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Glenn D. Sweem
1918 - 2001
Glenn D. Sweem, 82 of Sheridan, WY, died Monday, May 8, 2001, at the V.A. Medical Center, Sheridan. He was born July 7, 1918, in Hot Springs, S. Dakota, to Oscar & Daisy (Ventling) Sweem.
The family moved to Sheridan in 1935. He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1938 and attended college at Greeley, Colorado. On April 11, 1942, he married Jean McKenzie in Denver, CO, and they had three children. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Glenn enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually became group bombardier on a B-17. First Lieutenant Sweem completed 51 missions over Europe while based in Africa and Italy. Glenn worked as a
conductor for the Burlington Northern Railroad for over 40 years. He held numerous positions in the Democratic Party including being a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1974 as well as a member of the Electoral College in 1976. He was Vice-President of the Wyoming AFL-CIO, served as Assistant and then State Director of the United Transportation Union and he was that organization's Legislative Representative and lobbyist in Cheyenne during the State
Legislature for many years. Glenn was an active member of many western history related organizations. He was past President of the local and state Historical and Archaeological societies, working on numerous committees through the years including contributing his knowledge and research to many historical books, articles and projects. One of his most recent
being the "Bozeman Trail Adventure" at the request of the Sheridan YMCA. He was on the Bicentennial Committee from 1975-1977 and he was a long-standing member of the Sheridan Elks Lodge.
SURVIVING RELATIVES
WIFE - Jean Sweem, Laramie, WY
SONS - Glenn Sweem, Jr., Port Charlotte, FL
Craig Sweem, Sheridan
DAUGHTER - Barbara Jean Barbour, Laramie, WY
SISTERS - Esther Kuchera, Sheridan
Lois of Arizona
3 GRANDCHILDREN
3 STEP GRANDCHILDREN
8 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
2 STEP GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE LATER IN JULY. ARRANGEMENTS ARE WITH CHAMPION FERRIES FUNERAL HOME.
Memorials may benefit the Big Horn Historical Society, in care of Scott Burgan, P.O. Box 566, Big Horn, WY 82833
Theodore T. Tyson
1929 - 2001
Theodore T. Tyson, age 71 of Dayton, WY, died Sunday, May 13, 2001, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. He was born on September 24, 1929, in Orlando, Florida, to John & Katherine Tyson.
He grew up in Florida and graduated high school in Fort Lauderdale. Ted graduated from college then served in the U.S. Army. He was vice president of Florida Home Fund in Coral Gables, FL, until 1969. He moved to N. Carolina where he owned and operated a convenience store. Ted married Jean Durette on December 23, 1975, in Las Vegas, NV. They moved to California and then a few other places before settling in Dayton in 1986. He worked at Spring Creek Coal until
retiring in 1994. Ted enjoyed reading, especially spiritual books. He loved being with his family.
Ted was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia.
Ted is survived by his wife Jean of Dayton, sons Thad & Gerald Tyson of Sheridan and Alex & Teddy Tyson of Dayton.
Memorial service will be 11:00am on Wednesday (May 16th) from Bethesda Worship Center with Pastor Scott Lee officiating. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.
Lillian W. Vanatta
1901 - 2001
Lillian W. Vanatta, age 100, of Sheridan, WY, died Friday, May 4, 2001, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County. She was born March 6, 1901, to Edward G. and Caroline (Schneider) Cook at Bennington, Nebraska.
