2000-2009 WY, Compiled by James W. Blankenship jkblank1(at)sbcglobal.net

Laramie

2003, Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY, Obituary

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) - April 17, 2003,

Stephen C. Anderson, 10, (1992-2003) of Cheyenne died on April 12 in Cheyenne. He was born Sept. 30, 1992, in Aurora, Colo. He was a student at Alta Vista Elementary. He was a member of PALS Program at Alta Vista Elementary School and was a graduate of the STRIDE Learning Center.

He is survived by his parents, Kathleen Anderson of Cheyenne and Charles Anderson of Newport News, Va.; three brothers, John Kershaw of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, William Kershaw of Clearfield, Utah, and Casey Anderson of Cheyenne; maternal grandparents, Bernard and Mary Lou Kinsella of Cheyenne; and paternal grandparents, Dennis and Marlys Anderson of Thief River Falls, Minn.; a niece; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Evelyn Kinsella.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today at Ascension Lutheran Church with Pastor Duane Ferchen and the Rev. Vernon Clark officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Blankenship , John Kershaw, William Kershaw, Brandon Kinsella, Barry Todd and Thomas Anderson.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2005, Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY, Homicide

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) - September 20, 2005

Just six hours after a beating occurred behind a Randall Avenue gas station Sunday morning, police arrested a suspect. That doesn't soothe the mother of J. D. Blankinship. He died Monday, the victim of an apparent argument over how a young woman deserved to be treated by a new beau. Urich Clark, 19, was arrested shortly after the beating, which police say could have involved a weapon and not just an attacker's boots. Clark hasn't been formally charged, but in light of Blankinship's death about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the charge of aggravated assault that police originally sought could be upgraded to homicide.

Blankinship's mother, Betty Edwards, said she didn't know much about the investigation Monday morning. That was disconcerting, she added, but with a parade of her son's friends visiting the intensive-care unit at United Medical Center-West, she already was overwhelmed. Her son would have been 20 in October, she said in a morning interview. As she talked, she used past tense to describe her son's life, which had not yet ended at the time. She talked from the ICU waiting room. A TV was in the background. She wasn't far from her son, and she hadn't been far from him since she was called there.

Blankinship moved to his mom's hometown when he was 8 years old or so. He failed classes at McCormick Junior High, she said, even as standardized tests showed his intelligence. To make up for that lack of success in school, he attended Triumph High's Spectra Program. He was a month's worth of credits shy of earning a high school diploma,

Edwards said. She got the call about his injuries Sunday morning, and she said she hadn't slept since. She seemed convinced she wasn't making much sense to those around her, but everyone at the hospital, including the security guards, were nice to her, she said. They know about her situation, she added. At about the time she got the chaplain's call, police were just beginning their investigation, which began at the Loaf 'N Jug on Randall Avenue. That was 4 a.m., and some witnesses are telling police the meeting between Blankinship and others looking to settle a score was arranged, Sgt. Glen Newberry said. He and detective Phil Brown, who is leading the investigation, have as many as a dozen witnesses to interview.

Newberry said some who police already have talked with are saying five or seven people were involved in the fight that took Blankinship's life. Among those eyewitnesses was Blankinship's good friend, his mother said. She said she didn't want to share his name but added that she understood he was helping investigators, who also are learning some of those witnesses were active-duty members of the U.S. Air Force. Neither Blankinship nor Clark is affiliated with the Air Force, Edwards and Newberry said.

Edwards' son chose a different path, working fast food jobs for a while before getting work this summer as a house painter. It was a job he enjoyed, she said, perhaps because he could listen to better music. "I was singing 'Amazing Grace' to him, and his uncle said, 'I don't think that's the kind of music he listened to,'" Edwards said with a laugh. "I said, 'I know, but it's the only music I know.'" Her style is country, she said, adding that she didn't know exactly what her son was into, though he did leave some CDs at the house. While Edwards, a nurse's aid at Cheyenne Health Care Center, said she didn't know who hurt her son, she described the marks -- boot stomps, she called them -- stamped into her son's swollen head. "I was just putting pictures of him up in his room so everyone would know what he's supposed to look like," she said tearfully. "His friends tell me that my son did not throw any punches until they were thrown at him." When Blankinship did swing, it was in defense of his friend, Edwards said, The argument began over something someone said, over some guy cheating on his girlfriend, she added, citing her son's friends' version of the story.

