Robert ‘Bob' Carrick
Sunday, August 8, 2004
Former Steamboat Springs resident Robert "Bob" Carrick passed away July 27, 2004, because of complications from surgery. He was 76.
Bob was born and raised in Annapolis, Md. He spent two years in the Marine Corps before attending Swarthmore College. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College.
During his time at Swarthmore, he met Ruth, his partner with whom he would spend the rest of his life and travel the world.
Bob lived in Steamboat for four years during the early 1970s. He owned a liquor store near the Steamboat Ski Area for much of that time. He also headed the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association for one year and was an avid member of the comedy troupe "The Great American Laughing Stock Company."
One of Bob's last ventures to Steamboat Springs was to write a story for the Denver Post about a horse roundup.
His love of adventure took him to Saudi Arabia for a series of jobs, and he ultimately retired to the southern coast of Spain. Never one to remain idle, Bob wrote books on the area, some of which were distributed by Amazon.com. He was a regular columnist for English-language magazines distributed in Spain, and recently he contributed to the Web site TheSpanishLife.com. The site aims to assist new residents and prospective landowners of Andalucia, Spain.
Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ruth; a son, Michael; and a daughter, Kathleen.
Funeral services were private.
Esther May Soter: 1928-2004
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Former Steamboat Springs resident Esther May Soter died May 23, 2004, in Fort Collins. She was 76.
Esther was born Jan. 12, 1928, in New Raymer to Charles Benjamin Howe and Sarah Emily Preeo. The family later moved to Yampa, and then to Steamboat.
Esther met Fredrick Soter, and the couple married on Sept. 9, 1950, in Glenwood Springs. They ran dry-cleaning businesses in Burlington and Estes Park, In the late 1950s, Esther began commuting from Estes Park to Loveland to work for Hewlett Packard. She moved to Loveland after her husband's death in October 1971. She continued working for Hewlett Packard until her retirement.
She moved to Steamboat Springs and lived here for a few years until she moved to Fort Collins, where Esther remained until her death.
She loved people and flowers and spent a good deal of time fishing and enjoying God's sunshine. She was an energetic woman who let nothing get her down.
Painful physical ailments may have slowed her down for the past 30 years, but they never got her down. Esther possessed a wonderful sense of humor that was a blessing to all who knew her. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Wesley F. and Stephen T. Howe; and two sisters, Anna R. Klumker and Martha Ellen Howe.
Esther is survived by two brothers, Raymond L. Howe of Tacna, Ariz., and Charles B. Howe and his wife, Maxine, of Sunbeam; three sisters, Mary E. Johns of Fort Collins, Clara J. Miles and her husband, Derald, of Hayfork, Calif., and Grace E. Compestine and her husband, Melvin, of Steamboat; 20 nieces and nephews and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews across the country.
Memorial donations may be made in Esther's name to the Rocky Mountain Arthritis Foundation in care of Reager Funeral Home, 1530 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524.
Donald "Dinty" George Moore: 1927-2004
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Longtime Oak Creek resident Donald "Dinty" Moore passed away May 17, 2004, at the Doak Walker Care Center.
Dinty was born in Secaucus, N.J., in 1927. He lived in his home town until his mid-40s.
In Secaucus, he was employed as the general manager of Triple M Transportation, was a member of the Secaucus Permanent Planning Board and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He served in the Army during the Korean War.
In the early 1970s, Dinty moved to the mountains of Colorado, where he started a pizza restaurant in Oak Creek. He operated Dinty Moore's Pizza for 20 years.
Dinty built his homes, working on eight during his lifetime. He knew plenty about construction and remodeling projects.
He loved to ski, often getting in as many as 100 ski days a year. He prided himself on his bird dogs, with which he hunted and fished his entire life. His last years were spent between Oak Creek and his home in Mexico. He adored Mexico and enjoyed a rich community of neighbors and friends there.
Dinty is survived by his longtime companion, Noreen Furness-Moore; his daughter, Megan Breen Moore; his sister, Mable Dubiel; and two brothers, Gerald Moore and James Moore.
Services were held May 23, 2004, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Oak Creek. Frank Sinatra's "They Can't Take That Away From Me" was played as the reflection song -- Dinty loved "Frankie."
Brock Victor Gregory (2002-2004)
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Oak Creek resident Brock Victor Gregory died Aug. 6, 2004, near Maybell, the result of an automobile accident. He was 1.