Lillian came to Clearmont, WY, at the age of 17. When she was 19, her brother Ed's wife died Leaving four small children. She kept house and cared for the three older children for a few years. Lillian and best friend Betty Denton went to the oil fields to work and there she met Joe Vanatta and they were married on May 12, 1925, in Hyannis, NE. Their daughter Phyllis was
born at Lavoye, WY, which was one of the small oil field towns and is no longer in existence. After leaving the oil fields, they resided in Newcastle, WY, where their son Joe, Jr. was born. Their next home was in Sheridan, WY, where they remained except during W.W.II when they moved to Spokane, WA, where her husband was employed at an air base repairing damaged
bombers. After the war, they hurried back to the mountains and blue skies of Wyoming. Lillian's hobbies included sewing, needlework and crocheting many doilies, afghans and miscellaneous articles she gave to friends and relatives. She loved children and the outdoors caring for her yard and flowers. She was a member of First Christian Church where she enjoyed
worshiping and fellowship. Lillian wishes to say a special ôthank youö to all her friends and neighbors who were so kind and helpful to her.
Lillian was preceded in death by her husband in 1966, three brothers and two sisters.
Lillian is survived by her son Joe, Jr. & his wife Linda of Ranchester, WY, daughter Phyllis Iddings of Sheridan, sister Burnette Johnson, Pueblo, CO; four grandchildren Tyra Williamson, Joe Vanatta III, Hal Vanatta and Bret Vanatta; four great grandchildren Robbie and Stacie Williamson, Chantal Vanatta and Brandon Vanatta; many nieces and nephews and special
friends.
Graveside service will be 3:00pm on Monday (May 7th) in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery, Elks section, with the Rev. Douglas Goodwin officiating. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.
Memorials may benefit the Colorado Christian Children's Home, in care of First Christian Church, 102 S. Connor St., Sheridan, WY 82801
Jack W. Wasson of Sheridan passed away at the Sheridan V.A. Medical Center on Friday, June 28, 2001, at the age of 81.
Mr. Wasson was born on July 19, 1919, in Laurel, Montana, to Jim W. and Mary (Doyle) Wasson. He attended high school, and in September 1939 married Marie Felde in Laurel, Montana.
Jack enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sheridan.
Preceding Jack in death were his parents and his wife Marie. He is survived by his two sons, Don and Jack Wasson of Sheridan; his daughter Shirley McPheeters of Sheridan; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at Kane Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service in the Sheridan Elks Cemetery. Kane Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Lin Watson Age 83 of Sheridan, WY
Died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, in Sheridan Manor
Born December 25, 1917, in New York, New York
Parents - Max & Sadie Hurwitz
The family moved to New Jersey when she was an infant where she grew up and graduated from high school. She married Gary Toth in 1942 in Pennsylvania. They moved to Seattle, WA, during W.W.II where she worked as a secretary at Fort Lewis. After the war, they returned to New Jersey where she worked as a medical secretary. Mr. Toth died in 1969. Lin married George Watson on 1970 on Long Island, NY. They lived in New Jersey and enjoyed extensive traveling all around the world. They moved to Sheridan in 1989. She was secretary for the Women's Club and a member of Homemaker's Club. She enjoyed gardening and her cats and dogs.
She is survived by her husband George of Sheridan.
NO SERVICES ARE PLANNED. ARRANGEMENTS ARE WITH CHAMPION FERRIES FUNERAL HOME.
Memorials may benefit the Dog and Cat Shelter, 325 Fort Road, Sheridan, WY 82801
Memorial Services for Daniel Willis Wright, 81, were held Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at the Oregon Trail Cemetery Chapel in Casper, Wyoming. Mr. Wright died June 14, 2001, at the Sheridan V.A. Medical Center in Sheridan, Wyoming, after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Wright was born in Naper, Nebraska, on September 11, 1919, to Richard John and Betty (Prokesh) Wright. He spent his childhood in Nebraska where the family ranched. Upon completion of his schooling, he entered the Army and was honorably discharged in 1943 because of ill health. After his discharge from the Army, he moved to Wyoming. In 1946, he married Christine Gallegos in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They later moved to Casper where they made their home. No children were born of this union, and they were later divorced.
Dan was employed as a salesman for Montgomery Ward for several years and as a salesman for Casper Lincoln and Mercury. He sold new cars for a number of years, and was an excellent salesman, taking great pride in his work. Ill health forced his early retirement.
