The following obituaries appeared in the November 22, 2023 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.
Larry Amick
Larry V. Amick, age 80 of Jackson, Wyoming went to meet the Lord and his heavenly home on November 16, 2023. Where he is riding his horse Norman like the cowboy he was with his faithful dog Baby following along. He will be missed so very much by all his family and friends.
Larry was born in Powellton, West Virginia on May 8th 1943. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was 7 years old. He graduated from Scottsdale High School in 1961. He went on to work at Westinghouse for 20 years. After retiring he went on to do wood working and construction for the remainder of his life.
Larry married his wife Peggy E. Amick on October 19, 1996 at the Rafter J in Jackson, Wyoming.
He is survived by his wife Peggy, his daughter Dawn Austin (Stretch) his son Larry, Step Children Matt Bratton, Miles Bratton and Michelle Haines (Thomas).10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Larry was preceded in death by his Father Ernie Amick, Mother Sylvia McGee (Mac), first wife Mary Ann Lewis and Son Aaron Amick.
At this time there will be no memorial or celebration of life as all the family and friends are located in many parts of the country.
In lieu of flowers if you would like to donate please give to the St. Johns Health Sage Living, where for the past six years the Nurses, Doctors and staff have loved and given Larry the best life possible.
Keith Swenson
Keith Swenson was born August 28, 1935 in Afton, Wyoming to Louis Eldon and Ruth Gomm Swenson. He died November 16, 2023 in Pleasant View, Utah.
He was raised in Osmond and was the oldest of five children. He has three brothers, Eldon, Val and Lanny and one sister, Kathy Call. He attended Osmond Elementary and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1953.
He was known for his love of cars and the many convertibles, hot rods and cool cars he owned during his bachelor years. He spent many hours, days and years in his father’s repair shop. He worked for his uncle in the logging industry and lost his right eye in a serious accident while there.
He attended Rick’s College in Rexburg, Idaho and Heavy Equipment School in Chicago, Illinois.
He married his sweetheart, Janeve Draney, on June 23, 1965 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho temple. Their daughter, Kamie Joyce, was born on September 10, 1966. Their son, Kody Keith, was born January 3, 1972.
Keith worked for the ASCS office for a few years. Then became the credit manager for Lower Valley Power and Light where he stayed until he retired in 2000.
He loved to hunt, fish, boat and snowmobile. Keith had many friends because of his easy going attitude, his happy countenance and his infectious laugh. He continued to love cars and buy and sell many throughout his life.
Keith is survived by all of his siblings and his children, Kamie and Burke Stone and Kody and LeAnn Shumway Swenson; his grandchildren, Whitney and Travis Sanders, Shay Warren, Jayce Warren, Balie Warren and Kyle Stradling, Kylee Warren, Taylor Swenson, Traison Swenson, Trae and Brooklyn Shumway; his great grandsons Asher and River Sanders, Ivan and Jarin Warren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janeve, and both of his parents.
Funeral services will be held under the direction of Schwab Mortuary on Monday, November 27, 2023 at noon at the Osmond Ward church. Viewings will be held Sunday evening from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary and Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Osmond church. Interment at Auburn Cemetery.
Sara Kittleson
Her blue eyes grabbed everyone’s attention. Her sweet, quiet disposition and wicked sense of humor led her through life for 91 years. Sara Mae (Solverson) Kittleson of Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming died of natural causes on July 4, 2023, giving it her best to recover from a fall which caused five fractured ribs. She was one tough and determined lady, defying all odds, keeping herself going after a minor stroke in 2006, while continuing to play golf, visit with friends, and travel to the midwest. She was always striving to “get back on her feet”, whether it be using a cane or a walker, never giving up. Sara was lovingly cared for by her husband of 68 years, Gerald Kittleson (Jerry), and for the last year of her life, a part time caregiver and family supported her independence in the home. Sara transitioned as she always wanted….peacefully and comfortably with Jerry, her kids, her grandchildren and the support of Hospice.
Sara was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on May 10, 1932 to Selmer and Clara Solverson. Her early childhood years were spent on the farm in Ferryville that her maternal grandparents owned, which eventually became Sugar Creek Bible Camp. Sara’s youth was spent on the family farm in Viroqua, Wisconsin, where her grandparents were well known in the community as they bailed out the bank in town during the Great Depression. Sara loved all the farm animals, especially the barn cats. Walking to the country school in the winter was always a challenge as the boys would throw snowballs at her (little did they know that was not the way to a girl’s heart). The violin, piano and academics were important to her.
After graduating from Viroqua High School, Sara attended Luther College in Decorah, IA from 1950-1954, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a double major in English and Biology, while also playing violin in the orchestra and working for the college newspaper. She met the love of her life, Jerry, in 1952. Sara and her roommate would watch for him from their dorm room
window. She captured his attention and they were engaged in her senior year in 1954. After Sara secured a job in Gaylesville, Wisconsin teaching English, Biology, and Drama, Jerry transferred to Winona State University to be closer to her. They were married August 6, 1955 and later moved to Rochester, Minnesota when Jerry got a job with IBM. All of their four children (Karla, Ron, Sandi, Annette) were born in Rochester. While raising four children under the age of five, Sara still found time to read, sew and work at the public library.
