For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.

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

Linda Sessions

Linda Sessions passed from this life on July 13, 2025, a few weeks before her 83rd birthday. She was born in Smoot on August 2, 1942 to Erastus and Lillie Jensen. She grew up on the farm in Smoot with her five siblings: Gene, Jennie, Joan, Ned and Boone.

She married Donald Sessions in 1960 and they had three children: Randy “RD”, Toni and Christina. The family moved to Logan Utah and spent a few years there. They later divorced and Linda moved back to Star Valley. She never remarried.

Linda was an adventurous spirit. She spent her child rearing years as the manager of the sewing factory in Afton. Her job took her to southern Utah on two different occasions for temporary duties including once on a Navajo reservation. She liked to explore the area wherever she went. She loved a good road trip.

After her children were grown, she took jobs that allowed her to feed her passion for adventures. She cooked on a wagon train, in a hunting camp, and on a ranch in Cody. She loved the outdoors and wasn’t afraid of hard work.

Eventually, it was that sense of adventure that inspired her to pack her car and head to Alaska where she spent 16 years. She loved Alaska and the time that she spent there.

Linda moved back to Star Valley in 2005 to the area in Smoot where she had grown up. There she spent countless hours cultivating beautiful gardens and flower beds. She loved to work in her garden and took great pride in it. Neighbors regularly stopped by to complement her yard.

Linda had three children, eleven grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. She also made many friends through the years that became like family.

She will be missed by many.

Todd Welker

Todd Dallas Welker, 59, of Afton, Wyoming passed away suddenly on August 10, 2025 surrounded by his family. He was born November 8, 1965 in Soda Springs, Idaho to Dennis Randall Welker and NaReese (Athay) Welker. Todd worked for Monsanto for many years, then moved to Star Valley where he worked as a carpenter. Most recently Todd worked hard to be the best custodian Star Valley High School had ever seen.

Todd’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, motorcycle riding, and watching his favorite teams the Minnesota Vikings and the Atlanta Braves. He was a phenomenal musician, known most notably for the band Common Ground. He also helped with the church music and was an honorable member of the VFW where he played Taps for many, many military funerals. Of all the hobbies he had and things he loved, his favorite was being a Dad and Grandpa.

Todd most recently attended the Auburn Ward in the Thayne Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully as a finance clerk, often helped with ward and stake music, and recently was preparing to teach the temple preparedness class.

Todd was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, mother NaReese, father Dennis and three of his siblings, Stacy, Randall, and Debbie.

He is survived by one sister Vickie (David) Murri, children Derek (Karol) Welker, Brendon (Ashley) Welker, Jordan (Brooke) Welker and Olivia Welker. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jaxson, Kason, Emmitt, Riley, Lydia, Oliver as well as many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.

Todd’s legacy will live on through his children, the lessons he shared, the love that he showed and the lasting memories that will be cherished forever.