For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.

For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.

Fred Brog

July 4, 1944 – July 20, 2025

Fred Dewey Brog, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and faithful servant of the Lord, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, at the age of 81. Born on July 4, 1944, Fred’s life was a great example of faith, devotion, and selfless service.

Fred spent many years raising his family on the dairy farm before transitioning to raising beef cattle as a rancher—a life he loved and took great pride in. His days were spent working the land, caring for his animals, and building a legacy of hard work and stewardship that he passed down to his family.

One of his greatest passions was serving on the Lower Valley Energy Board, where he worked to support his community and ensure reliable service for the people he cared about. His time on the board was not just a role, but a calling he took pride in, and one he fulfilled with integrity and vision.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fred gave many years of service in various callings, including Bishop, Second Counselor in the Stake Presidency, coaching the Young Women’s basketball team, and as a Temple Sealer in the Star Valley

Wyoming Temple to name a few. His faith shaped a large part of his life, and his testimony was evident in his words and in the consistent way he lived.

Fred is survived by his loving wife, Annie; their nine children, their spouses; 61 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. His family was his greatest joy, and he took pride in the strength and unity of the posterity he and Annie built together.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 26, at 11:00 a.m. at the Freedom Ward church building. Viewings will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m., prior to the service.

Fred leaves behind a legacy of faith, hard work, service, and love. He will be deeply missed, but the values he lived by will continue on through all who knew and loved him.

Karl Kanning

Karl George Kanning entered the presence of his Savior on January 22, 2025 after suffering a heart attack.

He was born in Plentywood, Montana on May 22, 1944, the son of George and Eunice (Davenport) Kanning. Karl was the fourth child born in a farming family. His mother died when he was just 6 years old, and the family expanded from 5 kids to 9 kids when his Dad remarried and then 2 more half brothers came to complete the yours/mine/ours Kanning clan. Karl graduated from Plentywood High School in 1961, then attended Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota earning a degree in history. While there, he met and married the love of his life, Lois Nygard. He taught high school until he was drafted and served in Vietnam from 1968-1969 where he was stationed at Da Nang air base. Three children were added to the family in the years right after Vietnam. He moved his family to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he took a job as the founding administrator of a Christian school there. God blessed Karl with the gift of administration and he spent many years using that gift in Christian schools, gaining a reputation with teachers and students as a “pillar of ultra-conservatism.”

Karl and his beloved wife, Lois were married for 54 wonderful years. He truly lost a large piece of himself when she passed away in Jan. 2020 of cancer. They were the best of partners in life, bridge and raising their kids. We spent many hours camping in the summers and meeting family who lived in other states. There were countless memories made as we spent time in nature with extended family.

One of his favorite phrases was “When we work, we work hard. When we play, we play hard.” He was an avid fan of the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He taught his kids and grandkids to play cribbage and spent hours playing with them. He loved the challenge of a good bridge game, and spent hours most days playing pickleball after he retired.

Dad was a Christian who loved to read his Bible and would get up early each day to do so. He listened faithfully to sermons on tape and was deeply rooted in his faith. He spent many hours in meetings as an elder at the churches we attended and loved to discuss deep topics of the Christian faith. He was a man with a kind heart. He was a wonderful Grandpa who excelled at napping lessons with his grandchildren.

Though we miss him dearly, his faith is now sight! He is in heaven with a perfect view of the Savior he loved while here with us.

Funeral Services were held July 22, 2025 at Emmanuel Bible Church in Thayne.

Toni Sotelo

A Celebration of Life for Toni Sotelo will be held July 26, 2025 at the Donn Wooden Civic Center in Alpine from 12-4 p.m.

Pam Brown

Born October 28, 1952 to Devon and Colleen Petersen in Logan, Utah.  She was raised from infancy by Evan and Carmen Brown.  She passed away July 11, 2025 in Afton, Wyoming from cancer.

Pam was loyal, compassionate and a caregiver her whole life.  As a young girl she would cook for all of the people that would come to her parent’s house.  She helped her mother, Carmen, garden and it became a lifetime love for her.  She loved to raise flowers and had a way of knowing what her plants needed.  She enjoyed hauling sheep with her brothers.  She would get up early or spend the night in the sleeper so that she was ready to go with them.  She had many fun stories of the time she shared with her siblings.  Her father, Evan told her when her brother died that her brother had good principles, this stuck with Pam and she always looked out for the under-dog.  She stuck up for people her whole life.

She married Brent Joseph Biggs on November 9, 1971 in Millville, Utah.  They were later sealed in the Logan Utah Temple.  Together they had three children.  They owned and operated Biggs Mink Ranch.  The family spent many long happy hours together caring for the mink.  She taught us kids to work together and to love each other.  They had mink 23 years in Franklin, Idaho and later moved to Malta, Idaho and raised mink there for another 5 years.  Brent and Pam later divorced but became good friends.

Pam spent many hours finding her family and ancestors.  Her family search account showed that she had made over 117,000 contributions.  She would work on her family all the time, it was of great importance to her.  She held several callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Her favorites were working at the Star Valley Temple and teaching Relief Society.  The ladies would tell her often that she would say what everyone was thinking but wouldn’t dare to say.  Pam had a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pam was able to see many places from Nauvoo to the California Coast, but her favorite place was always Yellowstone National Park.

Pam always had a kitty.  Brent would often tease her and tell her that he wished he could have been a “Pam Cat” because she took such good care of her kitties.  She was a wonderful Mother.  She was always there for us kids no matter what.