In 1965, the family moved to Longmont, Colorado after Jerry was transferred with IBM. Sara resumed her career, teaching English at Longmont Junior High School. She always had a special place in her heart for the “difficult” students and therefore gained their respect. Sara also worked at the Longmont Public Library and began her Masters in Library Science at University of Colorado, Boulder. Grading papers, enjoying Bridge with the ladies, playing the violin in the local orchestra, sewing, gardening, reading, swimming with the family at the local pool and scenic drives in the mountains consumed her free time in the Rockies. Yearly, the family drove to the midwest to visit the many relatives of Sara and Jerry.
After Colorado, the family moved to San Jose, California where Sara completed her Masters in Library Science at San Jose State University in 1974. Her passion, knowledge and strong organizational skills served her well for 15 years as Records Manager for Farm Machinery Corporation, Food Machinery International and the Law
Firm of Hopkins & Carley, the last position which Sara enjoyed the most.
The family continued to make yearly trips to the Midwest. Sara played violin in the local San Jose orchestra and Bridge with neighbors, while also sewing, reading and learning to play golf. Sara’s dedication to doing things well proved itself again in golf. She was a consistent “hit it down the middle” player for many years, with her best score of 85 at Riverside Golf Club.
In 1989, Sara quit working and she and Jerry bought a lot in Star Valley Ranch, WY in 1992, where they built their log home on the 10th tee of the golf course. Growing up and living with winters in the midwest and Colorado set the tone for Wyoming winters. Snowmobiling in Yellowstone was quite an experience. Playing pool in the basement and close friend gatherings became the winter pastime. After a few years of Wyoming winters, Sara and Jerry became snow birds and resided in Tucson, Arizona for six months of the year, allowing them to play golf year round.
In 2014, Sara and Jerry chose to be in their beautiful log home in Wyoming full time. For many summers, they organized Sunday golf tournaments with friends, held anniversary and family reunion parties every five years, attended grandchildren’s graduations, and continued to travel to the midwest.
Sara is survived by her husband, Jerry, who she had been together with for 70 years; her children Karla Conroy (Ed), Ron Kittleson (Terri), Sandi Hansen, and Annette Holland (Jim); her grandchildren Katie (Andy), Jill, Emily, Inga (Nic), Wes, Aimee, Chris and Erin; her great grandchildren Jackson and Lacey.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Selmer and Clara Solverson and her brother, Alan Solverson.
Sara lived an extraordinary life filled with adventure, family, friends, sunsets, wine on the porch and love. She will be forever remembered for her kindness, smile, sense of humor and sparkling blue eyes. A Celebration of Life will take place in June 2024 in Wyoming with the beautiful canyon and sunset at her beckoning call.
Donations to the Thayne Public Library, Thayne Senior Center, and/or Lucky’s Place AHASV are appreciated on her behalf.
Memories and correspondences can be sent to kconroy16@yahoo.com.
Gayle Thomas
Roberta ”Gayle” Thomas went to meet her Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of November 10, 2023 at Morning Star Assisted Living in Idaho Falls.
Gayle was born in Marshal, Oklahoma to Leonard and Dorothy Pope on January 30, 1936.
She met her husband, Ed, on a blind date at a baseball game in which he played catcher, and he also caught her heart. They married in El Reno, Oklahoma in 1955.
Gayle worked at odd jobs while deciding which career path to take. Ed was devoted to the US Army at the time, when he was called to serve as a radio operator in Germany. Gayle joined him about a year later. One of the highlights of being in Germany, was to welcome their only child, their daughter Terri.
While in Germany, they traveled to many countries in Europe. After Ed completed his tour of duty, they returned to Oklahoma, where Gayle obtained her Master’s in Education and pursued a teaching career for 35 years in Oklahoma.
At retirement, Gayle enjoyed seasonal work in Creede, Colorado, at the Ramble House, a small sporting goods store for several years. Upon final return to Oklahoma, she and Ed settled at Grand Lake area where they both enjoyed fishing, and just being together.
Terri had encouraged them to move closer to her as they aged, so they packed and headed out west to Star Valley, Wyoming. They resided in Star Valley for the last 12 years. Gayle and Ed took an active part of the Thayne Senior Center, and enjoyed lunch daily with friends. They recently moved to Morning Star Assisted Living in Idaho Falls.
Gayle spent the last five years of her life in complete blindness, depriving her of “living life to its fullest,” from her glaucoma.
She is survived by her husband, Ed, daughter Terri Conger (Bentley), granddaughters Crystal Engen (Garrett) and Candi Hallermann (Justin), and four precious great grandchildren, Hailey and Colby Engen, Lilah and Weston Hallermann. We will all miss her greatly.
