From Rio Blanco County, Colorado:
Archie M. Carter
December 24, 1913 ~ December 16, 2003
Archie M. Carter. 89, of Rancho Cucumonga, Calif., passed away Dec. 16 after a lengthy illness.
Born in Osyka, Miss., Dec. 24, 1913, he was a long-time resident of Meeker. He also resided earlier in Dallas and Covina, Calif., where he owned Carter Sanitation Company.
He took great pride in his family and was an avid hunter and fisherman with a great love for the Colorado mountains. He was preceded in death by his parents and nine older brothers and sisters and son Hearl Carter.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathryn Mearl Carter, daughter of Sue Lassalette (Mike) of Temecula, Calif., sons Archie D. Carter (Faye) of San Dimas, Calif., and Earl (Cherie) of Glendora, Calif., eight grandchildren, Sue, John and Tom Lassalette, Jill, Mark, Kristin, Jamie and Josh Carter. He also leaves eight great-grandchildren, Jake and Jess Wade, Camile and Ava Lassalette, Dakota, Lauren, Ethan and Paige Carter and a number of nieces and nephews. Graveside services were held Friday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. at Oakdale Memorial Park, Glendora, Calif. Directing was Oakdale Mortuary.
Gary W. Reeves
August 31, 1951 ~ December 7, 2003
Gary W. Reeves, 52, of Grand Junction passed away Dec. 7, 2003, at St. Mary’s Hospital after a short illness.
Memorial services will be at Martin Mortuary, Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. with Rev. Roger Ferguson officiating.
Gary was born Aug. 31, 1951, at Rushville, Neb. He was raised by Charles and Lella I. (Kuskie) Kuchera. He spent his childhood in Arizona and was graduated from high school at Rushville, Neb.
Gary was a mining electrician in Meeker for 18 years. Prior to that he was a mining electrician in the copper mines in Arizona. Gary moved to Grand Junction three years ago.
Gary was an avid golfer and he enjoyed yard sales and fishing. He particularly admired the services provided by St. Jude Children’s Hospital. He always looked forward to spending time with April’s 4-year-old son Anjel.
Gary’s long time companion, Darlene Massey, her children, Sonja Cook, April Massey and April’s son, Anjel survive him and will miss him greatly. His parents, one brother and sisters preceded him in death.
Memorial contributions in Gary’s memory may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.
Colleen E. Holland
February 8, 1926 ~ December 3, 2003
Long-time Meeker resident Colleen E. Holland, 77, died Dec. 3, 2003, at Pioneers Hospital in Meeker.
Colleen E. Harp was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Rifle, the daughter of Russell and Myrtle (Porter) Harp. As an infant, the family moved to Meeker, operating Harp Transportation. Colleen attended Meeker Public Schools and following her graduation from Rio Blanco County High School attended University of Colorado in Boulder for one year, rooming with Mary Villa.
On June 30, 1945, she was united in marriage to Bernard A. Holland in Meeker. Mr. Holland preceded her in death on Aug. 9, 1998. She was also preceded in death by two infant sons and her parents.
For many years, Mrs. Holland was the school secretary at the high school, retiring in February of 1988. While working for the schools she served on many school committees and had a deep love and appreciation for her students. She was a devoted and loving mother and homemaker and enjoyed woodworking, painting and drawing, playing the accordion and spending time outdoors, working in her flower beds and garden, arrowhead hunting, hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. Her family will long remember her ability to “swing a mean wooden spoon.”
Survivors include her three daughters, Margaret Adams and her husband Bill “Medic”; and Holly Schopp, both of Meeker, Christi Slade of Grand Junction, six grandchildren, Heidi Adams-Woroniecki and her husband John of Hebron, N.D.; Christopher Adams and his wife Janalee of Craig; Ryan Schopp of Grand Junction; B.J. Slade of Fort Collins and Karey Thomas and her husband Rex of Oklahoma City, Okla. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Garret Russell, Peyton Christopher and Ethan Joseph.
Funeral Services were held Dec. 6 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Private family interment services will be in the Highland Cemetery.
Cochran Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.
Joseph Williams
May 21, 1995 ~ November 24, 2003
Joseph Williams, 8, of Wellington, Colo., died Nov. 24, 2003, at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
Joseph David Williams was born May 21, 1995, in Fort Collins, the son of Scott and Carrieann (Thomas) Williams. At the time of his death he was a third grader at Eyestone Elementary School in Wellington. He loved being outdoors and was a natural fisherman. He was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Fort Collins and the Big Thompson Bow Hunter’s Association.