Mr. Wright is survived by his sister Marjorie Schrantz and husband Earl of Casper, Wyoming; his brothers Peter Wright of Casper, Wyoming, Charles Wright and wife Evelyn of Pleasanton, California, and Tom Wright and wife of Corvallis, Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Mavis Goodrich; his brother Michael Wright; and his half-sister Fay Winget.
Cremation has taken place, and Kane Funeral Home handled the local arrangements.
A.C. "Pistol" Abbott was born in a farmhouse at Kane, Wyoming, March 6, 1927, the son of Charles E. "Tuffy" Abbott and Jenny Sproul Abbott. He went home to be with the Lord on July 16, 2001, age 74.
Pistol is survived by his wife of 24 years, Susan, and their son Lance C. "Little Pistol" Abbott, of Sheridan; two daughters, Laureen Kay Dozier of Phoenix, AZ, and Kathy Lynn "Kate" Taylor of Sheridan from his marriage with Darlene Beedle McNair; two step sons, Travis E. Miller of Galeton, CO, and Coulter D. Miller of Woodland Park, CO. He has three grandchildren, Brooke Elliott Miller, Allie Morgan Miller, and Keegan Coulter Miller. He is also survived by one sister, Jean Slane of Casper. He was preceded in death by his son Chuck Abbott.
Pistol grew up on ranches, breaking and training horses and raising cattle. Most of his youth was spent at the Dry Head Ranch in the Pryor Mountains of Montana and along the Big Horn Canyon. At the age of 13 he left home to work for the Tschirgi family on the Little Horn ranch. He went from night horse wrangler to cow foreman under the guidance of Matt Tschirgi and Frank and Bill Greenough. Because his father was in a financial situation Pistol sent all of his money home for quite a while, until Frank told him he had to keep some money for himself.
When World War II started he was 16 and joined the paratroopers with his mother's permission. He was kicked out because he was color-blind. So he came home and had Jack Yentzer teach him to fly. Then he joined the Army Air Corps and was soon promoted to bomber pilot and flew his missions in the Pacific arena.
Pistol led a rich and full life of breaking horses, ranching, hunting, fishing. He loved to laugh and have a good time and was dearly loved by all who knew him. He had a heart for animals and a giving spirit. He enjoyed reading and bird watching in his later years.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 18, 2001, at Kane Funeral Home from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, July 20, 2001, at the WYO Theatre with Pastor Tony Forman officiating.
A memorial fund has been established at Sheridan State Bank to help defray funeral expenses.
Gene E. Abernatha Age 88 of Sheridan, WY
Died Friday, August 3, 2001, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County
Born October 31, 1912, in Oregon, Missouri
Parents - Edward & Mary Ellen (Kurtz) Furhman
She came to Buffalo, WY, when she was four years old. She grew up and graduated high school in Buffalo. She married Calvin Abernatha on December 31, 1931, in Buffalo. She worked as the county secretary for the Dept. of Agriculture for 22 years until her retirement. Mr. Abernatha died in 1957. She moved to Sheridan in 1961. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Moose Lodge. She loved spending time in the Big Horn Mountains looking for leopard rock and driving the many back roads throughout the mountains. She enjoyed playing bingo and Sunday morning breakfast at the Moose Lodge.
Also preceded in death by her son Richard; four brothers and sisters.
SURVIVING RELATIVES
SON - James Abernatha, Sheridan
5 GRANDCHILDREN
8 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
VIEWING WILL BE FROM 9:00AM UNTIL 5:00PM ON THURSDAY (AUG. 9TH) FROM CHAMPION FERRIES FUNERAL HOME.
FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE 10:00AM ON FRIDAY FROM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WITH THE REV. JOSEPH KEYS OFFICIATING. INTERMENT WILL BE IN WILLOW GROVE Cemetery, BUFFALO, WY. ARRANGEMENTS ARE WITH CHAMPION FERRIES FUNERAL HOME.
Memorials may benefit the First United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society, in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801
