Obituaries

LANCE E. KOPPENHAFER

LANCE E. KOPPENHAFER

Memorial services for Lance E. Koppenhafer, 44, will be held Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pinedale High School Auditorium.

He died February 17, 2007 in an equipment accident near Pinedale. He was born in Grants, New Mexico, December 28, 1962, to Vern J. and Anna Ruth (Semadeni) Koppenhafer. He grew up in New Mexico and Colorado breaking horses and raising cattle on the Koppenhafer Ranches.

After graduating from high school and completing mechanical vo-tech school, he moved to Green River to work in the oil fields, transferring to Pinedale in 1985. He met Lana Faler, and they were married in 1986. They had two children, Warren and Kyla, who were the delight of his life. He quit working in the oil field and began mechanic work, opening his own shop, L K Repair, in 1988.

His passions were his family, his horses, roping, hunting and the outdoors. His hobbies at a younger age were riding bulls and rough stock. Later he enjoyed team roping which won him numerous saddles and trophies. He was very active in the Sublette County Ag Center, J.C.’s, NRCS, SCSA and USTRC.

He was a friend to all who knew him and highly admired for his unselfish contributions to the entire community. He always had a helping hand for anyone in need and will be remembered and greatly missed by one and all.

Lance is survived by his wife Lana; son Warren; daughter Kyla; his parents of Cortez, CO; brothers Vance (Maria) of Mancos, CO and Chance (Stacia) of Oxford, IA; brother-in-law Ralph Faler Jr.; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by brothers Eric and Hugh; grandparents George and Ellen Koppenhafer, and Jack and Lucile Semadeni; and step-grandmother Orpha Koppenhafer. Memorial contributions may be sent to Bank of Pinedale, PO Box 1510, Pinedale, WY 82941, to fund a rodeo scholarship in his name.

KAREN EDWARD

Karen Edward, Our loving wife, mother, sister, and gram passed away finally at peace on February 11, 2007, in Yuma, Arizona. Karen Edwards was born in Crawford, Nebraska on May 8, 1941. She was raised in Pinedale, Wyoming and married Roger Edwards on September 5th, 1959. They moved to Bountiful, Utah and later to Redmond, Washington and raised four daughters together.

Karen and Roger retired and moved to Yuma, Arizona where they enjoyed the companionship of many friends and warm, sunny weather. Karen and her husband Roger loved their winter home in Yuma and she had many wonderful friends at Rivers Edge. She enjoyed playing bingo, skip-bo and was a master painter for her husband Roger's wood carvings. Karen was remembered as a very loving, giving woman and her constant focus was her family and close friends. She is survived by her husband, Roger, daughters, Cristie Piquette (Charlie), Laurie Plut (Steve), Kelly Kimball (Mel) and Heidi Edwards-Frankel (David). Her two grandsons and two grand daughters, her little dog Sam and several grand-dogs. She is also survived by two loving sisters, two brothers, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in Bountiful, Utah on Saturday, February 17th at 1:00 p.m. Family only services will be held 30 minutes prior on Saturday. Funeral services are provided by Russon Brothers at 295 N Main Street, Bountiful, UT 84010. Contributions in her name may be made to Yuma Hospice or to a charity of your choice in her name.

HARLEY RATHBUN

Harley B. Rathbun, 77, of Meadow, SD, died Sunday, February 11, 2007 at Ft. Meade VA Medical Center.

Funeral services will be at 11:00AM, Saturday, February 17, 2007 at the Hulett Civic Center in Hulett, WY, with Reverend Larry Kellner officiating, burial will follow at Moore Hill Cemetery near Hulett. A memorial has been established in his name and memorials can be sent to Summit National Bank in Hulett, c/o Harley Rathbun Memorial.

Harley was born December 24, 1929 to Art & Myrtle (Lantz) Rathbun at the family home near New Haven, WY. He grew up around New Haven, attending the New Haven School through the eighth grade when he quit to help on the ranch. Harley enlisted in the United States Navy on December 29, 1950. He served on the USS Okanogan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on September 28, 1954.

Harley married Shirley Proctor on June 23, 1955. The couple had three children; Jolene, Jeff, and Jerry. The family lived in and around the Hulett and New Haven area, working on various ranched until they purchased the Rathbun Ranch at New Haven in the mid 1960s. Along with ranching, the couple raised coon hounds for hunting bobcats. Harley loved to ranch and rodeo. He was a pick-up man for many years with various stock contractors in the 5 state area.

Harley also participated in rodeos as a team roper. In 1971, with Harley as the heeler and Gerald McInerney as the header, the team were runners up in the NRCA. Harley was a hazer for many champion steer wrestlers and was also a calf roper in his younger days.

Harley was a member of the Hulett Roping Club, Horse Creek Roping Club, NRCA and IOOF Order of Odd Fellows. He held various offices in each of these clubs and organizations. Harley was actively involved in all of his children’s activities through the years. He was a Rope Craft Leader for 4-H and also coached team roping.

Harley enjoyed breaking and training young horses and always had a good string of “all around horses.” He also broke teams in the winter. He enjoyed hunting and took many friends elk hunting in the Teton and Big Horn Mountains. He also guided deer hunts on the ranch for hunters from many different states. Harley ran the guided horseback rides at Devil’s Tower for a few years, where he enjoyed meeting people from all over the world. Many of those people became lifelong friends.

Harley was known throughout the years as a good friend and neighbor; one who could be counted on to help anyone anytime. For the past few years Harley ranched near Meadow, SD, where he made many good friends.

Harley is survived by one daughter Jolene (Jim) Henderson of LaBarge, WY, one son Jeff Rathbun of Hulett, grandson Shane (Bridget) Stinson and their sons, Dawson & TK of Douglas, WY, granddaughters, Shaunna (Jeremiah) Owens and their son Brody of Silverdale, WA, and Ashley Henderson of St. Paul, MN, one sister Lois Burgess of Casper, WY, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Harley is also survived by his two brothers-in-law, Dickie (Rosella) Proctor and Jimmy Proctor, and sister-in-law Tiny (Dean) Bush all of Hulett.

Harley was preceded in death by his parents Art & Myrtle Rathbun, his wife Shirley in 1989, his son Jerry in 2007, one sister Betty Caudill, mother-in-law and father-inlaw Richard and Mildred Proctor, Brotherin-law Robert Burgess, sister-in-law Gail Proctor, and one niece Dana Proctor. Arrangements have been placed in the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance, WY.