Brock was born Nov. 11, 2002, in Glenwood Springs to Jody D. and Marcia S. Gregory. Brock lived with his parents in Oak Creek.
He is survived by his parents; a half-sister, Makenna Gregory of Cheyenne, Wyo.; grandparents Don and Elsie Fast of Atkinson, Neb., and Judy Eskridge and Tom Gregory of Oak Creek; great-grandparents Charles and Lorraine Gregory, Bernetha Eskridge, Margaret Briese, Frank and Katherine Fast; three aunts, Julie Rubalcaba of Grand Junction and Renee and Julie Fast; and many great-aunts and -uncles.
A memorial service was held Oct. 2, 2004, at Soroco High School in Oak Creek.
Memorial donations may be made to a memorial fund for the family in care of First National Bank of the Rockies, P.O. Box 68, Oak Creek, CO 80467.
Richard Michael Goossens (1948-2004)
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Hayden resident Richard Michael Goossens passed away Sept. 24, 2004, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after suffering a long illness. He was 55.
Richard was born Dec. 11, 1948, in Racine, Wis., to Ruth and Victor Goossens. He attended St. John's Lutheran School through the eighth grade, Northwestern school from ninth grade to 11th grade and graduated from Burlington High School in 1967.
He joined the Marine Corps and was wounded in combat on May 12, 1968, in Vietnam. He received two Purple Hearts and retired from the Marine Corps in 1974.
Richard met his wife, Joan, in Boulder in 1971. They married in 1976.
He earned a bachelor's degree in geography at the University of Colorado in 1974 and a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1976.
Richard began his working career at the Weld County Assessor's Office, where he learned to be an appraiser. He worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Craig. He was a review natural resource appraiser for the U.S. Forest Service until his retirement in 1999.
Richard was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
He touched the hearts of all who knew him and will be missed immensely.
Richard was preceded in death by his father, Victor Goossens; and a sister, Laurie Lynn.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; two sons, Geoff Goossens of Loveland and Derrick Goossens of Windsor; his mother, Ruth Braun, of Fort Collins; three sisters, Betty Chaparro and her husband, Rafa, of Greeley, Robin Mitchell and her husband, Larry, of Red Feather Lakes and Vicki Lucero and her husband, Rick, of Grand Junction; three brothers, Bob Goossens and his wife, Carolyn, of Morro Bay, Calif., Bryan Goossens of Atascadero, Calif., and Jim Goossens of Steamboat Springs; mother- and father-in-law Gertrude and Frank Gessford of Charles Town, W.Va.; a brother-in-law, Gene Webber of Charles Town, W.Va.; seven nieces; nine nephews; five great-nieces and five great-nephews.
A service was held Sept. 29, 2004, at Hayden Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northwestern, Watertown, Wis., the University of Colorado at Boulder's geography department or the University of Northern Colorado's geography department in care of the Yampa Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 776090, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477.
Berniece ‘Bea' Phyllis Cash (1921-2004)
Sunday, October 3, 2004
Steamboat Springs resident Berniece "Bea" Cash passed away Sept. 29, 2004. She was 83.
Bea was born Aug. 20, 1921, in Antwerp, Ohio, to Oscar and Grace Frye. She was one of eight children raised on a large Indiana farm, where the family grew various crops and had a large peach orchard. The family was completely self-sufficient, even hauling water from a nearby creek for household uses.
Bea and her husband, Tom Cash, settled in San Diego, Calif., to raise their family after Tom was honorably discharged from the Navy.
Bea moved to Steamboat with her son, Bob, in 1985 after the death of her husband.
Her passion was bowling, and she joined bowling leagues immediately upon her arrival in Steamboat. Despite being legally blind and unable to see the pins, Bea bowled on a team that regularly finished in first place in league play. She cherished her friendships with her bowling friends. Bowling helped keep her young and active even though she suffered an illness that eventually led to her death.
Bea is survived by her son, Bob Cash of Steamboat; four daughters, Linda Cash Remy and her husband, Peter, of Steamboat; Glenda Farmer and her husband, Russ, of Georgia, Judy Epstein of Florida, and Connie Estes of Alabama; six grandchildren, including Troy Remy of Steamboat and Heather Farmer of Georgia; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Yampa Valley Funeral Home in Steamboat, where Pastor Rob Ryg will preside. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in memory of Bea Cash be made to Hospice of Steamboat Springs, 940 Central Park Dr., Suite 101, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487.
