The following obituaries appeared in the April 25, 2018 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more local obituaries please visit Schwab Mortuary online.
On April 19, 2018, Farrell E. Jenkins left this mortal existence after 92 busy and happy years and returned to his Father in Heaven. Farrell was the oldest child of seven, born on July 15, 1925 to Glen and Alice Jenkins. They lived on a farm that they had rented about seven miles south of Freedom. They lived there for about four years. Farrell said that his father didn’t really care for farming so they moved to Afton where their dad worked at the Triple A office for the County. When Farrell was about 12 years old his father Glen had a life-changing stroke in the fall of 1937 that paralyzed him on his right side. In the spring of 1938 they moved back to the farm in Freedom. His Grandpa Jenkins and Dad’s brothers helped the boys in the family with the duties of life. When Farrell was only 16 years old with six siblings, Lowell, Eldon, AnnaMay, Anita, Vernal and Glen, their father died leaving Farrell to assume the role of family leadership. Farrell’s early schooling started at the Freedom Elementary schools. After Elementary school his education continued. Because someone needed to be at home looking after the farm, each of the older boys in the family took a turn staying at home out of school to meet the needs of the family. He graduated from Star Valley High School. He married Joann Kennington on December 1, 1950 in the Idaho Falls Temple. They began their life together in Freedom and spent 55 years together raising their four children, loving the grandkids, and great grandkids as they all came along. All remember Grandpa’s singing, whistling, and yodeling. He was also a great chocolate malt maker that all family and friends greatly enjoyed. He worked on the family farm and also did a lot of milking for others in the area. He was also manager and lawyer for Leavitt Lumber Company, working summers up Greys River Wyoming and winters in Kamas, Utah. He later took over the family farm in 1964 and operated his own successful dairy.Farrell was a real sports fan. He spent a lot of time playing sports as a younger man and watching from the sidelines, as he got older. He lived for sports on the TV.Fishing was always an enjoyed activity in his life. With his pontoon boat, he spent many days fishing with friends and family on Jackson Lake. It was a rare day if you saw him return without getting his limit.During his life, he was always an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a two year mission to the Central States Mission as well as a Stake Missionary during his life. His service in the church was continual and in many different positions.After an accident just before his 90th birthday, he spent his days in the Hospital and was later transferred to Preston Idaho at the Care Center. There he was loved by the staff and many other residents for his smile and pleasant manners.
He is survived by his children LuAnn (Greg) Nielsen, Chad Jenkins, Dawn (Chuck) Lloyd, and Dahl Jenkins, sisters Anita Weeks and AnnaMay Anglesey, brothers Glen and Vernal Jenkins, and 16 grand and many great grandchildren and many friends who loved him. We will all miss him.
Funeral services for Farrell will be held in the Freedom Ward building on Saturday April 28. A viewing will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. with the funeral following at noon. Burial will be in the Freedom Cemetery.
Kenneth Miller Hokanson was born in Thayne, Wyoming on April 12, 1936 as the second child to Lehi and Virginia Miller Hokanson. He spent most of his life living and working on his grandfather Hokan Hokanson’s family homestead in Thayne. He served in the Wyoming National Guard and served a full-time mission to England. In later years, he spent winters near his daughters in Rowlett, Texas. Kenneth enjoyed working on the ranch in Thayne and spent countless hours taking care of animals and raising prized livestock. While growing up he was interested in purebred Hereford cattle that his grandfather George Campbell Miller raised on the Star Valley Hereford Ranch. He entered a partnership with Wilford Hemmert and operated the Salt River Hereford Ranch for many years. Kenneth was sealed for time and all eternity to Anita Blake on October 23, 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple. To this union were born a son, Neil, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Patricia. Ken enjoyed his family very much, and the family had great blessings spending time together on the ranch in Thayne. Kenneth was involved as a member and leader in 4-H and FFA programs in Star Valley helping youth learn to excel in agriculture. He served on the Thayne Cemetery Board, in leadership positions with the Lincoln County Farm Bureau, Star Valley Hospital Board, and many other community organizations. In 1990, he was awarded the Wyoming Centennial Farm plaque in recognition of over 100 years of the Hokanson family homestead in the state. After many years of service to family, friends, and neighbors, Kenneth passed away on March 3, 2018 in Afton Wyoming and was buried March 9, 2018 at the Thayne Cemetery. Kenneth is survived by his wife Anita Blake, son Neil and daughter-in-law Dianna (Hoffman), daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Charlie Hinton, daughter Patricia, and 6 grandchildren, JR and spouse Stephanie, Hannah, Charlie, Ronan, Nicholas, and Heather. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses brothers Ronald (Karlee) Hokanson, Paul (Julina) Hokanson, Teckla (Ellis) Hemsley, Gwen (Randall) Draney, Steve (Laura Lee) Olsen, sister-in-law Valerie Blake Pickard, brother-in-law Steve Blake, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Lehi and Virginia Miller Hokanson, sister Laura Lee Hokanson, father-in-law Albert Blake, mother-in-law Phyllis Blake, brother-in-law Clive Pickard, and nephew Nigel Pickard. Kenneth will be remembered fondly for his wit and wisdom and his ability to be a good friend and neighbor to those he came in contact with. He will be missed by those who loved him and had the honor of knowing him during his mortal life upon the earth.
