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

Duane Hale

Francis Duane Hale, 86, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026. He was born on February 12, 1940, in Afton, Wyoming, to Vasco Lester Hale and Della Hoopes. He was the sixth of seven children. He had four older sisters and two brothers.

Duane loved growing up in Afton. He enjoyed collecting butterflies and insects, hunting, fishing, and being outdoors. He was in 4-H and won many first-place state fair ribbons. Duane graduated from Star Valley High in May 1959. He attended the University of Wyoming for a year. Duane was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in the Western States Mission.

After Duane was released from his full-time mission, he enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he met Kristine Carroll. They fell in love and were married in the Manti Utah Temple on March 27, 1964. They moved to Salt Lake City to raise their family.

Duane and Kristine had three daughters, Sandra, Sherry, and Shelly. Kristine passed away suddenly at age 26, leaving him alone with three little girls. He met Diann Benson and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 22, 1972. They had three boys, Michael, Justin, and Kevin. They were married for 42 years.

Duane loved to go to garage and estate sales and collected everything. He loved working in his store, The Elk Horn Gift Shop, selling collectables and antiques during the summer months.

Duane married a lifelong family friend, Sally Price Shorter, on August 7, 2021, at Duane’s home in Afton. She spent many months taking care of him and was a great blessing to our family.

Duane is survived by his wife, Sally Shorter; his six children, Sandra (Ron) Jensen, Sherry (Tom) Miggin, Shelly (Daniel) Batres, Michael (Tomoko) Hale, Justin (Rebecca) Hale, and Kevin Hale; 13 grandchildren, Kali, Angela, Stephanie, Tyler, Nicole, Lyndsi, Ryan, Josh, Caria, Gillian, Anna, Taggart, and Jack; 15 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Darrel (Paula) Hale. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 siblings, his first wife Kristine, and his second wife Diann.

The family would like to thank Sally Shorter, Kandra, Allison, and the Symbii Hospice team for the wonderful care they provided to Duane.

A private family service was held Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Interment at Elysian Burial Gardens. Care entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.

Steven Simpson

Steven H Simpson, age 74, of Thayne, Wyoming, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 28, 2026, after a courageous battle and long decline with Parkinson’s Disease. Steven was born on December 8, 1951, in Afton, Wyoming.

Steven spent his younger life growing up in Thayne, Wyoming.  His parents, Boyd and Thea Simpson owned Farmers Feed Store. This is where he learned how to work hard by shoveling grain and steam-rolling barley.  Steven was the oldest of four boys. As soon as he obtained his driver’s license, he and his younger brothers delivered sacks of rolled barley to dairy farmers throughout Star Valley.

He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1970.  The following year he accepted a mission call for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   He served for two years in the New England States Mission.  He spent time in Massachusetts and Maine, but his favorite location to serve was in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Soon after returning home from his mission, he reacquainted himself with his high school classmate, Kathleen Schwab. They soon fell in love and were married on September 7, 1973, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. Steven and Kathy welcomed two children, Shan and Sheila. Steven cherished his children and devoted a large portion of his life to ensuring their safety and happiness. He was a very dedicated father.

At the age of 22, he was hired by the State of Wyoming. First as a Port of Entry attendant, working in the Kemmerer, Jackson and Alpine Ports of Entry.  After returning to Star Valley in 1982, Steven and Kathy built their home, and he became a Field Representative for the Wyoming Department of Revenue.  Steven retired from the State of Wyoming in 2008 after 36 years of service.

In 1997 Kathy developed breast cancer and passed away on March 28, 2003. On November 8, 2003, he married Rebecca Barrett in the Lubbock Texas Temple. Becky relocated and became a Wyoming girl, which began a new happy chapter in Steven’s life. She lovingly embraced Shan and Sheila. Steven and Becky enjoyed retirement and traveling together.

Steven was a true outdoorsman. He was a skilled hunter and fisherman and always knew which way was North. He was meticulous with his own property’s landscaping. Because of his love of farming, he worked part-time for his cousin for about 40 years moving sprinkler wheel-lines, and planting and harvesting hay and barley. He even branded his cousin’s cattle, like a true Wyoming native. Riding snowmobiles, motorcycles and 4-wheelers was at the top of Steven’s list of hobbies. He loved having someone along for the ride and would organize hunting parties, fishing trips, and gatherings to make memories with the people he cared about. Even with Parkinson’s, Steven never outgrew his need for speed. He drove his power wheelchair as fast as he could.

