Marthella Beck
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Former Craig resident Marthella Beck passed away Oct. 23, 2004, in Billings, Mont. She was 89.
Marthella Willis was born Aug. 3, 1915, in Henrieville, Utah. She was the oldest of eight children born to John and Rachel Ella Willis. Seven of the children grew to adulthood; an infant brother, Henry Bradford, passed away when he was 4 months old.
In 1921, the family moved to Junction, Utah, where her father farmed. He later was employed by the U.S. Biological Survey. In 1933, he was transferred to Vernal, Utah, to work as a trapper with U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
After completing school in Vernal, Marthella moved to Oakland, Calif., where she worked for several years as a housekeeper for families she knew there. Her sisters, Rita and Glenna, spent time with her in Oakland during World War II.
Marthella moved to western Colorado to work with her parents at the Macedona Lodge. In 1948, she met her future husband, Linnie Beck, who was a truck driver for Stanton's Transportation Company. He enjoyed stopping at the lodge for a good meal during his trips hauling Gilsonite from the mine in Bonanza, Utah, to Craig.
The couple moved to Casper, Wyo., in 1949, where the Stantons had started a branch of their trucking company. They returned to Craig in the late 1950s to raise a family.
Marthella was a gifted cook and spent many years working in restaurants in Craig, including Easley's Café, The Galveston Restaurant and the M&M Café.
She shared a love of the outdoors with her husband and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with family and friends. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions in its primary school, Sunday school and Relief Society auxiliaries. Marthella was proud of her heritage and had a great love for her ancestors, parents and brothers and sisters.
Marthella will be remembered as a hard worker and a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend. She had a great sense of humor and her smile and the twinkle in her eye will long be remembered by all those who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her infant brother, Henry; her parents; and her husband, Linnie.
Marthella is survived by two sons, John and his wife, Kaye, of Thornton, and Dale and his wife, Judy, of Billings, Mont.; two brothers, Maynard Willis of Montrose and Dale Willis of Salt Lake City; four sisters, Rita Forbis of Horse Cave, Ken., Ovid Luck of Vernal, Utah and Glenna Meadows and Mary Lauchnor of Salt Lake City; four grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral was held Oct. 28, 2004, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Craig. Bishop Brian Herring officiated.
Hugh S. Wagner
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Steamboat Springs resident Hugh Wagner died Nov. 6, 2004, at Yampa Valley Medical Center. He was 72.
Hugh was born March 17, 1932, in Wolf Point, Mont., to Thomas A. Wagner and Margarette Jackins.
Hugh graduated from St. Johns Prep School and attended Montana State University and the University of Denver. He was a State Farm Insurance agent for 30 years.
Hugh enjoyed many activities, including playing horseshoes, working in his garden, making pickles, traveling and watching sports. He also loved his Cadillacs, going to the opera, cooking and drinking Budweiser. He was a self-taught piano player and a good friend to many.
Hugh was preceded in death by Therese Ann Phillip and Richard Wagner.
He is survived by two children, Mark S. Wagner and Julie A. Bush; three brothers, J.F., Roger and David Wagner; three sisters, Mary Margarette Hanson, Demaris Boerschinger and LeMay Bechtold; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Nov. 11, 2004, in Glasgow, Mont. Interment was at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. Memorial donations may be made to the Doak Walker Care Center, 1100 Central Park Drive, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487.
Marvin Crawford
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Former Steamboat Springs resident Marvin L. Crawford passed away Jan. 10, 2005, at Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs. He was 72. Marvin suffered an unexpected stroke in his home Jan. 6.
Marvin was born July 30, 1932, in Denver. He was raised in Steamboat, where he excelled in numerous skiing disciplines. Marvin also was instrumental in the development of the Steamboat Ski Area and was an original co-developer of Lake Catamount.
He lived in Colorado Springs for the last 2 1/2 years of his life and in Grand Junction for the preceding 16 years.
Marvin is survived by his wife, Edith M. Crawford; three sons, Rod, Greg and Gary Crawford; three sisters, twin Marlene Willie of Manitou Springs, Jean Olson of Sunnyvale, Calif., and Linda Brown of Grand Junction; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Marvin's Farewell Party, a celebration of his life, is at 1 p.m. Jan. 22, 2005, at Howelsen Hill. The event primarily will be held outside, but also in Olympian Hall after the outdoor festivities. The family asks that those who had the pleasure of knowing Marv bring their stories and memories to share with everyone. The family also asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Marvin Crawford Memorial Fund in care of Wells Fargo Bank, P.O. Box 774888, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477, or in care of Gary Crawford, P.O. Box 881021, Steamboat Springs, CO 80488. Donations to the memorial fund will go annually to a Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Nordic skier to help offset athletic fees. The criteria for receiving the scholarship are yet to be determined.