Kenny Allen Eppler went to join his maker on April 20, 2018 after a sudden heart attack. He was born June 25, 1964 in California and moved to Wyoming in 2003. He spent many happy winters in Wickenburg, Arizona. He loved the sun. He had a really green thumb and could get so many things to grow. He especially loved horn hunting with his mom, Peggy, and their dog Tabathia. Because of his artistic skills he made some beautiful furniture and decorations with the elk antlers they found. He enjoyed gardening and feeding the wild birds. Kenny grew up riding and taking care of horses. He was preceded in death by his dad Gene, and is survived by his mother Peggy, daughter Alicia of Montana, his son Nathan of California, his aunt Annette of Washington, and his cousins. He grew up a close member of the Holdeman family, Bret and Darr and his “other” mother Carol. Kenny had a good heart and had recently rejoined the LDS church. He was enthusiastically enjoying the friendship and fellowship of the caring members. He will surely be missed. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Noon in the Bedford LDS chapel.
Patsy Louise Howard, 82 passed away on April 16, 2018 with her children by her side, in St. George, Utah. Patsy was born June 9, 1935 to Rell Lyman Anderson and Louis Alger Anderson in Price Utah. She was the second of five children; Loretta, Carolyn, Phyllis, and David. Patsy grew up in Price and Sunnyside, Utah. Until she moved to Salt Lake City to work at CTI Accounting. Patsy met the first love of her life Robert Dean Dabel, they were married June 10, 1955 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Robert and Patsy were blessed with 3 children Cathleen (Craig) Tolman, Jill (Hyde) Lair and Kerri (Shawn) Taggart. They began raising their children in Price, Utah and then Brigham City. Patsy loved serving her church and fulfilled many callings. Patsy had many hobbies including playing the piano, dancing, bowling, camping, reading, crocheting, cooking, and baking. Robert and Patsy moved to Afton, WY where Robert was raised; after he was diagnosed with Leukemia. Robert passed away July 15, 1968. At that time Patsy had begun working at Lower Valley Energy. On September 12, 1969 Patsy married Joe Howard and they were blessed with a son Tim (Teresa) Howard. Joe had children from a previous marriage Sandy (Howard) Smith, John (Joyce) Howard, Joey (Nancy) Howard, Debbie (Bob) Bell, Dianna (Bob) Stork. Patsy retired from Lower Valley Energy after 30 years with the company in 1999. In May 1999 Joe passed away after a battle with cancer. Patsy loved spending time with her children and 70 grand and great grandchildren. Patsy was always eager to show her support to her family rarely passing up the opportunity to attend a sporting event, rodeo, concert, or birth of a great-grandchild. She never let her goody jar for the grandkids go empty. Patsy, relocated to Laverkin, Utah to live with her daughter Jill, for health reasons in 2015. Patsy will be greatly missed by all that survived her. She is proceeded in death by: Her parents Lois (Alger) Anderson, Rell Lyman Anderson, Sisters-Loretta (Anderson) Preston, Carolyn (Anderson) Kranker, Husbands-Robert Dean Dabel & Joseph Eugene Howard, Daughter-Sandy (Howard) Smith, Son-in-law-Doyle Kevin Hyde. Grandchildren-Tyson D. Tolman, Trevor D. Tolman, Thomas C. Tolman, Tanya (Tolman) Vulgamore and Bobbie Jo (Tolman) Andrews.