To Edwards, it didn't add up. She said she didn't know how her son, who often "gave more than he had to give," could be involved in something so brutal. As the family readied to remove Blankinship from life support machines that guided his breathing and blood flow, they were dealt another blow. Despite their careful consideration of donating Blankinship's organs so that others might live, they learned that wasn't possible. Because the death is the result of a crime, an autopsy will be ordered, making organ donation an impossible legacy. "I feel they took something else away from my son," Edwards said, then she added, "and me."

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2009, Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY, Obituary

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) - February 24, 2009

Culver O'Neal Davis, 87, (1921-2009) of Cheyenne died Feb. 16 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Extended Care Unit. Mr. Davis was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Goree, Texas, to Clarence O'Neal Davis, a Methodist minister, and Minnie Reba (Scott) Davis and had lived in Cheyenne since 1990. He had previously resided in Cheyenne from 1957 until 1972, when he moved to Oklahoma City and later Irving, Texas, to be closer to family.

Following his graduation from high school in Oklahoma City, Mr. Davis enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1940. Upon completing basic training at Fort Logan in Denver, Mr. Davis fulfilled his dream of flying when he was selected for the Army Air Corps "Sergeant Pilot" training program. He graduated from flight school, won his wings and was promoted to staff sergeant at Mather Field in Sacramento, Calif., in June 1942. While at flight school in February 1942, he married Maxine E. Shepherd, whom he met during basic training in Denver. Mr. Davis was sent to North Africa where he served with the 316th Troop Carrier Group, logging more than 1,200 hours of flight time from November 1942 to October 1943. His unit suffered heavy losses while dropping paratroops during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 for which it was awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. Mr. Davis received a field commission as a 2nd lieutenant in August 1943 and was promoted to 1st lieutenant in October 1944. After the close of World War II, Mr. Davis reenlisted in the Army Air Corps as a non-commissioned officer and began working his way back up through the ranks. In 1950 he entered the atomic weapons program, serving at stations in Colorado, New Mexico, Kentucky, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., Japan and California before retiring with a wartime 100 percent medical disability in 1957 as a captain with command pilot wings and more than 2,800 hours flight time. Mr. Davis was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Retired Officers Association and Experimental Aircraft Association. He was a 50-year member of Lawrence N. Greenleaf Lodge No. 169 A.F. & A.M. of Aurora, Colo., and was a member of the Scottish Rite.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Maxine E. Davis of Cheyenne; two sons, Christopher Davis and Kelly (Monica) Davis, both of Cheyenne; two grandchildren, Courtney (Miranda) Davis of Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, and Sarah Blankenship of Cheyenne; and two great-grandchildren, Baylin Davis and Duke Blankenship .

Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Becky Davis; and a sister, Edna Earl Davis.

Memorial services will be 1 p.m. today at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chapel with Chaplain Carol Carr officiating. Acacia Lodge No. 11, A.F. & A.M. will conduct a Masonic funeral service. Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens under the direction of Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes.