Blue Eagle Halterman: 1973 -- 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Longtime Oak Creek resident Blue Eagle Halterman passed over to the other side Feb. 18, 2005. He was 31.
Blue was born Nov. 9, 1973, in Denver. He moved to Oak Creek with his mother in May 1974. Blue attended preschool in Oak Creek and the kindergarten through 12th grade in the South Routt School District. He was active in sports, FFA, school government, music and other activities throughout his school years.
He attended the University of Wyoming for two years before transferring to Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Blue loved Van Halen and attended his last concert Aug. 1, 2004, with his mother. He played the harmonica and was a master of impersonations in many dialects. His many characters entertained the masses.
Blue loved women, fishing, Hawaiian shirts, football, riding his bike, playing pool and the ocean. He was a cook, chef and bartender in Steamboat Springs and Oak Creek throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, whose birthday he shared, and his grandfather, who died Jan. 5, 2005.
Blue is survived by his mother, Karen Halterman, and his brother, Max Halterman, whose lives will be changed forever by his presence and his passing. He also is survived by his beloved Rosemary; his father, Rod Skenandore; his sister, Tosa Skenandore; and aunts, uncles, cousins and friends throughout the Yampa Valley and around the world. Blue was beloved.
A celebration of Blue's life was held Feb. 25, 2005, at the Soroco High School gymnasium.
Memorial donations may be made to the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 940 Central Park Drive, Suite 101, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487, or to the Soroco High School wrestling program, P.O. Box 158, Oak Creek, CO 80467.
Orion J. Wellman (1975 -- 2005)
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Former Steamboat Springs resident Orion J. Wellman passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 17, 2005, in Silverthorne. He was 29.
Orion was born Sept. 12, 1975, in Denver to Paul and Linda Bohen Wellman.
He married Katrina Russow on Aug. 15, 1998, in Steamboat, where Orion had attended school. He was the co-owner of Diamond Custom Painting in Fort Collins.
Orion was a member of St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was an outstanding husband and father. He was very open, generous, patient and kind. Orion loved his family. He enjoyed skiing, swimming, the outdoors and paintball.
Orion is survived by his wife, Katrina, of Fort Collins; a son, Quinn Wellman; his parents, Paul Wellman of Norman, Okla., and Linda Wellman of Steamboat; two brothers, Kyle Wellman of Denver and Aaron Wellman of Steamboat; two sisters, Haven Wellman of Crestone and Sasha Wellman of San Diego, Calif.; his in-laws, the Rev. William and Betty Russow; four sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.
A funeral service is Feb. 22, 2005, at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Collins. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Allnutt Hunter Chapel in Loveland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Orion J. Wellman Memorial Fund in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 2100 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, CO 80538.
Natalie Willett Stanko (1909-2005)
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Longtime Steamboat Springs resident Natalie Willett Stanko passed away July 5, 2005, at the Doak Walker Care Center. She was 95.
Natalie was born in Woodbine, Iowa, on Dec. 12, 1909, to Harry and Agnes Willett. She was raised on the family dairy farm established by her grandfather in the 1860s.
Natalie attended a one-room rural school through the eighth grade and graduated from Woodbine High School in 1927. She then attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, for two years and taught in a small Iowa school for the next two years. She later returned to Parsons College and graduated with her teaching degree in 1933.
She came to Steamboat Springs in the summer of 1933 to help her uncle, Dr. F.E. Willett, at his hospital on Seventh Street, later the Seventh Street Playhouse. That fall, she became the teacher at the Southside School. During the year, she met a young rancher, Peter Stanko Jr. She then taught at the Mesa School from 1935 to 1938.
In June of 1938, she married Peter Stanko Jr. in Woodbine, Iowa, and took on the role of the typical working ranch wife. To fill a teaching vacancy in the Steamboat School, she taught the sixth grade during the 1938-39 school year.
Even though ranch life was demanding, she always found time to become involved in community activities. She joined the Congregational Church, later known as the Euzoa Bible Church, in 1938. During World War II, she served as a Red Cross Volunteer and coordinated activities from Steamboat to Hayden. Also during this time, a son was born in 1940, but he did not live. Son James Willett Stanko was born in 1944 and daughter Mary Ann Stanko (Enyeart) was born in 1947.