Lucy Adell Bowman (1916 -- 2004)
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Former Craig resident Lucy Adell Bowman died Oct. 23, 2004, at Mesa Manor Care Center in Grand Junction. She was 88.
Lucy was born Feb. 13, 1916. She is survived by her husband, Randall Kenneth; three daughters, Beverly Jean Bowman-Ohm of Grand Junction, Diane Elaine Bowman-O'Brien of Grand Junction and Gerteen Ann Bowman-Eslick of Glade Park; a brother, Robert Thomas of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Oct. 28, 2004, at Martin Mortuary Chapel in Grand Junction. Burial followed at Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alpine Home Health and Hospice, 602 Jackson St., Clifton, CO 81520.
Mildred E. Keeley
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Mildred Keeley passed away Nov. 3, 2004. She was 95.
Mildred was a resident of the Doak Walker Care Center for the past six years. She was born March 27, 1909, in La Grange, Ind.
She married Edward T. Keeley on Jan. 7, 1927. The couple lived in Elkhart, Ind., for most of their married lives.
Mildred is survived by a daughter, Betty Holderman, who formerly resided in Steamboat Springs and now lives in Mesquite, Nev.; a son, Ed Keeley of Elkhart, Ind.; three granddaughters, Susan Keller of Steamboat Springs, Nancy Artley of Swoop, Va., and Karen Carter of San Diego, Calif.; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
The Keeley family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all of the staff at the Doak Walker Care Center for their compassion and loving care of Mildred. The dedicated staff became Mildred's extended family and always provided an environment of love, respect and professionalism. It's a blessing to have this facility and its committed and caring staff in our community.
Ruth I. Smitherman
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Former Steamboat Springs resident Ruth I. Smitherman passed away Nov. 8, 2004, in Louisville. She was 87.
Ruth was born Feb. 27, 1917, in Protection, Kan., to John and Minnie Wait.
She married Donald W. Smitherman in 1938 in Protection, Kan. Ruth earned her bachelor's degree in education from Wichita State University.
She had a long career as an elementary and special education teacher. She taught Head Start in Greeley and special education and elementary classes in Steamboat.
Ruth was a member of Westview Presbyterian Church and was a Sunday School superintendent at Allenspark Community Church.
Ruth will be remembered for her love of teaching children. She also enjoyed dancing, including square dancing and ballroom dancing. Ruth hiked, four-wheeled and collected rocks.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Ruth is survived by her husband; a son, Steve Smitherman and his wife, Bonnie, of Berthoud; a daughter, Donna Ellis of Denver; two brothers, John Wait of Dallas, Texas, and Merle Wait of Protection; two sisters, Maxine Huck of Protection, and Doris Riner of Scott City, Kan.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is at 10 a.m. Nov. 15, 2004, at Westview Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations may be made to the The Tiny Tim Center in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St., Longmont, CO 80501.
Elisabeth Salzgeber (1924-2004)
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Former Steamboat Springs resident Elisabeth Salzgeber passed away Dec. 7, 2004, in her home in Crawford. She was 80.
Elisabeth was born April 5, 1924, on the eastern coast of Sumatra to the late Arnold and Anna Kettiger. When she was 6 years old, the family moved back to Switzerland, where Elisabeth graduated from school.
After graduating from high school, Elisabeth attended a gardening college for three years. During World War II, she worked as a gardening instructor in Zurich, Switzerland, where people would come to learn to grow vegetables. Yards and city parks were turned into vegetable gardens to provide needed food during the war.
Elisabeth married Rudy Salzgeber on April 22, 1950, in Zurich. The couple traveled to the Navaho Indian reservation in Ganado, Ariz., where Elisabeth enjoyed working in the children's ward of the hospital and managing campus laundry with the high school girls.
The couple next moved to Denver, where they lived for 25 years, built a home and raised their four children. Their next adventure brought them to Steamboat, where they owned and operated Ski Town Campground. They welcomed nine grandchildren to their lives during the 22 years after their move here.
Elisabeth and Rudy lived in Crawford for the past three years. Elisabeth attended Crawford Community United Methodist Church, and she was a member of the Needle Rock Club. She enjoyed volunteering at the thrift shop and being a housewife and vegetable and flower gardener.
Elisabeth was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Ernst Kettiger.