Steven battled Parkinson’s disease for 12 years.  During that time of slow decline, he rarely complained. In 2023 it became necessary to move to Taylorsville, Utah, to be closer to more advanced medical care. The silver lining was that he also got to be closer to Shan, and Sheila’s family.  He delighted in living very close to Shan and spending time watching sports and playing games with him. Steven was an extremely devoted grandpa to his three grandchildren, Melanie, Natalie, and Isaac. He attended every one of the grandchildren’s performances that he physically could. He truly cherished family time. However, Steven never gave up his love for Star Valley, Wyoming, and it will always be his home.

His testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ never wavered. He faithfully served in many church callings throughout his life, including two bishoprics, service as a stake mission president, and he loved working in the Star Valley Temple.  He said he had a perfect knowledge of an afterlife and was not afraid of death. He was always generous in serving God and his fellowman.

Steven was preceded in death by his wife Kathleen (Schwab) Simpson, his parents Boyd and Thea (Harrison) Simpson, and grandparents James and Eunice (Van Leuven) Simpson and Almon and Mary Belle (Chadwick) Harrison.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca J. (Barrett) Simpson, son Shan S. Simpson, daughter Sheila K. (Simpson) Hope and son-in-law David A. Hope with their three children Melanie, Natalie and Isaac Hope, all of Salt Lake County, Utah.  Also, his brothers Nolan (Kaylene) Simpson of Thayne, Evan (Bev) Simpson of Afton, and Dahl (Chris) Simpson of Afton.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 1:00 pm in the Thayne Stake Center. There will be a viewing prior to the funeral from 11:00-12:45 at the church. Interment will take place at the Thayne Cemetery.

Janette Casper

Janette Casper, 63 years old, died on her birthday, February 25, 2026 at her apartment in Afton, Wyoming. She was born February 25, 1963 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Jay LeRoy Casper and Annette V Casper. She never married.  Her grandparents were LeRoy And Elva Casper and Ferrin and Venice Van Wagoner.

Janette graduated from Wasatch High School in Heber City Utah.  Janette was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She was a librarian and teacher in the church.

Her sister is Stephanie Casper Suloff, husband Mark Suloff of Afton, Wyoming,  brother Troy Jay Casper and wife Heidi Casper  of Eagle, Idaho, brother Brett Jay Casper, wife Brooke Casper of Lehi, Utah.  She had many nieces and nephews.

There will be no funeral. She will be buried in the Afton Wyoming Cemetery. A Memorial service will be at her grave in early summer.

Darnell Bagley

Darnell J Bagley passed away March 7, 2026 in Evanston, Wyoming after a valiant 16 year battle with cancer.  He was born September 19, 1945 in Afton, Wyoming to Loraine and Geraldine (Ranzenberg) Bagley.

Darnell was raised in Fairview, Wyoming helping on his family ranch.  He graduated from Star Valley High School in 1964, then served a mission in Western Canada before attending Ricks College, where he met Linda Hamilton.  Darnell and Linda were married on May 15, 1968 in the Logan Temple.  They were married for 46 years before her passing in 2014.

Shortly after marrying, Darnell moved his family to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he studied sheet metal working.  He was proud to be part of the construction of Laramie County Community College.  In 1979 Darnell began working for the Union Pacific Railroad.  This new opportunity took him and his family to Evanston, Wyoming.  Darnell worked in the Green River Service Division of the railroad until his retirement in 2008.

Darnell truly never met a stranger.  His teasing and smile would make everyone feel at ease.  He always enjoyed spending time with his family and improving his land in Star Valley, as well as tirelessly dedicating many years to being a boy scout leader.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda, infant daughter Valerie, son-in-law Steve Henry, brother Vance, and both of his parents.

He is survived by his son Colton and daughters Brenda Todd, Tammy Henry, Sheila Parton, and Julie Whitehurst.  He is also survived by nine grandchildren, one brother, three sisters and many cherished nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 12th at 11:00 am at the Latter-day Saint Stake Center located at 623 Twin Ridge Avenue, Evanston, WY following a 10:00 am viewing.  Prior to this, a separate viewing will be held at Crandall’s Funeral home in Evanston on Wednesday, March 11th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Graveside services to follow in Fairview, Wyoming at approximately 3:00 p.m.