The following obituaries and death notices appeared in the February 12, 2025 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.
Ken Schiable
Kenneth William Schaible, age 76, passed away on February 2, 2025 at home in Etna, Wyoming.
A celebration of life ceremony was held at 4:00 PM, Saturday, February 8, 2025 at the Etna, Wyoming Community Center.
Ken was born September 11, 1948, in Savanna Illinois, the son of William and Doris (Rall) Schaible.
He is preceded in death by his father (William), and mother (Doris), and two infant sisters.
Ken is survived by his brothers Wayne (Beth) Schaible, Jim (Mary Lou) Schaible and neices and nephews.
Ken grew up in Elizabeth and Hanover, IL and graduated from Hanover High School with the class of 1966.
He was active in football, basketball, and drama club during high school.
He attended Illinois State University in Normal, IL, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Geology.
It was during the summer field trips to Wyoming that he fell in love with the area.
After college Ken worked for Sears in Bloomington, IL and eventually started Schaible Construction and became interested in nature photography.
In 1995 Ken fulfilled his dream by moving to Alpine, Wyoming.
In 1996 he built his own home in Etna, Wyoming while continuing his construction business and starting another endeavor known as Nature’s Portraits.
Ken has been involved with the Etna Community Center for over a decade.
He was a true outdoorsman, avid nature photgrapher, furniture builder, and rock hound.
Ken will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
There was no greater brother, uncle, and friend.
Rob Erickson
Robyn Kay Erickson was born on December 6, 1951 to Delsa Lancaster Erickson and A. McKay Erickson. He was a much-loved child, cherished by both his parents and grandparents. He was the oldest of seven children and was held in great esteem by his siblings. His core value of hard work started early as he spent his childhood working with his Grandpa Clarence Erickson and herding sheep for the Lancasters.
His love for Star Valley stretched from the Lancaster Ranch in Forest Dell Smoot to Greys River Erickson Hunting Camp. Between hunting and guiding, pack trips, oilfield work and logging, he knew the mountains and trails intimately, a knowledge that has been shared through generations.
He married Rhonda Robinson on June 8, 1974. Together they welcomed and loved seven beautiful children, and he worked tirelessly to provide for his family. Rob was able to fulfill one of his dreams and bought land up Dry Creek Canyon. It is here that he taught his children work ethic, service, forgiveness, and love. And it was here that he spent his final moments surrounded by the people he spent his whole life building up: his children, grandchildren, and wife.
The beauty in his life was the simplicity in which he lived it. The legacy he leaves is his family, the decades of silent service he rendered, the relationships he built, and his abiding hatred for the Boy Scouts of America Program.
He was joyously welcomed in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and his granddaughter Adella.
He is survived by his siblings, Carrie, Kyle, Julie, John, Alice, and McKay; his wife, Rhonda; his children, Randa, Clint, Nick, Carolyn, Halie, Rob, Terri, and their spouses; and the true treasures of his life, his grandchildren Alana, Noah, McKay, Lily, Thomas, William, Jeffrey, Elle, Emma, Brock, Bryce, Robinson, Christian, Bennett, Tanner, Delsa, Henry, Charles, Evelyn, Robert, Victoria, Opal, Eseta, and Sailasa.
A viewing will be held on Friday, February 14 from 6-8 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary and on Saturday, February 15 from 9-10:45 a.m. prior to the service, which will be held at the Osmond Ward Chapel.
Nellie Cole
February 5, 1937 ~ January 23, 2025
Nellie Bernice Cole was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She peacefully passed away on January 23, 2025, at the age of 87.
Born to Ammon and Lucille Bassett on February 5, 1937, in Osmond, Wyoming, she was the fifth of twelve children. Nellie cherished driving over Tin Cup Pass, marveling at the views each time she returned to Dry Creek Canyon and Star Valley, Wyoming. Like many children of the 1930s, she learned the value of hard work and felt grateful for the life lessons that shaped her journey.
After completing high school, Nellie relocated to Salt Lake City, UT, where she caught the attention of a small-town boy from Idaho, Roger M. Cole. After sharing a Coke with ice, the two quickly became inseparable. They married on April 4, 1958, in Salt Lake City, UT, and their union was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1979.