Pam is survived by her children, Thomas Cass (Dawnya), Nicholas Brant (Michelle), and Heather Kay (Corey).  10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Both of her families:  Carol Johnson, Jack (Trudy) Brown, sister-in-law Linda Brown and Mickie (Shayne) Mathews, Kirk (Kaye) Petersen, Randy (Leisa) Petersen, Kevin (Tonya) Petersen, Kris (Becky) Petersen, Cleone (Lyle) Gittins.

Pam was laid to rest in the Afton, Wyoming Cemetery on July 16,2025.  She fought the good fight.  She will be sorely missed, until we meet again.  We love you forever.

Merrill Roberts

Merrill H. Roberts, a beloved member of the community, passed away at his home in West Point, July 18, 2025, at the age of 93. Born on December 20, 1931, in Etna, Wyoming, growing up on a dairy farm and across the street from the creamery gave Merril a deep love of the creamery industry. Merrill lived a life marked by dedication, creativity and a great love for his family.

While working at a gasoline station in Etna, Wyoming he met up with a Navy Recruiter, breaking his mother’s heart the next day, he was on a bus headed for the closest open Recruitment office. Merrill served his country with honor as an Electrician in the Navy during the Korean War, having entered boot camp one day before the War commenced. He always said he was very happy he joined before the conflict began. He was able to serve on the ship and not be sent to the trenches.

After the service, Merrill worked on the construction of the Palisades Dam, as a mechanic for Don Wood Tractor Company which he assisted in the construction of the Elkhorn Arch framework in Afton, Wyoming, mechanic for Bountiful Motors and Ogden Implement Company, ultimately retiring from Hill Air Force Base as a Precision Measurement Equipment Lab Manager (PMEL).

Merrill married his beloved wife on October 2, 1954, starting their life together in Afton, Wyoming, later moving to Clearfield, Utah and then building their beautiful home in West Point.

Merrill served many years at West Point City Councilman and on the Planning Commission. After retirement he set his sights on achieving his iCC Combination Building Inspector Certification. Merrill contributed his talents to several cities, West Point, Kaysville, ultimately retiring from Farmington City, Utah. His professional journey was defined by a commitment to excellence and a strong work ethic.

Beyond his professional life, Merrill was a gifted artist and craftsman known for making rocking horses/toy boxes and later in life for award winning paintings. He creative pursuits were a source of joy and pride, often shared with those he loved. His personality shown through with quick wit and kindness, he was a man who never spoke ill of others and possessed the remarkable ability to communicate understanding with words.

Merrill’s greatest joy in life was his family, which includes Karen, his devoted wife of 70 years. Along with their children, Brent Roberts and his wife Valerie Jo and Dorene Robers Hindes and her husband Bob. He was a proud grandfather to Brandon Nield Roberts, Chase Paul Roberts and Dallin Paul Tracy (Shawnette) as well as a cherished great-grandfather to nine great-grandchildren and two great- great grandchildren. His family reflects the love and care he dedicated to those closest to him.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Merrill served in various callings, including High Priest Group Leader and Secretary in the Bishopric. He took great pride in blessing and baptizing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was sealed for all time and eternity to his beloved wife Karen, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Merrill is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sylvester and Margaret Vera Roberts, as well as his brothers, Robert “Bob” (Martha) Roberts and Lewis David (Betty) Roberts and four siblings, M. Lillian, Marion Fae, Sylvester Jr, and James Lynn. Also, a son-in-law Donald “Donny” Dunn.  Although he will be deeply missed, his legacy of love, kindness and deep devotion to family will continue to inspire all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Syracuse Mortuary. 869 South 2000 West, Syracuse. Friends may visit with family on Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary, where full Military honors will be held, accorded by VFW 4797.

Alice Pope Turner

Alice Pope Turner, 92, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully and gracefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Gooding, Idaho. Alice was born on June 27, 1933, in Lewiston, Utah, the fourth of eight children to Clive Arden Pope and Sylva Harrison. She spent her early childhood in the beautiful Bear Lake area, where she developed a deep and lasting love for the lake and its surroundings. Her family later moved to a ranch outside Cokeville, Wyoming, where Alice learned the lifelong value of hard work, resourcefulness, and the importance of family unity.

At just 17 years old, Alice met the love of her life, her handsome cowboy, Keith Turner. They were married on January 7, 1952, in the Logan, Utah Temple. Together they built a lifetime of laughter, love, and enduring companionship. They raised six children and created a home filled with warmth, hard work, laughter and joy.

In 1972, Keith and Alice settled in Gooding, Idaho, where they began a dairy farm and became the proud owner-operators of Turner’s Service Station. Alice was known for her dedication, resilience, and hands-on approach to everything she did.

A lifelong and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alice served diligently in many callings. She gave her whole heart to every assignment and every person she served. She believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing well—and worth finding joy in along the way.

Alice had a gift for making life fun. She loved music, dancing, games, sewing, and hunting for bargains—but nothing brought her more happiness than her family. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy and most treasured accomplishment.

She is survived by her children: Cathy (Ed) Maloy, Carol (Cliven) Bundy, Charles (Stacey) Turner, Cindy (Bart) Dance, Tracy (Jack) Dalin, and Trudy (Chris) McGinnis; her siblings: Evan Pope, Clayton Pope, Starlene Holm, and Merlyn Sandberg; 39 grandchildren, over 125 great- grandchildren, and many more on the way.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Keith E. Turner; her parents; her brothers Ladd and Clive; and her sister LaFond.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Gooding Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held Friday, July 25, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Demaray Funeral Chapel in Gooding, and again one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will take place at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon at the Garden City
Cemetery in Garden City, Utah—right next to her sweetheart and overlooking the lake she loved so dearly.