From Larimer County, Colorado:
Randy Pencis
Randy “Big R” Pencis, 38, of Estes Park, died Aug. 5, 2005.
He was born May 13, 1966 in Colorado Springs to Sig Pencis Sr., and Liz (Healey) Vogel.
Pencis had lived in Estes Park since moving from Dodge City, Kan., in 1991. He loved his work as a skilled carpenter. He also enjoyed NASCAR, slot car racing, camping and fishing. He was always there to lend a helping hand to his many friends and family.
His mother Liz Vogel and grandparents Melvin (Chip) and Bonnie Healey preceded him in death.
Survivors include his fiancée and light of his life, Michelle Rodger and her two children Allison and Dillon of Estes Park; his father Sig Pencis Sr., of Colorado Springs; his stepfather Tom Vogel of Dodge City; grandmother Elvira Pencis of Colorado Springs; son Tyler Joe Pencis of Dodge City; daughter Ashley Lynn Pencis of Dodge City and their mother Shelly Hinderlighter, also of Dodge City. He is also survived by a son and daughter of Estes Park; sister Staci Pencis and Keith Cox of Longmont; brother Sig Pencis Jr., and his wife Christi and their children Brittany and Teghan of Dodge City; stepbrothers Shane Vogel of California and Scott Vogel of Florida. His friends Allie and Charlie Leonard of Estes Park will also miss him.
A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. at the American Legion in Estes Park.
Ruth Niebur
Ruth Niebur, 87, died Saturday, Aug.14, 2004, at Hospice of Boulder and Broomfield County in Lafayette after a brief illness.
She was born in Saint Mary’s, Kan., on Nov. 6, 1916, to Oscar J. Coleman and Natalie (Dagenais) Coleman. She lived in Kansas until she moved to Denver in the late 1930s to work at Saint Joseph’s Hospital where she met her future husband Harold K. Niebur. Ruth and Harold were married April 4, 1940, in Denver. They had three children; Ronald L. followed by daughters Nita Kay and Linda Marie. Harold preceded her in death in 1977.
Ruth worked alongside her husband for many years. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Elba to farm not far from the Niebur homestead southeast of Akron, Colo. Later they moved to Johnstown, Colo., and started a Hudson/Rambler dealership with Ruth as the secretary/bookkeeper and occasionally as a car salesperson. They sold the dealership during the summer of 1962 to move to Estes Park. Ruth and Harold decided to try something new by working at McGregor Mountain Lodge to learn the motel business and later bought a small motel with a house and several cottages for rental.
Ruth was active in the Senior Center in Estes Park and was a member of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic church before she moved to Longmont in 1990. In Longmont, Ruth joined the Spirit of Peace Catholic Church and has been active in the Young at Heart group. Ruth was an avid reader and enjoyed bingo and loved to socialize. Ruth had a cheerful spirit and had a goal to cheer up at least three people every day. Ruth dearly loved having her family around her and enjoyed many wonderful friends. She will be truly missed by the many people who knew and loved her.
Her son Ron and his wife Peggy of McCook, Neb.; daughters, Nita Bruce and her husband John of Longmont and Linda Cool and her husband Ken of Denver; and her sister, Sister Marie Coleman of Salina, Kan, survive her. She is also survived by grandchildren, Russell Niebur and his wife Mandy of Morrison, Colo., Jean Niebur of McCook, Neb., Beth Bethel and her husband Clint of McCook, Jeff Bruce and his wife Amy of Fort Collins, Rodger Bruce and his wife Tracee of Johnstown, Saundra Shaeffer and her husband Shannon of Longmont and Alicia Cool of Tucson, Ariz. Ruth also enjoyed her great-grandchildren: Spencer Bruce, Cheyenne, Benjamin, Abby and Jason Bruce and Stephen Shaeffer.
Cremation has been entrusted to Howe Mortuary, Longmont. Vigil services were held Aug. 16 at Howe Mortuary Chapel with Mary Franch as leader. Memorial services were held Aug. 17, at Spirit of Peace Catholic Church with Reverend Frank Maroney, officiating.
Contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Boulder & Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026.
Alice Elder
Alice Elder, 86, of Arvada (formerly of Akron, Estes Park, Julesburg and Greeley), died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2004.
Alice was dedicated to philanthropic services and held offices in many organizations including but not limited to Colorado Federation of Women’s Clubs, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, and Rebekah Lodge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy E. Elder Jr.(former Telephone Company manager in Estes Park), parents, Frank and Mae Paulsen, brother, Clarke Paulsen, Sister Margaret Russ, and grandson Tyler Lowell.