In the 1950s, she was a mom, was involved in school activities, served on the Southside District School Board, and was an active participant in the Ground Observers Corp. group that was formed in Steamboat Springs. She substitute taught in Steamboat Springs schools throughout the 1960s.
During the 1970s, she started volunteering at the senior citizens extended care center. This became a Friday morning ritual of reading and visiting with the residents that lasted until late 2004. She also helped care for many of the children in the neighborhood. She became a charter member of the local Chapter of the American Association of University Women and joined the LLRCs.
Recently, she volunteered at the museum and worked with the group, which saved and refurbished the Mesa School House. In 2003, she was honored by the Tread of Pioneers Museum with the Leckenby Award.
Natalie is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Peter; and daughter, Mary Ann.
She is survived by her brother, Dwight Willett and wife, Della, of Woodbine, Iowa; son, James and his wife, Joanne, of Steamboat Springs; grandson, Patrick James Stanko and his wife, Jan, of Fort Collins; great-grandchildren, Taylor Ann and Justin Stanko; nephews, Gary Willett and his wife, Barbara, of Jefferson, Iowa, Don Price and his wife, Eleanor, of Spring Valley, Ariz.; and many great-nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Florence Nash 1915-2000
Wednesday, October 18, 2000
Florence Nash 1915-2000
Florence Nash died Sept. 4, 2000, at the Extended Care Center in Steamboat Springs. She was 85.
Florence was born April 2, 1915, in Saskatchewan, Canada. She spent her childhood in Fort Collins and studied music at Colorado A&M College from 1933 through 1936. She married Donald Evans Nash, an A&M graduate from Montrose, in 1936.
Florence was a resident of Steamboat Springs since 1954. She taught piano and voice to hundreds of Steamboat kids and served at Euzoa Bible Church as adult choir director, preschool Sunday teacher and as a deaconess.
She was an avid gardener, herbalist and birder. She was a resident of the Selbe Apartments for seniors from 1991 to 2000.
She is survived by three daughters, Carolyn Weyers of Paonia, Barbra Solberg of Emporia, Kan. and Cyndi Dewey of Westminster; a sister, Dorothy Park of Santa Maria, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
A memorial service was held Sept. 8 at Euzoa Bible Church. Peterson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Jimmie D. Hinkle 1926-2003
Sunday, July 27, 2003
Jimmie D. Hinkle died July 3, 2003, after a short battle with cancer. He was 76.
Hinkle was born Oct. 13, 1926, in Oak Creek. He ranched in the South Routt valley with his family until they moved to Castle Rock in 1943. Hinkle graduated from Castle Rock High School.
He met Georgia Belle Newton of Parker in 1946, and the couple married Dec. 24, 1947.
Hinkle worked for the Coca-Cola Company in Denver as an advertising agent for 10 years.
In 1962, he moved back to Routt County with his family, where Hinkle helped his brother, Donald, on his Foidel Canyon ranch. A year later, Hinkle was hired by the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Company at its Edna mine, outside of Oak Creek. He worked as a dragline operator for 30 years.
Hinkle retired and moved to Grand Junction in 1993.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Scott and Hattie Hinkle; a brother, Kenneth Hinkle of Greeley; and a sister, Marietta Haworth of Prescott, Ariz.
Hinkle is survived by his wife of 56 years, Georgia Hinkle; two daughters, Kathleen Whaley of Buena Vista and Carol Montoya of Oak Creek; two sons, Jimmie David Hinkle and Wayne Scott Hinkle of Denver; two brothers, Donald Hinkle of Yampa and Scott Hinkle of Merced, Calif.; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Jodi Harris-Fox
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Steamboat Springs resident Jodi Harris-Fox died Sept. 6, 2003, in Las Vegas.
Jodi was born Feb. 12, 1964, in El Paso, Texas. She lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Dallas/Fort Worth area before moving to Steamboat in June 2002.
Jodi was a graduate of the University of North Texas. She was a photographer and an artist. She often volunteered to work with charities for animals and children.
Jodi is survived and missed dearly by her husband, Andrew Fox; her mother, Sharon Burnside; her father, Jack Harris; three brothers; one sister; four nieces; and four nephews.
A memorial service was held Sept. 17, 2003, in Southlake, Texas.
Daniel Marlin Wagner: 1944-2005
Sunday, May 8, 2005
Longtime Routt County resident Daniel Marlin Wagner passed away April 15, 2005, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was 60.
Dan was born Oct. 27, 1944, in Holly to Charles W. and Virginia Roseberry Wagner. He was raised and attended school in Holly.