Survivors include his parents, Scott and Carrieann, his brother, Matthew, his sister, Brittany, all of the family home in Wellington, his paternal grandparents, Ted and Mary Ann Williams of Meeker, his paternal grandparents Julie and Bruce Suter of Corvallis, Oregon, and David and Helen Thomas of Deary, Idaho as well as his great-grandmother, Doris Pool of Mesa, Ariz. Joseph is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins as well as friends at school and throughout the United States who were all saddened by his sudden death.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fort Collins on Wednesday, Nov. 26. A funeral service was held Friday at the Fairfield Community Center in Meeker with interment following in the Highland Cemetery.
Friends may make memorial contributions to the Big Thompson Bowhunter Assoc. through Cochran Memorial Chapels which was entrusted with the arrangements.
Pia Bjerregaard
April 11, 1945 ~ November, 23, 2003
Well-known Meeker resident Pia Bjerregaard, 58, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.
Pia was born April 11, 1945, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the daughter of August and Eva Susanna (Linder Madsen) Bjerregaard. As a young girl her love for animals blossomed as she began riding lessons in Copenhagen.
Her family moved to Fredrikssund and she received her first horse. She began traveling to riding schools in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Between the ages of 14 and 19 she trained with the European National Equestrian Olympic Team where she furthered her love of animals that she carried with her throughout her life. At the age of 19 she had the opportunity to travel to Meeker at the invitation of Soren Nielsen. She visited the Nielsen ranch up the river and fell in love with ranch life. Following her March 7, 1967, wedding in Denmark to Grant Nielsen, she returned to her new American home.
Pia’s passion then turned to her three children as she dedicated herself to their various activities. She led 4-H horse, dog and sheep programs for several years while attending to her own horse business where she bred and raised Arabians and Quarter horses. On the side, Pia enjoyed teaching riding lessons. Even as busy as her life had become, she still found the time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of Colorado’s sunsets and scenery.
Pia also started an antique store featuring European antiques. Starting in 1987, Pia worked off and on at both Pioneers Hospital and the Meeker Family Health Center. She was devoted to her work and her family, spending countless hours with her grandchildren and children. She loved the outdoors and trips to the mountains. She also enjoyed raising goats, cows, horses and her border collies.
Survivors include three children, Ann Marie Nielsen and her fiancée Gene Scritchfield, Alan Nielsen and his wife Becca, Kent Nielsen and his wife Marci all of Meeker, six grandchildren, Mason, Tristan, Daylon, Derek, Denee and Kaysyn and two brothers, Hans and Frank, both of Denmark.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Fairfield Community Center. Interment was made at the Nielsen Ranch on the Mesa.
Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the Pia Bjerregaard Memorial Fund at any First National Bank of the Rockies. Cochran Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.
Patrick J. Dungan
November 9, 1975 ~ November 25, 2003
Patrick J. Dungan, 26, of Grand Junction, formerly of Meeker died Nov. 25, 2003, in Grand Junction.
Patrick Joshua Dungan was born Nov. 9, 1975, in Farmington, N.M., and as a young child moved to Meeker where he attended Meeker Public Schools.
He was an avid outdoors man and sportsman who enjoyed hiking, swimming, skiing, hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed the special time he spent with his family.
Patrick is survived by his mother, Janell (Johnson) Dungan of Denver, his father and step-mother Joe and Kim Dungan of Meeker, one sister, Tonya Carter and her husband Scott of Denver, one brother, Sean Dungan and his wife Tina of Roanoke, Texas; a step-brother, Jeremy Muxlow of Meeker, his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Jewell Dungan of Fort Worth, Texas, his maternal grandmother, Laura Kinnamon and her husband Sam of Meeker, a niece, Cicily, two aunts, Donna Tucker and her husband Clarence and their two children of Arlington, Texas; Kathleen French and her husband Gaylord and their two children of Waxahachie, Texas; and two uncles, Charles Johnson and his wife Mary and their child of Iowa and Fred Johnson and his wife Mi of Rifle.
Funeral services were held Wednesday from Cochran Memorial Chapel in Meeker with Pastor
Bud Miles officiating. Interment was made in the Highland Cemetery. Friends may make memorial contributions to the Patrick J. Dungan Memorial Fund at First National Bank of the Rockies.
