richard helped organize the first Jobs Daughter Bethel here in Pinedale. Dorothy was past president of the VFW Auxiliary #4801, past president of Southwest District VFW, a member of the Sublette County Historical Society and lifetime member of the Green River Cattlemen’s Association.

She loved the outdoors. She was most happy taking walks and drives, looking for arrowheads and driftwood, crafting of all sorts, painting, knitting, crocheting and bird watching. Dorothy loved spending time with family. She loved having her grandkids and great-grandkids come visit to make crafts, cookies, go picnicking, camping and hiking, and sledding on the hill.

She is survived by her daughter, Betty Lou; six grandchildren LaDonna McLoughlin, Jim (Sandra) McLoughlin, Cindy (Justin) Jones, Disney Brunette, Lori Moore and Festus (Christi) Krause; 10 great-grandchildren, Ryan McGuire, Andrea and Casey Jones, Isabelle McLoughlin, Kendall and Jake Brunette, Sage Trehearne, Brittney Givens, Jamie Jo Moore, Cora Krause; and one great-great-grandchild, Mae McGuire. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; two sisters; husband, Richard; son, Dick; daughter, Donna; and son-in-law, Melvin McLoughlin.

A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Community Congregational Church in Pinedale. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy’s memory may be sent to the Sublette Center, Box 788, Pinedale, WY 82941.

LILA MAE HOLSMAN

Lila Mae Holsman, 69, of Oberlin, Kan., passed away Feb. 4 at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin.

Born in Milliken, Colo., to Chester Withington and Grace Larson, Ella and her family moved around Kansas before she met and married Edwin Holsman, Sr., in Atwood, Kan., in December 1953 and the two eventually moved to Oberlin. She was the laundry supervisor at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin and a member of the United Church of Oberlin.

Ella was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Harlan, Harold and Melvin; a sister, Hilda Chessmore; two sisters-in-law, Irene and Judie Withington; her brother-inlaw, Royal Chessmore; and a step-grandson, Curtis Sporing.

She is survived by her husband Edwin; children Edwin (Kathy)Holsman of Gem, Kan., Kevin (Tammy) Holsman of Pinedale and Brenda Anderson of Bismarck, N.D.; brothers Irv (Bonnie) Withington of Wray, Colo., Marvin (Beverly) Withington of Atwood, Laverne Withington of Atwood and Verlan (Rhonda)WithingtonofBell,Mo.;twosisters Ivina (John) Vandegriffe of Owensville,Mo., and Hazel Withington of Scott City. Four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren ,sixstep-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild also survive her.

Services were held Friday, Feb. 8, at Paul’s Funeral Home in Oberlin by Rev. Judi Stricker. Amemorial has been set up in Ella’s name with the American Cancer Society.

BARBARA JEAN BARICH

Barb Barich, 53, died Thursday evening, Feb. 7, 2008, at her home in Green River Ranch near Daniel. She was born October 11, 1954, in Michigan to Lorraine and Stephen Barich. Barb enjoyed the Wyoming outdoors and animals, especially her cats. She worked for a time with the National Park Service at Yellowstone National Park. Barb is survived by three sisters, Judy Usher and husband, Mike, Diane Rutt, and Nancy Barich, and a brother, John Barich and wife, Kim, as well as a niece, Kelly Rutt, and nephew, James Barich, all of Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lorraine and Stephen Barich.

No services are planned at this time.