Pauline J. Flanagan: 1926 – 2024
Pauline Jane Flanagan, 98, died Wednesday, December 25, 2024 in Douglas, Wyoming.
Funeral services are Saturday, January 4, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Oak Creek, Colorado with burial to follow at South Routt Cemetery in Yampa, Colorado.
Pauline was born on April 1, 1926, in Omaha, Nebraska to Rudolph and Sophie (Aksamit) Vak. She grew up on a farm in Florence, Nebraska.
After high school, she moved to Denver, Colorado where she bought a house and worked as a secretary. In spring of 1959, Pauline met Larry Flanagan. They were
married September 12, 1959 and had 3 children. In 1971, Larry and Pauline took over the Eagle Rock Lakes in Yampa, Colorado and lived there until they retired in 1995. In 2000, they moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. In 2018, they moved to Gillette, Wyoming to be closer to family.
Pauline is survived by daughter, Kathleen (Tim) Albin of Wright, Wyoming; daughter, Sharon Flanagan of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; son, Mike (Tara) Flanagan of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 14 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Larry; and her sister, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, Pauline wished for donations to be made to The Foundation Fighting Blindness, 6925 Oakland Mills Road, #701, Columbia, MD 21045.
Theodore Harold Hill: 1941 – 2024
Theodore Harold “Ted” Hill left us to join our heavenly father on December 27, 2024. He was born November 12, 1941 in Gopher, South Dakota to Eva Rosella (Berkley) and Harvey Hill. He was one of twelve siblings, born the ninth of the 12. He grew up in Gopher, South Dakota and attended high school in Isabel, South Dakota. Ted married Zelma Mae Austin on September 6, 1959 in Timberlake, South Dakota. Together they had four children: Kaye, Angela, Brenda, and Theodore “Teddy” Hill.
Ted started his career doing welding, roustabout and working drilling rigs. He then started his own company, T&Z Backhoe Service and during this time lived in Gillette, Wyoming. During his career, he was an equipment operator, mechanic, welder, roustabout, and really a “Jack of all trades”
He retired from work and moved to Nisland, South Dakota to enjoy retirement as a farmer/rancher. During this time he harvested hay, wheat and even tried his hand at ranching sheep. After realizing this was not much of a “retirement” he moved to Java, South Dakota in 2023 where he and Zelma lived until his passing.
Ted was a great singer and enjoyed playing his guitar, violin, piano, and harmonica. His musical abilities were all self-taught, and brought him great enjoyment.
He enjoyed fishing and storytelling. He was mesmerized by the fact that he grew up only riding horses, to being able to buy his first automobile and then seeing battery operated vehicles that did not need any gasoline.
Ted was very active with and proud of his grandchildren. They were the light of his life. Being concerned about their needs over his, he was always willing to sacrifice what was needed to ensure they all never went without.
Ted is survived by his wife, Zelma of 65 years; sister, Rachel Rosenau; his daughters, Kaye Bangsund of Rapid City, South Dakota, Angela Hill of Gillette, Wyoming; Brenda (Randy) Elliott of Gillette, Wyoming; and son, Teddy (Kim) Hill of Douglas, Wyoming; Jacy Hill of Gillette, Wyoming; grandchildren: Laurie Lechler, Shauna Bangsund, Christopher Bangsund, Heather (Jessie) Weeg, Maygen (Nathan) Fulton, Tanya (Dustin) Harden, Natasha (Brad) Watkins, Mattie (Gage) Remley, Chance Hill, Jacob Hill, Jeffery Hill; and numerous great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Harvey; sisters: Irene, Dorthy, Shirley, Darlene and Lorretta; brothers: Jim, Jessie, Lester, Richard, and Clarence; grandchildren: Ron Wertz, Bill Hutton, and Tyler Hill.
As loving husband, father, sibling, grandfather and friend, you will be missed and forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Larry G Jackson: 1942 – 2024
Larry G Jackson, born October 5, 1942, in Pierre, South Dakota, passed away December 23, 2024, surrounded by loved ones, in Gillette, Wyoming.
