These obituaries appeared in the May 9, 2018 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more local obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Richard “Dick” Casull , 87, passed away peacefully at home on May 6, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Dick was born on February 15, 1931 to Joe and Gwen Casull in Salt Lake City. He had one younger brother, Don. When Dick was 17 he met the love of his life, Geraldine “Jeri” Carey. They were inseparable, and on January 25, 1951 married at the Salt Lake City Temple. After a short military enlistment, they lived in Salt Lake where Dick worked in an auto mechanic shop and Jeri at Allen Steele. In 1977 they made their move to Freedom, Wyoming where they have lived ever since. They were married for over 68 years! The “ Legendary” Dick Casull is most famous for his firearms design of the .454 Casull handgun, along with many other handgun and rifle designs. Dick built his first gun at the age of 11 and never looked back! Dick held 17 major firearm patents and was voted Outstanding American Hand gunner in 1988 along with many other awards over the years. Dick’s younger years were very adventurous, getting into mischief as any young boy in that era. His mother took that gun away he built when he was 11, but Dick saw where she hid and took it back! At age 16 he ran away to Mexico on horseback with a friend. Many stories were told about guns and “trouble!” Dick also had a love of flying and earned his pilot license. He flew his Cessna 180 all over the country. He loved cars, planes, and horses but mostly loved his country and designing guns. Dick was a warm loving man who did all business on a “cowboy handshake” and was truly a cowboy through and through. Dick was preceded in death by his father, Joe, mother, Gwen and brother, Don, He is survived by his wife Jeri, sister-in-law Janis and many nephews and nieces. He will be dearly missed by his close friends. A viewing will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Freedom LDS Church. A graveside service will follow at the Freedom Cemetery at 12:00 noon.
Dorothy Alleman Skinner, lifelong resident of Star Valley, died peacefully in her sleep May 1, 2018 after suffering a brain aneurysm three days earlier. Dorothy was born to Matthew Alleman and Hattie Lucinda Thurman on September 22, 1924 at the home of her grandparents in Grover. Dorothy was the oldest child and only daughter. She had two younger brothers, Darrell Thurman Alleman, who died at age 9 and Douglas George Alleman, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 83.Dorothy spent her childhood on her family ranch up Crow Creek in the summers and at the family home in Afton during the winter months. She met the love of her life and eternal companion, Floyd F Skinner while they were in high school. They married shortly after graduation. They lived in Salt Lake City until Floyd was sent oversees during World War II. Dorothy returned to Afton to stay with her parents. Floyd returned to his brand new two year old son! After becoming too ill to live alone, they lived with family members. She was living with Lynn and Valorie in Malad at her passing. Dorothy was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many different positions in the ward. She and Floyd served a Temple mission to Atlanta, Georgia and Idaho Falls Temple for several years. She was an active member in her community and loved spending time with friends and family. Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Floyd F Skinner, son Gary Darrell Skinner, daughter, Lucinda Ann Heiner, her parents and brothers. She is survived by her children, Emma (Gary) Skinner, Robert (LeAnna) Skinner, Bruce (Susan) Skinner, Joseph Kay (Diane) Skinner, Valorie (Lynn) Stokes, Jim (Lucinda) Heiner, Sonia (Mike) Coziah. 58 grandchildren, 99 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Funeral Services will be held at the Bedford Ward LDS Chapel on Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m. A viewing will be held Friday, May 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne. There will also be a viewing prior to the services from 10 -10:45 a.m. at the Church.
Grover William Nielsen, 97, passed away on April 25, 2018. He was born Oct. 5, 1920 in Arco, Idaho to Anton and Leitha M. Nielsen. He was married to Fern Stock Nielsen, who preceded him in death in 2007.
Grover was a WWII veteran who served 26 years in the Air Force until his retirement in 1966. He then lived in the Star Valley working with the Stewart brothers. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and his very favorite hobby, golf. He loved his family and was a member of the LDS church. He is survived by his daughters Donna J. Dunnigan (Green River) and Liane Struebing (St. George, Utah); 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great, great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Kanarraville LDS chapel at 11 am on May 5, 2018; Visitation will be from 10 – 10:45 in the Kanarraville building. Interment will be in the Thayne Cemetery
Former Rawlins resident John W Lander passed away Monday, April 30 at Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Care Center in Grand Junction, Colo. where he had resided for the past 19 months. He was born November 12, 1927 in Rawlins, Wyo. to John and Sadie Lander. He graduated from Rawlins High School in 1945. He served in the Navy twice, in 1945 and again in 1951 when he served in the Korean War aboard the USS Iowa. He married Jeanne Lehman in 1951 and to that union was born two children, Debra (Lander) Dirst and Jeffrey (Lander) Frolander. John was a man of many talents and interests. He was a master carpenter and worked as a fireman for the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1966 he graduated with honors from Iowa State University with an engineering degree. He then went to work for LM Olson Construction in Rawlins. He was very civic minded and was a member of the Rawlins Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years. He served on the vestry of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, was a member of the Korein Shrine in Rawlins and served as Potentate in 1984. He was a past president of the Wyoming Contractors, a member of the VFW, Elks Lodge, and the former Vasa Star Lodge where he served as president. In 1980, he and Jeanne built a cabin in beautiful Star Valley Ranch, with Nora and Hugh Simmons and Mary and Louie Engstrom. After becoming sole owners of the cabin and upon retirement the couple spent their time between Star Valley Ranch and Mesa, Ariz., where they had the best of both worlds. He served on various committees in both places. His interests varied including woodworking, technical mountain climbing, dancing and golfing.
His greatest love was for his family and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather,and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marion, his wife Jeanne, his son Jeff, and his grandson Randy. He is survived by his daughter Deb and son-in-law Marty Dirst of Grand Junction, Colo.; daughter-in-law Angel Frolander of Mesa, Ariz.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, two nieces; three nephews, and several relatives in Sweden where he was fondly referred to as Super Swede!
A celebration of life will be held later this summer in Star Valley Ranch. Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, Hope West in Grand Junction, Colo. or the Alzheimer’s Association. Dad kept his sweet disposition and helping manner to the very end and will be missed by all who loved and knew him.
On May 4, 2018, Reita S. Leavitt passed on into the arms of Our Heavenly Father. Reita was born on October 23, 1929, to Edward and Rozelia Lee Leavitt in Afton. She grew up there on the family ranch with her parents, older sister Jean and older brother Dean. It is also where she met her husband, the late Verl Leavitt. They lived in Afton most of their children’s younger years before moving to Soda Springs, Idaho in 1963. Reita and Verl both enjoyed camping throughout most of their lives. Reita was a very active lady, from a young girl following her daddy everywhere, to raising children while working the ranch with her husband and later in life as a Sunday School teacher and dance director of her ward. In her final years, Reita took great joy in being a Pink Lady and all of the activities that position brought. She also enjoyed making quilts with her daughter for the chemotherapy ward of the Salt Lake City VA. Reita was a kind and loving woman who leaves behind a large family. Her daughters Verlene, Karen, and Betty, as well as her sons Bob and Brent along with their children and grandchildren, will miss her dearly.
Reita was preceded in death by her husband Verl, her son Dan and her great-granddaughter Brooke Jean.
Services were held Tuesday, May 8 at 11 a.m. at Sims Funeral Home with graveside services Afton Wyoming. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family online at www.simsfh.com.
