United States High School Yearbooks by County
Ruth M. Sjoden
Former Leadville resident Ruth M. Sjoden, 81, of Greeley, died Sept. 14 at Bonnell Good Samaritan Community in Greeley.
She was born Sept. 11, 1923, in Leadville to Florence Miller and Howard Thompson. She married John Kluck in 1940 and George Walsh in 1946, both of Leadville. Both are deceased. She married John R. Sjoden in Leadville on Feb. 28, 1987, and they moved to Greeley in April, 1994. Sjoden was a long-time employee of Sayer-McKee Drug in Leadville.
Survivors are her husband John Sjoden, Greeley; sister Gertrude Maxell, Salmon, Idaho; daughters Judy Kluck-Margo, Malibu, Calif.; Norma Walsh Long, Mesa, Ariz.; Marsha Walsh Berger, Leadville; and Shannon Walsh Errickson, Rio Rancho, N.M.; three step-daughters, Margie Sjoden, Denver; Kathy Sjoden-Painter, Greeley; and Cecelia Sjoden-Hockett, Boise, Idaho. She had numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sjoden’s wishes were to be cremated with no services scheduled.
For those wishing to remember Sjoden with a donation, she asked that they be sent to St. Vincent Hospital in Leadville for the Extended Care Unit in her memory.
Kenneth W. Ehlenfeldt
Kenneth W. Ehlenfeldt, 86, died Sept. 22, 2004, in Clarkston, Wash., where he lived for the past several years.
Ehlenfeldt was born May 5, 1918, in Faulkton, S.D. When he was 16, he left Faulkton and drifted between Washington and Idaho.
In July 1942, he was inducted into the service in Ft. Lewis, Wash.; he was stationed at Camp Carson, Colo., as a cook for the duration of his service.
While there, he met and married Rowena (Sally) Kendrick, a dietician and also stationed at Camp Carson. She was then shipped overseas with the 31st General Hospital for 26 months and discharged in November 1945. Ehlenfeldt was discharged Jan. 6, 1946.
They spent a couple years in Oregon, where he worked mostly for sawmills. Then they moved to California where he was employed at Dill Lumber Co. In 1957 they moved to Leadville, where Rowena Ehlenfeldt was born and raised. Together they built two businesses, Ken’s Paint Pot and Lumber Co. in 1957 and Lure-A-Lad dress shop in 1965. They also built a home next to the businesses.
Rowena Ehlenfeldt died in 1980 after a long illness. They had five children: Patty born in 1948, Rita in 1950, Connie in 1952, Carroll in 1956 and K.C. in 1960.
Ehlenfeldt married Gloria Moseley on April 25, 1981. Her five children (Wayne, Linda, Terry, Ronnie and Kim) were very close to Ehlenfeldt, especially Kim, since she was still in school when they married. Even though their marriage ended in divorce, they all remained close to Ken, and a very special part of the family.
When Ehlenfeldt finally decided to retire at 74 years of age, he closed the lumber yard and sold the property to his son K.C. He spent his winters in Arizona and his summers in Leadville with his family and his buddies at the Eagles and Elks. He then moved to Cascade, Idaho, to be closer to his
daughter Rita. After his stroke there, several years ago, he moved to Clarkston, Wash., living with Rita for awhile and then moving in to Harmony House, where he died.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; wife Rowena in 1980; sons Carroll in 1956 and K.C. in 1999; daughter Patty in 1983; and grandson Nathan in 1985.
Ehlenfeldt is survived by daughters Rita (Mahlon) Hiestand, Clarkston, Wash.; and Connie (George) Sebestyen, Leadville; grandchildren Denny (Kirstina) Ivans, Tucson, Ariz.; Sandi (John) Palmer, Boyero, Colo.; Jeanette McDaugale, Leadville; Atika (Jason) Mascarenas, Leadville; Kristen (Mark) Roubidoux, Pullman, Wash.; Lee (Amy) Hiestand, Spokane, Wash.; Chantelle (Rick) Nash, Helena, Mont.; Cody Ehlenfeldt, Leadville; Tyler, Nick, Brandi and Sydnee Ehlenfeldt, Libby, Mont.; great grandchildren Erik, Adrian, Andrew, A.J., Shayla, Justin, Ricki, Ashlee, Conor, Bryson, Brady, Sam and Dom, with the 14th due in December.
The memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, at 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Leadville.
Billy Ray Steckler
Graveside services will be held at St. Joseph’s cemetery in Leadville on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004, at 3 p.m. for Billy Ray Steckler, who died June 26, 2004, in Dublin, Ireland. Reverend Bill Blend will be presiding over the services.