Larry did well with his life.
He was raised in Presho, South Dakota, where after high school he worked as a carpenter to pay for college. At Dakota Wesleyan University he met the love of his life, Susan. They were married on June 19, 1965. Larry spent 59 and ½ years as a devoted husband.
Larry worked hard, graduating from Yankton College. With Susan, he taught in Newcastle for several years. He made friendships with students, faculty and neighbors which endured over 50 years.
Moving the family to Sundance and Gillette, he worked as an insurance agent, and as a coal miner. Larry found joy in hunting and target shooting.
Above all else, he treasured time spent with family and friends.
Larry did well by his sons, Jason (Rita) and Jeremy (Pam), giving them love and support, providing for their education, and helping them throughout their adult lives.
Larry excelled as a grandfather and great grandfather. Josef, John (Elisabeth), Megan, Brayden, Ashlynn(Dawson), Hayley, Ava and Laniey all benefited from his deep love and support.
Larry’s best friend for most of his life was his brother Gary. Larry was close with his older sister Janese De Geest (Roy). Larry was a devoted son to Leon and Vera Jackson. All preceeded him in death.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Larry is survived by many extended family members he loved including: Mark and Beverly Berdahl and family; Paula and Gordy Binek and family; and Connie Jackson (Gary) and family; and his nephew, Ron and family. Larry was a good friend, and is survived by many including: Troy Clements, Bob Baer, Rick Lauer, and George Whalen and his family.
Larry was blessed with great medical care and forged relationships with many. The family will always be grateful for the excellent care he received throughout his journey.
Larry did well with life in the only measure that matters. He tried to treat people with decency and demonstrated a deep dedication to those he loved. He faced his death with bravery and acceptance and concern for his family. Larry was a man of faith who prayed and believed in God.
His memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
Jewell Lee Withrow: 1930 – 2024
Jewell Lee Withrow age 94, of Gillette passed away at her home on Friday, December 27, 2024.
“If flowers grow in heaven, lord, then please pick a bunch for us. Then place them in our mother’s arms and tell her they’re from us.” Mother is on her way to help tend to your flower garden, dear lord. Edwin Clarence and Iris Geraldine (Woodard) Heatherington knew from the start they held a “jewell” on that winter day of January 29, 1930, at Junction City, Geary County, Kansas.
Mother would move with her parents and older sister, Darlene, at the age of three to Lyman, Nebraska from there it would be to Torrington, Riverton, Shoshoni and Hanna Wyoming. It was from Hanna High School May of 1948 Mother graduated and February 10, 1950, Mother married her one and only love of her life, Ronald Irving Withrow.
“When I grow up, I want to be just like Mother”. In our eyes, our Mother was as near perfect as one could be. With her husband and five children always put first. You could find Mother multi-tasking: chasing after a two year old while seven months pregnant, cooking for 21 men with no electricity, no running water, no indoor bathroom and cooking on a coal stove that also provided heat for their ranch house. Oh yes, don’t forget the milk separator with its 100 (more or less) pieces to be washed every morning, the homemade bread and butter churned twice a week, 32-volt washing machine that worked only when the wind blew hard enough to make the windmill work to power the battery, hanging the clothes on the line and ironing with a gas iron.
November of 1956, Dad and Mother with their four children moved from Elk Mountain and their 8′ x 30′ trailer house to a bigger home in Hanna. Mother’s days were filled with a new baby, the everyday house work, serving as full time bookkeeper for Dad’s Construction Company, managing their trailer court, involved in P.T.A. with each of our grades, a member with her mother in the Diligent Dames Homemaker Club, always a 4-H leader, always involved with each of our activities, always finding time to cook/bake for us, we always sat for family evening meals. With five children in seven years, there was always an illness, a scrape, a trip to Rawlins some 40 miles away for stitches, hospital stay, and penicillin shot at Dr. McNamara’s because of a positive strep throat culture at school. When one of us got the mumps or measles we all got it. Mother’s love for each of us has always been unconditional.