She is survived by five children; Dallas (Gladys) Elder of Arvada, Barbara (Carl) Hoffman of Canon City, Guy E. (Nancy) Elder III of Greeley, Becky (Bill) Matthews of Niceville, FL., and Dick (Betty) Elder of Westminster. Other survivors include sister, Joan Thompson of Stuart, OK, sister in law, Mae Paulsen, brother in law, Richard Russ, 14 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Alice will be on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m. at Olinger Crown Hill, 7777 West 29th Ave., Wheat Ridge. Memorial donations may be made to Sam Hill Memorial Fund in care of Dorothy Baker, 1965 Xanthia St., Denver, CO, 80220. This fund generates Manual High School scholarships.
Lila F. Merkle
Lila F. Merkle, 96, of Boulder died on Feb. 2, 2005, at Frasier Meadows Healthcare Center in Boulder of natural causes.
Merkle was born on Sept. 29, 1908, in McPherson, Kan. to James William Fields and Edith Louise (Felton) Fields. She married Paul Hallock Merkle on Nov. 8, 1986 in Duluth, Minn. She graduated from McPherson High School and earned a B.A from McPherson College in McPherson, Kan. Merkle worked for 17 years as a secretary in her father’s dental office. A resident of Boulder since 1991, Merkle was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Boulder. Her hobbies included the study of Flora and Fauna, music, and nature walking.
She was the favorite aunt to and is survived by 15 nieces and nephews. Merkle is survived by two sisters, Rosalie Beehler of Boulder and Autum F. Farrar of Topeka, Kan. and was preceded in death by her husband Paul H. Merkle; sister, Evalyn L. Merkle; and brother, James Eldon Fields.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Community Church of the Rockies Columbarium in Estes Park, followed by a Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. at the Philips Chapel at Frasier Meadows Manor, 350 Ponca Place in Boulder.
The Reverend John Hess of the First Presbyterian Church of Boulder and Chaplain William Youngblood of Frasier Meadows Manor will officiate. A reception will be held immediately following the services at Frasier Meadows Manor.
Contributions can be sent to Frasier Meadows Residence Assistance Fund, ATTN: Kathy Wood, 350 Ponca Pl., Boulder, Colo. 80303.
Memorial on Monday for Lloyd
Cherrie Lloyd, 77, died at Longmont United Hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 28 [2005].
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 5, at the Community Church of the Rockies. Rev. Peter Vanderveen will officiate. After the service, a reception will follow at the Wheel Bar.
She was born on Nov. 16, 1923, in Whitesboro, Texas, to Eddie Bryan and Ollie Mae (Worley) Brooks. She graduated from Whitesboro High School and later married Joseph E. Lloyd on Dec. 24, 1953, in Fursten Feldbuck, West Germany.
In her youth, she worked as a model for Montgomery Ward, but was a homemaker and military wife, traveling with her husband to Germany, Colorado and Michigan.
A former resident of Littleton, Mrs. Lloyd moved to Estes Park in 1976.
Mrs. Lloyd was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph, in March of 1998; and by some of her brothers and sisters.
Survivors include: her son, Jeffrey Lloyd, of Estes Park; her daughter, Sandra (Sunny) McFarren, of Silver City, N.M.; her daughter, Brooks Lloyd, of Estes Park; her sister, Elizabeth Warren, of Fort Worth, Texas; her grandson, Whitney Spurgeon, of Chicago; her grandson, Tommy Spurgeon, of Oregon; and her grandson, Dan Spurgeon, also of Silver City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lions Eye Institute, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517.
Casillo services set for Saturday
Patricia (Rachel) Casillo died suddenly in her home on Sunday, Feb. 18 [2005]. She was 53 years old.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, at the Allnutt Funeral Chapel.
She was born on May 4, 1947, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Joseph and Victoria (Snios) Casillo. She graduated from Lancaster High School in Lancaster, N.Y.
Ms. Casillo had previously lived in Estes Park for 10 years, and just recently moved back in 1997.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include: a sister, Carol Casillo, of Lancaster; a sister and brother-in-law, Jo Ann and Richard Medbury, of Lancaster; and a nephew, Adam Medbury, also of Lancaster.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Ministry, in care of the Allnutt Funeral Service, 1302 Graves