In lieu of flowers, friends should make memorial contributions to the Cheyenne Scottish Rite Childhood Language Clinic, 1820 Capitol Ave., in Cheyenne. This is a paid obituary.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2009, Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY, Obituary

Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) - July 21, 2009

Charles E. Richardson, 74, (1934-2009) former publisher of the Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner, died peacefully July 20 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, ending a newspaper career that spanned five decades. Richardson was born Nov. 26, 1934, in Newcastle to David G. and Margaret (Edwards) Richardson. In 1937, Richardson's father purchased the Rock Springs Rocket newspaper and the family moved to Rock Springs. He lived in Rock Springs through 2005, when he moved to Cheyenne and wintered at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Throughout his youth, Richardson worked in the family newspaper business, learning every job from delivering newspapers to casting lead pigs in the old, hot metal presses to editing and writing editorials. Richardson attended schools in Rock Springs. He played varsity football for three years, was a member of the Letterman's Club and was named to the first Wyoming All-State Football team. He graduated from Rock Springs High School with the Class of 1952. He studied accounting at the University of Wyoming. During his years at UW, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma social fraternity, several academic and military honorary fraternities and he was the business manager for the WYO Yearbook committee. He served as an ASUW student senator. Upon graduating from UW in 1956, Richardson began a distinguished military career in the U.S. Army, joining as a second lieutenant. He held several assignments in both active duty and the reserve before being assigned to the U.S. Army Finance and Accounting Center in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. Richardson earned the rank of lieutenant colonel over the course of his military career. During this time, Richardson earned numerous awards and honors: the Legion of Merit; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 10-year device; the Army Service Medal; a Marksman Medal for the M-1 Rifle, Carbine and .45 caliber pistol; and the Sharpshooter Medal for his skill using a .38 caliber pistol. He was an owner and managed the radio station KVRS from 1970 until it was sold in 1974. He married Faye Spires Fries on Nov. 16, 1974. They brought five children into the marriage: Alan Richardson, Jim Richardson, Elaine Willis, Shannon Fermelia and Carla Howard. While the military was his passion, he returned to Rock Springs in 1960 to work at the family newspaper. He served as general manager of the Daily Rocket-Miner until 1974 when his father, acting editor and publisher, died. Richardson was named publisher and was immediately elected president of the newspaper's board of directors. His dedication to journalism earned him the Heinsohn Award for Excellence in Newspapering. Even though he retired as publisher in 2000, he continued as president of the corporation until his death. During his tenure at the newspaper, he saw the evolution of a small town doubling in size. He was a community leader, editorially supporting infrastructure growth which resulted in bonds that raised money to move the county hospital from its former location on C Street to its current location on College Hill. He actively supported Western Wyoming Community College as it grew to meet the community's needs. The newspaper also evolved under Richardson's leadership, meeting new technology in the 1970s - moving from hot lead to cold type presses. As the newspaper grew to meet community demands, he saw the building through a major construction project that added a second floor in 1974 to the facility located at 215 D St. Richardson was an active member of the city and state that he loved. He served on the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was on the original board of officers when United Way of Sweetwater County was incorporated in February 1976 and served as vice president during its inception. He was president of the Wyoming Broadcasting Company for 30 years and on the Laramie Boomerang Board of Directors. He served on the Wyoming Press Association Board of Directors in 1959 and was a past president and became an honorary lifetime member in 1999. He served as a director for the former First Security Bank in Rock Springs. He was appointed by former Governor Mike Sullivan to serve on the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance Commission. A few of the other committees and organizations he served on during his lifetime include: Wyoming Employment Security Commission, Wyoming Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, University of Wyoming Cowboy Joe Booster Club, and he was a life member of the Wyoming Alumni Association. Throughout his life, Richardson enjoyed snow skiing (he was awarded the Green Merit Star for Life Saving while serving on White Pine Ski Resort's ski patrol), boating on the Flaming Gorge, Wyoming football games, traveling and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great friends. In recent years he enjoyed being a Mason and Shriner.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Faye Richardson of Cheyenne; two sons, Dr. Alan Richardson of Chandler, Ariz., and Jim Richardson and wife, Kimberly Richardson of Rock Springs; three daughters, Elaine Willis and husband, Jon Willis of Mount Juliet, Tenn., Shannon Fermelia and husband, Dr. Rick Fermelia of Cheyenne, and Carla Howard and husband, Dr. Rick Howard of Gilbert, Ariz.; daughter-in-law, Irene Richardson of Green River; one sister, Patricia Guthrie of Laramie; 12 grandchildren, Ryan Richardson and Danielle Richardson of Rock Springs, Michelle Richardson, Sadie Fermelia, and Lex Fermelia of Cheyenne, JD Richardson and Michael Richardson of Green River, Justus Willis and Jordan Willis of Mount Juliet, Nathan Howard, Samuel Howard and Livia Howard of Gilbert; sister-in-law, Lois Mozingo of Fort Pierce, Fla.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Carl and Janice Spires of Young Harris, Ga.; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, James and Mavis Blanton of Farmington, N.M.