A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Nellie had a strong testimony of the restored gospel and her Savior Jesus Christ. Her faith provided her with a foundation of love, compassion and service to anyone in need.
Nellie was the heart of her home and family. Together with her husband, they nurtured four children—Dan, Kathy, Lisa, and Roger—in a joyful and loving environment. They instilled independence and thoughtfulness in their children, shaping them into caring adults.
As a bookkeeper, Nellie enjoyed her work and cherished her co-workers and clients. She loved embarking on long drives and discovering new places. The family spent countless days exploring the Nevada desert, and no matter where the adventure took them, Nellie could often be found with a McDonald’s cup filled with Diet Coke and extra ice.
Nellie had a passion for cooking and took delight in preparing delicious meals for her family. Her most cherished recipes included her famous “fluffy” mashed potatoes with seasoned pepper, homemade chicken and noodles, and oversized cinnamon rolls topped with frosting. Gathering her family around the table brought her immense joy.
Like all mothers, Nellie adored her children, but her greatest treasures were her grandchildren (17), and great-grandchildren (38 and counting). Whenever a new baby was announced, she would eagerly bring out her quilting frame and supplies to create a beautiful quilt. It brought her happiness to see some quilts so loved that they needed repairs, sometimes resulting in the creation of a new quilt.
Christmas was a magical time for Nellie. She started a special tradition when her grandchildren were young, lovingly wrapping and gifting a unique ornament each December that represented something meaningful about the recipient or a significant life event from the year. Her spirit will continue to shine through as her ornaments are hung each year, evoking cherished memories and shared love.
Nellie is survived by her four children: Dan (Jo), Kathy (Terry), Lisa (Glenn), and Roger (Darla); her 17 grandchildren; 38 (and counting) great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Mel (Dee), Ron (June), and Mary Jean (Bob).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; her parents, Ammon and Lucille Bassett; siblings Dean, Clarence, Theda, Nevin, Harlo, Weldon, LaRae, and Alan; her beloved in-laws Conway and Katherine Cole; and her great-grandson, Easton Jones.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Northview LDS Church in Boise (6711 West Northview Street). Interment was at Rosedale Memorial Gardens in Payette, under the direction of Relyea Funeral Home.
Kittie Borden
Dear Mom,
I sit here on my porch in the predawn of a crisp Wyoming morning reflecting on your life and all that you were. A hot cup of coffee warms my hands and my lab, Luna, warms my feet as I think of the land beneath me. It was my playground as a child. I roamed these hills and dirt roads, swam in Crow Creek, and camped in the little grove of aspen we all love, better known as “The Trees.” A lot of roots are planted here. You and Dad raised me here, nurtured me, wrapped me in love and gave me an idyllic childhood. I want to honor you, the woman that created that life for me and our family, and I want it to be unique and incredible…just like you.
You began your journey on February 18, 1946, in the tiny little town of Truckee, California. You were welcomed by your adoring sister Terri and your loving parents Jack and Mike. Throughout your childhood your life was infused with an immense passion of family, deep love, hard work, laughter, and the outdoors. These things you carried close to your heart throughout your life, and they defined exactly who you were.
Your younger years were spent riding horses by Trout Creek, enjoying Donner Lake, working and making lifelong friends. One of your favorite experiences was when you worked at Olympic Village during the 1960 winter Olympics. You got to meet and mingle with many of the contestants. In 1963 you graduated from Tahoe Truckee High School. You did what many do and spread your wings a bit, moved from Truckee, worked and relied on yourself.
You decided to move back to Truckee and on an ordinary day, coming out of the post office, something happened that would change the rest of your life. You were asked on a date to go fishing at Warren Lake by, who you always referred to as, “The absolute love of my life,” also known as Frank Borden. (It didn’t hurt that he was leaning up against his corvette either.) You survived (barely) the long hike on that first date. Soon after you married in the uniquely beautiful Squaw Valley Chapel and a lifelong adventure of following him through the wilderness and everywhere in between began. You eked out a living in Truckee, Carson City, and Reno, but eventually decided the fast pace of the city wasn’t how you wanted to live or raise a family. So, in 1974 you and Dad took a leap of faith and packed up the green Dodge, a big U-Haul and the blue Volkswagen and moved us to Wyoming looking for a better life. Somewhere you could work hard but also take time to enjoy living. And live you did.