She is survived by her husband, Rudy Salzgeber of Crawford; a son, Ulrich Salzgeber, and his wife, Janet, of Steamboat; three daughters, Christina Lehr and her husband, Bob, of San Francisco, Calif., Ursula Miller and her husband, Mark, of Loveland, and Ruth Wentzel and her husband, Jeff, of Crawford; a brother, Arnold Kettiger, and his wife, Heidi, of Switzerland; and nine grandchildren, including Elisabeth and Anya Salzgeber of Steamboat.
A memorial service is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Olympian Hall at Howelsen Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Elisabeth's name to Second Harvest/The Food Bank of the Rockies, 10975 E. 47th Ave., Denver, CO 80239.
Virginia Sweetser Elarton
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Virginia Sweetser Elarton passed away Nov. 14, 2004, at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs after a brief illness. She was 87.
Virginia Ruby Mengers was born Sept. 24, 1917, in Colorado Springs to Charles and Ruby Mengers. She was raised in the Black Forest area and graduated from Monument High School.
Virginia and Glenwood J. Sweetser were married in 1932 near Peyton. They lived in Colorado Springs until moving to Long Beach, Calif., where they lived during World War II. They later returned to Colorado Springs, where they raised their family.
Virginia worked in the Corset Shop as a seamstress for 25 years. During that time, she also made many wedding dresses for the young brides of the Colorado Springs area. Virginia was active in the Pejn Indian Club and First Presbyterian Church during her time in Colorado Springs.
Glenwood died in 1972, and in 1976, Virginia married Earl Elarton in Twin Lakes. The couple eventually moved to Missouri, where they lived until moving to Craig in 1993. Earl died in 2001.
Virginia enjoyed crocheting, knitting and sewing.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Dean Mengers; two husbands, Glenwood Sweetser and Earl Elarton; a daughter, Dolores Wirkes; and a son, John Sweetser, who died in September.
Virginia is survived by a son, Wayne Sweetser and his wife, Deanna, of Hayden; a daughter-in-law, Mary Sweetser of Gilmer, Texas; four grandchildren, Kellie Taylor and Robin Brown of Tahlequah, Okla., Cody Sweetser and his wife, Rhonda, of Hayden and Carrie Sweetser of Craig; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothea Jones, of Brush.
A graveside service was held Nov. 20, 2004, at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colorado Springs.
Donations in Virginia's memory may be made to Hayden Congregational Church in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, CO 81625.
Delvin G. Gneiser
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Delvin G. Gneiser, a former Routt County rancher and coal miner, passed away Nov. 20, 2004, at Community Hospital in Grand Junction after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 83.
Delvin was born May 27, 1921, on the family ranch near New Raymer, the eldest son of Gus and Carrie Gneiser. Delvin attended the one-room Peace Valley School through the eighth grade and then attended Lutheran High School in Fort Morgan.
Delvin was inducted into the Army Air Corps in August 1942. After basic training, he was sent to England, where he served two years with the 8th Air Force as an airplane mechanic working on B-17s and B-24s. He married Frances Smith of Phippsburg on May 8, 1943, one month before his deployment.
After World War II, Delvin returned to Phippsburg and resumed his job at the Haybro Coal Mine and his lifelong love of ranching. In 1955, the couple bought their existing ranch in Phippsburg, where they raised hay and livestock.
In 1985, Delvin retired after 30 years of coal mining at the Haybro and Edna mines. He and Frances moved to Grand Junction.
During his retirement years, Delvin enjoyed dancing and entertaining the residents of many nursing homes by playing his harmonica with the Blow Hards band.
He was a member of South Routt Bible Church in Oak Creek and attended Calvary Bible Church in Grand Junction.
Delvin was preceded in death by his parents; an older sister, Lillian; and a brother, Norman.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Frances; a daughter, Erle Lynne Jones and her husband, Darold, of Kremmling; two sons, Patrick Gneiser of Grand Junction and Kevin Gneiser and his wife, Cindy, of Phippsburg; three sisters, Faye Whaley, Bonnie Harris and Kay Bothwell of Plainview, Texas; and six grandchildren; Mark Jones and Kendra Lay of Laramie, Wyo., Ryan Jones of Kremmling, Cody Jones of Fort Worth, Texas, Brandon Himmerite of Oak Creek, and Kaleyne Gneiser of Phippsburg.
Funeral services were held Nov. 27, 2004, at South Routt Bible Church in Oak Creek. Interment with military honors was at Yampa Cemetery in Yampa. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 4, 2004, at Calvary Bible Church in Grand Junction.
Contributions may be made in Delvin's memory to South Routt Bible Church, P.O. Box 792, Oak Creek, CO 80467.