A celebration of Richardson's life is pending. Honorary pallbearers will include Richardson's dear friends, Helen Pulos, John Shassetz, and Holly Jackman Dabb of Rock Springs, Larry Campbell of Ogden, Bob King of Lander, Dick Blankenship of Reno, Nev., Lee Lockhart of Worland, Ron Brown of Cheyenne, and Doug Baker of Roanoke, Va.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

Natrona

2005, Casper, Natrona Co., WY, Obituary

Star-Tribune (Casper, WY) - March 4, 2005,

Memorial services for Casper resident Michael Edward Hubbell, 60, will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Church of the Holy Family by Fr. Kenneth Kinner. Military honors will be accorded by Natrona County United Veterans' Council. He died Feb. 14, 2005, at Wyoming Behavioral Institute in Casper.

Born Sept. 18, 1944, in Wheatland, he was the son of Ethel Bertha (Wedemeyer) and Ruben Miller Hubbell; was raised and educated on Laramie Peak until the fifth grade, when he went to school in Wheatland; and graduated from Pinedale High School. From 1966 to 1967, he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a door gunner with the 165th Transportation Unit. He attended Casper College and the University of Wyoming, majoring in wildlife management; was a member of the rodeo team at both schools; and served as Rocky Mountain region saddle bronc director of the National Collegiate Rodeo Association. He received an associate of applied science degree in alcohol/drug counseling from Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colo. For 10 years, he rodeoed professionally with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He was the outreach specialist at the Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center in Casper until his medical retirement.

Survivors include his brother, Dan Hubbell of Tucson, Ariz.; former wife of 20 years, SueAnn Tavener of Casper; 10 foster sons, Brion Crnich, Larry Burkhardt, Larry Beech, John Blaha, Bill Haase and Stuart Comstock, all of Casper, Jude Yearling of Denver, Walter Ufen of Miller, S.D., Christopher Burkhart of Fort Collins, Colo., and Ray Fieteck of Pasco, Wash.; two foster daughters, Ruby Blankenship of Casper and Renee Mooney Smith of Bakersfield, Calif.; two foster granddaughters; and his mother's relatives in Chugwater. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2008, Casper, Natrona Co., WY, Obituary

Star-Tribune (Casper, WY) - September 22, 2008,

Services for Leona Mae Carnline, 65, will be held Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the Newcomer Family Home in Casper. Viewing will be held at the services. She died Sept. 20, 2008 at her home in Casper. She was born Nov. 30, 1942 in Baker, Mont. to Robert Lee Breen and Helen Mae Moody. She was the second of four children, and she grew up in Hardin, Mont.

She married the love of her life, Charles Carnline, Dec. 2, 1961 in Sheridan, Wyo. After moving to several locations, they settled in Hathaway, Mont. in 1978 to help her mother and stepfather run their business. She later went on to work for the post office in Hathaway, becoming the Post Master in 1984 where she remained until the closing of the post office in 1990. Since the post office was in the same building as a restaurant and bar, and their home, she was in charge of all the businesses within the facility. During this time, she also was a care-giver for her ailing mother. In 1992, the family moved to Casper where she volunteered at Meals on Wheels and worked for Atlantic Pacific Postal until forced into retirement by a stroke on Jan. 1, 2002. Even though the stroke left her unable to speak, she could still bring a smile to all who met and knew her. With the help of her family, she was still able to enjoy many things in life, including some traveling, mostly to visit family and friends.