Star Valley has always been a tough place to make a living. But you two scrimped, saved, worked damn hard and made your dreams a reality and grew your businesses from the ground up. Diesel mechanic repair shop and real estate office. True partners filled with honesty, integrity, grit, love, hard work, and passion, as was the way you and Dad lived your life together.
Professionally, your most proud moment was obtaining your real estate license and then becoming a broker. You thrived in your business as you applied your life principles of honesty, integrity, and hard work to running Ellis Big Game Realty. You had the respect of your fellow businessmen in the field and established a reputation that reached far beyond Star Valley. Best of all you shared that success with your sister, Terri. You two were inseparable in business and in life.
When you weren’t working your days were spent with Dad enjoying and riding the rugged mountains around us. You loved packing your animals into the back country to hunt, fish and camp. If a big buck or bull was bagged during those times life was all the more grand.
As your businesses thrived you two found a little time to relax and discovered another passion, deep sea fishing in the Baja. Twenty-eight years traveling there in the old Dodge. There you savored the early mornings on the ocean, the heaviness of the humidity as the boat ran out to Catalina Island, the rolling of the tide, the dolphins running with the boat, the hard thump of a yellowtail hitting your line, the bent rods and tightened muscles reeling in a big one, friends on the radio cheering you on or giving you crap, bragging rights and the feast at the end of the day shared with your friends.
Of all you have done in your life the one thing you considered your greatest accomplishment was your family. You’ve cooked us meals, chauffeured us, nursed our hurts, warmed our tents, cheered our successes, mourned our losses, comforted us, helped us navigate any life situation, good or bad, and showed us a way to move forward. You validated our feelings, shared deep conversations and good advice, hysterical laughter and most of all unconditional and fierce love. You were our biggest fan, our Facebook, TikTok and X long before they existed—advertising in person our accomplishments loud and repeatedly to whomever would listen. You’ve sat on a million bleachers, driven thousands of miles and watched hundreds of videos to support each of our activities, our hopes, our dreams.
Our entire family has been so blessed from that move so long ago. You and Dad instilled in us small town values, hard work, and the marvel of the wilderness. “Make the ordinary come alive, the extraordinary will take care of itself.” It has made us want to stay, to make our homes here and show our kids the same incredible ways of life. For that we all reap the joy of living near each other and being a close-knit family.
I will miss riding with you in our mountains, finding beauty in them even after more than fifty years roaming them. I will miss the distinct way you sat a saddle and your pommel bag filled with all we could ever need, I will miss Oreo’s on the mountain when we were hunting, I will miss your humor, compassion, smile, fierce loyalty and your honest truth, I will miss you in your big yellow slicker and fifty layers of clothing, I will miss how you loved the U.S.A., I will miss how you always wanted to pitch in and wash dishes or clean up, I will miss watching your relationships with grand and great grandchildren and I will miss feeling the deep love and devotion you had for Dad. Most of all I will miss walking down the hill from my house to yours, coming through the front door, seeing your warm smile and then….“ Hi Bear.”
On February 1, 2025, you left us to carry on what you have built. So many lives to reflect little pieces of you. Tylee with her work ethic and positivity, Taylor with his little brown eyes and sense of humor, Kayden and his grit, Kenley and her deep felt compassion, Raegenn and her delight in every activity, Camden and his sense of the beauty in nature, and Austyn and her spunk. As we move forward, I hope I can teach, love, and nurture these precious lives in the same special way as you.
My mom, Kittie Lou Borden was preceded in death by her parents Jack and Mike, her stepmother Maggie, her sister and brother in-law Terri and Ross Merica and her nephew Patrick Michael Merica.