George Stewart Burke
George Stewart Burke, 54, died Oct. 26, 2004, after a brief, but hard-fought, battle with cancer. Burke was born July l, 1950, at St. Vincent General Hospital to George F. and Kathleen F. Burke. After graduating from high school in 1968, he attended CMC and received an associates degree in auto mechanics. He served his country in the U.S. Army from February 1971 to 1973. After being honorably discharged, he returned to his beloved home, Leadville. He worked for Mountain Bell in Vail, but due to his parents' ill health, he felt he needed to be closer to home. In October 1973, he met Faun Morrison; they were married May 3, 1975. He worked for Grand Music Company until May 1977 and then until September 1982 he was employed by Climax Molybdenum Company. In 1984, while obtaining his real estate license, he worked as a custodian for Lake County government; he subsequently worked as the Lake County recreation/maintenance director, and he loved his involvement with the public. During the last 5 1/2 years, he was the deputy assessor/chief appraiser for Lake County. He also was a broker associate with Centennial Enterprises & Real Estate for 20+ years and loved each and every moment.
In January 1978, he became an extremely proud father of his daughter, Tiffani. In December 1980, he once again was three feet off the ground with the birth of his son, George II.
Burke's greatest attribute was his kindness. He would always inquire "how are you" and most likely follow up that conversation with his humor or rhetoric. He was an extremely intelligent, kind, caring, and humble man, with a terrific sense of humor.
Other than his children, two of his greatest loves were his granddaughters Tatriana and Trinity Boskovich. He loved telling them stories and teaching them the fishy chant. He enjoyed fly and ice fishing and testing his ability to tie flies. He gave many of his flies to his very special "fishermen" friends. When he was not fishing, walking hand-in-hand with his wife and making his family laugh brought a twinkle to his eye.
Burke was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Faun Burke; daughter Tiffani (Tom) Boskovich; granddaughters Tatriana and Trinity Boskovich; son George (Jennifer) Burke; Myrna Morrison; Myrna Salberg; Charlie and Alice Morrison; Lori and Larry Eberhart; sister Phyllis Hassell and family; Robert Salberg; Kerri and Dean Ferran; Charley and Janet Morrison and family; Matthew Morrison; Arron and Amy Morrison; Nikki Eberhart; and a number of additional family and friends.
Upon Burke's request, there will only be a private, family service. He asked that everyone remember him in their own way. Contributions can be made to the George S. Burke Benefit Fund at First Mountain Bank.
Arrangements were handled by Bailey's Funeral Home.
Margaret "Maggie" (Workman) Gilna
Margaret Maggie (Workman) Gilna, 82, died Sept. 14, 2004, at her home in Grand Junction.
She was born Sept. 29, 1921, to Samuel and Etta Workman and raised in the lovely hills of West Virginia near Richwood. She had a large, extended family with whom she shared many memorable experiences, including working at her uncle’s restaurant and at a lumber camp as a cook.
Gilna worked briefly in Baltimore during WWII at a factory, just as many other “Rosie the Riveters” did. She then moved to Leadville, where she met her husband, Harold Gilna; they were married in 1946 in Salida at the Chaffee County Courthouse. They enjoyed their time there with friends and family taking picnics, playing cards, Harold working in the mines for a while and Margaret joining the Rebekah’s as a lifetime member; they also owned and operated a Dairy King, a popular stop for the school kids!In 1957, they moved to Fruita and went into business as the owners of Fruita Motel, becoming acquainted there with many lifelong friends; guests were often impressed by Margaret’s generous heart and immaculate housekeeping.
After selling the motel in 1977, they moved to Grand Junction, retiring and traveling to many parts of the country. They also joined Clifton Christian Church.
Gilna was the quintessential housewife, an excellent cook, always made people feel welcome in her home and was adored by her husband, Harold.
After 57 years of marriage, Harold preceded her in death, but after that time she was surrounded by the love of friends and family. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Gilna is survived by her sister-in-law Hazel Willis, Grand Junction; family, Jim and Donna Allen and granddaughter Karen; brother-in-law Clyde Giloa, San Diego, Calif.; and his children, Brian, Linda and Laura; step-daughter Ardyce Geyer, Thornton; nieces in West Virginia (Madelyn, Nora and Marie), Colorado (Josephine and her son Gene and granddaughter Heather; daughter Patricia and her family; daughter Debra and her family); and Ohio (Beverly Workman); and other extended family.
Funeral services were held Sept. 20 at the Clifton Christian Church with Rev. Roger Ferguson officiating. Burial followed at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Martin Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Clifton Christian Church, 615 I-70 Business Loop, Clifton, CO 81520.
