Donald Hines, born in November of 1944 in Casper, WY to Elizabeth Grant and Robert Hines.
Don passed peacefully in Scottsdale, AZ on July 20, 2019.
Don was a lifetime Artist, his mediums included paint, bronze, wood, stone, metal and jewelry making.
Don left Casper for a short time and lived in Jackson, WY from 1970 to 1986 where he owned a jewelry store with his first wife Carolyn. Starting in the late 60’s many of his paintings and sculptures were featured in galleries in Jackson, Scottsdale and Sante Fe.
Currently some of his work can be found at Casa de Artistas in Scottsdale, AZ.
In his later years Don developed a carbide tipped carving tool to make his stone carving more detailed. To his surprise, the tools ended up finding a niche in the wood-turning community expanding his carving to wood as well.
Don prided himself with the work he did helping new AA/NA members down the path of recovery and being there for them in their time of need.
Don is survived by his brother Bob and his wife Krista, daughter Tawnya and his two grandchildren, Isabella and Kolton.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 31st at Firerock Steakhouse at 6100 E. 2nd Street from 11:30am – 1:30pm. We invite you to come and share your memories of Don.
Sandra (Vidness) Jones Schutte peacefully passed away on August 7 in her Edgerton home, surrounded by her children.
She deeply loved the Salt Creek area in which she grew up. After leaving in the 1960s to marry, she and three of her children returned to the area in the early 1980s.
Her dedication was evident in the many positions she held and community activities in which she participated, from being Office Manager at the Community Health Center to the hand-picked curator of the Salt Creek Oilfield Museum by Pauline Schultz, the founder. Under Sandy’s curation, the museum upgraded and updated its collections and displays and became a valuable jewel of the community; her devotion and passion is evident in every room.
She served as the mayor of Edgerton for four years, spearheaded the “Old-Timers’ Picnic” at the annual Salt Creek Days celebration for many years, and in 2015 was honored as Grand Marshal of the Salt Creek Days parade. Always making sure her community had a voice, Sandy served for years on the Natrona County Travel & Tourism Board, was instrumental in establishing the historic “Black Gold Byway” between Casper and Midwest, and was a contributor to “Natrona County: The Place We Call Home,” a district-wide history book for third grade students. She was nominated for a Jefferson Award for her volunteerism, which also included serving on the Salt Creek Senior Center Advisory Board and being the Supervisor for the Senior Companions program, a service that she later used.
Sandy had a big heart and a soft spot for children, and touched the lives of two generations of them. While raising her own children, she was known as “Mama Sandy” to many others in the community, and in later life she was everyone’s “Gramma.” Favorite days at the museum were when the third grade classes would visit. Her greatest love was her family; she proudly displayed many photographs in her home and enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s athletic events and programs. Her “happy place” was Meadowlark Lake in the Big Horn Mountains, where she spent part of every week as a child and then as an adult went camping, fishing, and played in the lake with her grandchildren. She always welcomed a drive to Kaycee to enjoy a good meal.
Sandy is remembered for her kindness, big smile, contagious laugh and quick, comical wit. She was preceded in death by her parents Genevieve and George Vidness, her sister Eunice (Kieffer) Lynch and her second husband, Richard “Slim” Schutte; she is survived by her first husband, Bill Jones, children Jaime Jones, Nanette Cain, Yvette Unger-Tripp and Heidi Jones, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 on Thursday, August 15 at Bustard’s Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salt Creek Oilfield Museum or Salt Creek Emergency Services would be appreciated.
Myrtle Ellen Nelson, 84, passed away May 31, 2012. She was born October 7, 1927, the daughter of Sherman and Myrtle Reese.
Ronald Wayne Nelson, 92, passed away August 9, 2019. He was born July 23, 1927, the son of Peter and Lucille Nelson.
A private family memorial service will be held for Myrtle and Ronald. Cremation has taken place for both. Burial will be at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville, Wyoming.
They were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 30, 1957. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in April 2012. It was a true love story.
Myrtle was a homemaker and also worked at several local jobs. She was an avid bowler on local teams and also enjoyed reading, ceramics, and traveling.
Ronald was a World War II veteran, serving in Germany in 1946 and 1947. He was an iron worker with local #667 until his retirement. Ronald enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also played pool on local teams, winning 1st place both city and state.
One of their favorite things was to travel around the country in their motor home.
Surviving is one daughter, Lauretta (Ted) Gabriel, of Platteville, Wisconsin and their children, Bret (Lisa) Patterson and their sons, Bryant and Corey Patterson of Dubuque, Iowa. Nicole (Steve) Davis and their children, Colton, Kristin, and Carter Davis of Dubuque, Iowa; and Nicole (Rob) Lancaster and son, Wyatt, of Roberts, Wisconsin. Four granddaughters, Rhonda Hardman and son, Nick. Vickie Hardman and sons, Ryan, Zack, and Tanner of Casper, Wyoming. Angie (Leon) Midkiff and children, Alex, Max, and Megan; of Evansville, Wyoming. Amy (Jed) Booth of Evansville, Wyoming. Two nieces, Joanne (Steve) Shook and family of Georgia; and Bonnie Sue (Jerry) Hood and son of Casper, Wyoming. They have 13 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, nieces and great-nieces, and nephews.
Preceding Ron and Myrtle in death, on October 26, 2017, was daughter, Rita Jae Keever of Evansville, Wyoming.
They have 13 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, nieces and great nieces and nephews.