After graduating high school, Dan attended the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo for two semesters. He then served in the Marine Corps for four years, where he was a sharpshooter and repaired Teletype equipment.
While working construction in Steamboat Springs, Dan met Connie Green, his best friend and the love of his life. They were married June 1, 1969, in Steamboat. Dan and Connie lived in Steamboat and Milner before moving south of Steamboat in 1976 to live on her family's ranch.
Dan was a carpenter, an 11-year coal miner for the Twentymile Coal Co., and a mechanic for the Steamboat Springs School District for close to 20 years. He also was a hard-working rancher for many years.
Dan enjoyed reading, watching television, fishing with his children, woodworking and fixing things. But most of all, Dan loved being with his family. He also took pleasure in watching his daughters play basketball and volleyball and volunteering at the Routt County Fair with children in 4-H.
Dan was a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Connie Wagner, of Oak Creek; three daughters, Audra Garrison of Colorado Springs, Debra Parker and her husband, Riley, of Fort Riley, Kan., and Danielle Wagner of Mitchell, S.D.; four grandchildren, Chase and Lauryn Garrison, and Daniel and Raymond Parker; three sisters, Laurel Beranek of Lindon, Utah, Gayle Lirley of Lamar and Muriel Rietz of Eaton; and three brothers, Colin Wagner of Hayden, David Wagner of Coolidge, Kan., and Mitch Wagner of Evans.
Dan will be remembered always for his fun-loving sense of humor, his integrity as a hard-working man and his compassion for others.
A service was held April 23, 2005, at Steamboat Springs Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Oncology Center of Yampa Valley Medical Center in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, CO 81625.
Janet Kathleen Preator 1938-2003
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Hayden resident Kathleen Preator passed away Oct. 1, 2003, in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. She was 65.
Kathleen was born Aug. 8, 1938, to Forrest Glenn and Myrtle Frentress in Hayden. She was raised and attended school in Hayden, where she graduated from high school in 1956.
Kathleen attended Colorado State University for a short time and Barnes Business College in Denver.
She married Joseph Clark on Aug. 2, 1957, in Hayden. The couple had a daughter, Tori. Kathleen and Joseph divorced after 17 years of marriage, and Kathleen moved to Alaska, where she worked in the business office at Aleyska Ski Area.
In 1979, Kathleen returned to Hayden, where she met and eventually married Robert E. Preator. The couple married May 3, 1980, in Glenwood Springs.
Kathleen worked at the Bank of Steamboat, the Routt County Clerk and Recorder's Office for 14 years, and the Yampa Valley National Bank in Hayden for five years before retiring in 2001.
She loved to travel, and with her husband she visited many places throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Europe. Kathleen kayaked extensively through Alaska, including the Arctic Circle, Prince William Sound and Kachemak Bay. She was an avid snowmobiler and she toured most of North America on motorcycle.
Kathleen loved her grandchildren and family and enjoyed spending time and visiting with all of them.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Norman Frentress.
Kathleen is survived by her husband, Robert Preator; a daughter, Tori Hellmann of Palisade; three grandchildren, Kaela, Jessica and Gabriel; a brother, Forrest Frentress of Hayden; a sister-in-law, Dollie Frentress of Craig; a father- and mother-in-law, Rodney and Sally Preator of Grand Junction; a brother-in-law, John Preator of Delta; and a sister-in-law, Gay Preator of LaCrosse, Kan.
A memorial service was held Oct. 13, 2003, at Hayden High School. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, 81625.
Mark Whittington 1960-2003
Saturday, November 29, 2003
Mark H. Whittington died Nov. 14, 2003. He was 43.
Mark was born Oct. 7, 1960, in Billings, Mont.
Mark was the owner of MountainView Building Specialties, which had an office in Steamboat Springs.
He went beyond the average person in everything he did. Now he is at rest, and he will be missed deeply by all who hold on to their memories of Mark and the ways he touched their lives.
Mark is survived by his wife, Pamela Whittington; his devoted dog, Montana; his parents, Bob and Helen Whittington of Grants Pass, Ore.; his brothers, Jim Whittington of Mill Valley, Calif., and Mike Whittington of Florif, Iowa; his sisters, Donna Barone of Billings, and Diane Balding of Kalispell, Mont.; his niece, Michelle Balding of Colorado Springs, and his nephew, Kris Balding of Kalispell, Mont.
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 6, 2003, at Mountain View Church in Glenwood Springs. A catered reception will follow.