Her multi-tasking continued on till her last breath. But over the years she added her vegetable gardening, fruit trees and big raspberry patch that had her canning for all of us. There was her morning ritual walk in her absolutely beautiful yard to see what new flower had came alive. It was here she would tell you, “that it’s when I’m in my yard working with my flowers that I talk with Jesus.” “I can always find one more place for that one more new plant!”
Mother has given us her “Quilt Legacy” as she leaves her five children, 13 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren all beautiful designed quilts, each stitch made with LOVE. August 5, 2017 was truly Mother’s Day, when Jukebox Quilts of Fort Collins honored Mother with a reception for her love of quilting by hanging 21 of her quilts for better than a month.
Mother has been an inspiration to all of us. When possible she would not pass up a chance to travel to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren wrestle, play basketball, play soccer. There were many many birthday parties, graduations and weddings. Mother’s family was everything to her.
Mother has always held her friends dear to her heart. She wrote, “When days were gloomy, they made the sun shine. Those were the good ‘ole days with so many of them now gone.”
Mother will be greatly missed by her family: son, Clint (Deirdre) Withrow; granddaughter, Hanna of Wickenburg, Arizona; granddaughter, Codi Withrow and two great-grandchildren of Phoenix, Arizona; grandson, Austin Withrow of Phoenix, Arizona; daughter, Gail (Randy) Bulkley of Gillette, Wyoming; grandson, Chad (Lexi) Bulkley; great-grandson, Logan (Sklar) and great-great grandson, Atlas with a new great-great grandson due in June, all of Manassas, Virginia; great-grandson, Wyatt (Kierra) and great-great grandchildren Kianna, Walker and a new great-great grandchild due in August, of Gillette, Wyoming and great-granddaughter, Braidy (Riley) Shaffer, with a new great-great grandson due in July from Thermopolis, Wyoming; grandson, Hazer (Kristen) Bulkley and great-granddaughter, Kaci of Gillette, Wyoming; grandson, Dr. Jory (Betsy) Bulkley, four great-grandchildren, Lucas, Lily, Charlie and Savannah of Liberty Lake, Washington; daughter, Jeri (Frank) Holzworth of Timnath, Colorado; granddaughter, Brittany (Dan) of Golden, Colorado; daughter, Teri (Steve) Micek of Billings, Montana; grandson, Nick Micek of Billings, Montana, three great-grandchildren, Josh of Cody, Wyoming, Ava and Rya of Billings, Montana; Andrea Sun, eight great-grandchildren, Rudy, Rhett of Nampa, Idaho, Rayce, Rylinn, Ryan, Raleigh, Remedy, Rosalyn all of Billings, Montana; son, Roger (Jan) Withrow of Colorado Springs, Colorado; granddaughter, Beth (Dane), three great-grandchildren, Teighan, Lachlan, Rhiannon of Craig, Colorado; grandson, Alex Withrow and great-grandson, Isaac of Suffolk, Virginia; grandson, Adam Withrow (Amanda), four great-grandchildren, Ptolemy, Chrono, Xerxes and Klee all of Walsenburg, Colorado; grandson, Kaleb Withrow (Taeko), of Tokyo, Japan; sisters, Shirley Bryngelson of Mesa, Arizona, Gay (Keith) Humphry of Casper, Wyoming; sister-in law, Darlene Withrow of Loveland, Colorado; brother-in law, Gary (Laura) Withrow of Rawlins, Wyoming.
Mother is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Withrow (November 15, 2015); mother, Iris Geraldine Lucas (January 28, 1967); father, Edwin Heatherington (April, 12, 1983); brother, Ed Heatherington (July 4, 2012); sister, Darlene Hoffman (March 19, 2021).
A memorial service will take place at a later date in Rawlins, Wyoming.