She is survived by her son, Russell Carnline of Laurel, Mont.; three daughters, Sandy Carnline of Billings, Mont., Tina Easley of Casper and Rhashell Johnson of Casper; two sisters, Birdie Blankenship of Branson, MO., and Patty Breen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother, Tom Breen of Dale City, West Virginia; three step-brothers, Tim Patrick of Osage, Kan., Jimmy Patrick of California and Gary Patrick of Forsyth, Mont.; 12 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, step-father, husband of 46 years, a step-sister and one daughter.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

2009, Casper, Natrona Co., WY, Obituary

Star-Tribune (Casper, WY) - May 8, 2009

Thomas I. Getter, 80, died peacefully on May 6,2009, in Casper, Wyoming surrounded by his devoted family. He passed on after a lengthy illness. He will be remembered at a memorial service at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, May 12 at 1 p.m.

Tom was born on August 14, 1928 in Cut Bank, Montana, to Glenn and Ruth (Kittleson) Getter. He graduated from Cut Bank High School in May of 1946. He attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, where he studied Business and was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He attended for two years, after which he began to help operate the family oilfield trucking business, Getter Trucking, Inc. He joined his brothers in this venture, which expanded to 5 states and 9 terminals. This successful business, which he loved, continued until his retirement in 1990. He spent several years in the United States Air Force, stationed in Great Falls, MT, during the Korean War. He was a very patriotic man and served his country with pride. Tom married Janet Gibbs on February 7, 1955, in Wolf Point, Montana. They lived for several years in Cut Bank and then resided in Roundup, Montana until moving to Gillette, Wyoming in 1963. They raised their three children there and remained until his retirement in 1990. Tom was an active member of the community of Gillette until moving to Casper, Wyoming in 1990 to be closer to his family and new grandchildren. During his career in the oilfield trucking business, Tom received several awards and honors, including the Wyoming Trucking Association's Con H. Biederman Humanitarian Award. Tom was elected to the Wyoming State House of Representatives from Campbell County in 1978 and served three terms. He was a member of several committees including the Highways and Transportation committee and the Mines and Minerals committee. He was also a member of the Wyoming Trucking Association, of which he served as president from 1973-1975. He served as Vice-President for the American Trucking Association. Tom was a member of various fraternal organizations: The Elks Club, Shriners, and the Masonic Lodge. He was a director of the First National Bank in Gillette for many years. Tom was a member ofthe Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Casper. He was a philanthropist who was generous with his donations to various charities, especially the United Way. He enjoyed photography, golf, and was a licensed pilot for many years, but most of all loved spending time with his family. He spent many winters with his wife enjoying retirement in Rancho Mirage, California, and while there enjoyed four-wheeling with his friends. One of his favorite places, which he enjoyed since childhood, was Whitefish Lake, Montana. He spent many wonderful summers there with his family throughout his life. He was a wonderful, kindhearted man who will be incredibly missed by his family and friends. He made friends wherever he went and was a very loyal, trustworthy and unselfish person. He has left behind a legacy of strong moral values and faith, solid work ethic and loving family unity and was a great example of forgiveness and compassion.

He is survived by his wife Janet, his son and daughter-in-law Alan and Lynette Getter, daughter and son-in-law Cindy and John Brooks, daughter and son-in-law Brenda and John Foy, and six grandchildren who made him very proud: Kristen and Tommy Getter, Kyle and Carly Sedar, and Lauren and Ryan Foy. He is also survived by a sister, Beverly Blankenship , of Helena, MT and a brother, Bruce Getter, of Whitefish, MT, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Ruth, and his older brother, Ralph.

From: Diane Renfrow dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com

Natrona Co., SSDI, http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi ,

Blankenship, Ruby A. 49, 14May1959 - 25Aug2008, Casper, Natrona, WY, CO-524-92-5166