She is survived by her husband of 58 short years, Frank, daughter Cinta (Robert/Whompa) Roberts, grandchildren Tylee (Grant) Williams and Taylor Roberts (Jess), great grandchildren Kayden and Kenley Crookston, Raegenn Williams, Camden and Austyn Roberts, nephews Bart Merica (Liz), Bret (Debbie) Merica, nieces Katarina and Michelle Merica, and her extended family Doug Henry, Karter, Embry and Oaklynn Jenkins, the incredible staff at Heritage Senior Living in Preston, Idaho and last but not least her sweet dog Mac. We will celebrate mom’s life this summer in the places she loved the most. In lieu of flowers please go spend some time with family.
Bill Weeks
Joseph William (Bill) Weeks, Jr. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in Idaho Falls, Idaho surrounded by his family. He was 87 years old and had simply worn out his heart.
Bill was born on December 21, 1937 in his parents’ home in Superior, Wyoming during a Wyoming blizzard. His dad had to walk to the doctor’s house, sober him up, and walk back through the blizzard to deliver the baby in the middle of the night. He spent his childhood in Superior where he made a lot of friends and memories. He graduated from Superior High School in 1955, where he was the star basketball player. He continued to play basketball into his forties in various leagues and organizations. Many of Bill’s cronies insist he was one of the best basketball players they ever knew.
During his senior year in high school, he met the love of his life at a Rock Springs versus Green River basketball game. He and two buddies sat behind three sophomores from the Rock Springs pep club and offered them rides twice, to which the girls said “no”! They mentioned they would be at the Rialto Theater in Rock Springs that Saturday night, and coincidentally, the girls were there that night, too. Bill married the prettiest of the girls, Addie, five years later.
In 1955, Bill began his career with Mountain Fuel Supply Company in Rock Springs. He was hired by Michael McGrath, who happened to be the radio announcer for the high school basketball games. He started to tell Mr. McGrath about himself, but the former radio announcer told him there was no need to introduce himself, as he had broadcast Bill’s basketball games throughout his senior year. Bill worked for Mountain Fuel for 38 years in various roles and retired to Star Valley Ranch in Thayne, Wyoming.
Bill married Addie Lee Hamblin on November 1, 1960. In 1961, they welcomed a baby boy, William Joseph (Bill) Weeks, and in 1963, they had a baby girl, Karen Jo Weeks (Price). The family of four enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping together as their young family grew. Bill passed down his love for the outdoors and his talents as a fisherman to his entire family.
Bill leaves behind a beautiful legacy by being the Weeks Family Patriarch for multiple generations. His children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren have learned the value of family ties, generosity, always being true to themselves, and maintaining a good sense of humor from the strong presence Grandpa Weeks served in all their lives. The family attributes their successes to Bill, because he had high expectations and even higher levels of support for his loved ones. His family rushed from around the country to be by his side and say goodbye, and they will always remember him and miss him dearly. His legacy will live on through his remaining family who continuously incorporate the lessons he taught into their lives.
Bill is preceded in death by his father, Joseph William Weeks Sr.; his mother, Lily Woodward Weeks; his sister, Virginia Weeks; one nephew, James (Jimmy) Frost; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
His true pride and joy were always his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren! Surviving Bill are his wife, Addie Lee Hamblin Weeks; son, William Joseph (Bill) Weeks and wife, Therese Yerkovich; daughter, Karen Price; favorite oldest grandson, Daniel (Danny) Joseph Weeks and wife, Ariel; favorite youngest grandson, Darin Dean Weeks and wife, Chelsey; favorite oldest granddaughter, Kristeen (Krissy) Jean Schumacher Beitel and husband, Stuart; favorite youngest granddaughter, Amanda (Mandy) Jo Palermo and wife, Julia; and eight grandchildren – Lucas, Declan, and Ansel (Danny); Liam and Cadis (Darin); and Brooks, Scarlett, and Ruby (Krissy).
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at Bill’s home on Star Valley Ranch at 227 Hillside Way, Thayne, Wyoming from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided at 11:30. Please RSVP at https://pp.events/billweeks.
