Verla Etchemendy

Death Notice - Verla Bartos Etchemendy

Verla Bartos Etchemendy, 72, of Lost Springs, Wyo. passed away at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lusk at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, with burial in the Lusk Cemetery. A full obituary will be published at a later date.

Pier Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

The Lusk Herald, January 5, 2011

Verla Etchemendy

Verla Etchemendy, 72, of Lost Springs, Wyo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper after a brave, long battle with Leukemia.

Verla Bartos Etchemendy was born July 7, 1938 at her grandparents, Joe and Minnie Bartos' home in rural Lost Springs. Along with her family, they moved to the Freeman place north of Keeline. At age two years they moved to the Horris Nelson place, also north of Keeline. This was her home until her marriage.

Verla attended grade school in Keeline. She attended Manville High School her freshman and sophomore years, and then to the consolidated N.C.H.S. for Junior and Senior years, graduating in 1956, receiving the Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. She worked for Mike Cork at McKnight Bakery for one year and lived with Grandpa Joe. The following year she attended Chadron State College.

In June 1958 Verla married Prosper Etchemendy at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lusk. They lived at his parents' ranch north of Lost Springs until they purchased the Eutsler place from Harry Brown in 1961 and moved there. Verla drove the school bus from there to the highway, picking up Dave Stallman and Kelly and Brad Coffey. Her children attended Lance Creek School.

In the fall of 1975 Verla and Prosper purchased the Henry and Sophie Klemke place north of Lusk. Verla loved that place, but in 1981 they were able to expand with the purchase of the Fred Meinzer ranch north of Lost Springs. After Mike graduated in 1982 they built a home there and retained the other ranches and worked together to make a great working ranch raising sheep and cattle. They purchased her parents' place in 2001.

Verla joined the Keeline 5280 Club in 1961 and has held every office several times. She also was a member and secretary of Niobrara Homemakers Council. She has been an active member of St. Leo's Catholic Church and Casper Deanery. She was also a member of the Pioneer Association Board. Verla has led the rosary before Sunday Mass since 1992. She was a member of Niobrara Alumni board for six years, and organized the 40, 45 & 50 year class reunions for her class. She was also a member of the Pioneer Association Board.

She had a passion for dancing, cooking/baking and gardening. She will be missed by so many family and friends and all who were blessed by her beautiful smile.

Verla loved her family and her God and had great faith that sustained her through tough times.

Prosper and Verla celebrated their 40th anniversary in 1998, renewing their wedding vows at a Mass followed by a reception and dance at Lost Springs Hall - the place where they met. In 2008 they celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Verla is survived by her husband Prosper of 52 years; loving children, daughters Shanale Phipps of Modesto, Calif.; Michelle and husband Dee Zimmerman of Harrison, Neb.; son Mike Etchemendy and his wife Bonny of Victor, Idaho; seven grandchildren: James and Ryan Ahrenholtz, Rachel and Nicole Etchemendy, Kyra Baversachs, and Brooke and Kelsey Proulx; very special great-grandchildren Bryce, Rylee, Kaden, Lanie, Isaac, Addisyn, Hunter, and latest addition Andrew, whom she anxiously awaited to meet at Christmas; sister Sheryl Jugler and her husband Gene of Rock Springs, Wyo.; brother-in-law Chief Longbone of Strasbrug, Colo.; special niece, Tami Longbone and Linnie Sherick; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and special friends Carol Geisinger, Cathy Brillhart, and Dixie Felipe .

She was preceded in death by her brother Gary in 1968 and her nephew Jeff Jugler in 1969, her dad Floyd Bartos in 1988, mother Esther Bartos in 2002, sister Gwen Longbone in 2007, and special uncles Floyd, Oscar, Leo and Alvin.

She will be remembered for her love for her grandchildren and the elderly.

Rosary was recited at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Lusk Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory. Memorial donations to the Niobrara Alumni Assoc. can be c/o The Verla Etchemendy Scholarship Fund PO Box 763, Lusk, WY 82225.

Pier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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The Lusk Herald, July 3, 1958

Verla Bartos and Prosper Etchemendy Marry in Catholic Church Here June 21.

Baskets of pink and lavender gladiolus and carnations decorated St.
Leo's Catholic Church for the nuptial Mass June 21 for Miss Verla
Colleen Bartos to Prosper Etchemendy. Father Liborius Morganscheives
officiated at the double ring ceremony which was at 10:00 a.m.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bartos of Keeline and
the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Etchemendy of Montrose,
Colo., and Lost Spring.

Mrs. Henry Wasserburger, Sr., organist, played appropriate prelude
music and accompanied Mrs. Darrell Lamb as she sang "On This Day, O
Beautiful Mother", "Oh Lord, I am Not Worthy" and "Ava Maria."

Given in marriage by her father the bride wore a waltz length gown of
white nylon lace over taffeta and ruffled net. the fitted bodice was
designed with a square, scalloped neckline and long sleeves that tapered
to bridal points over the hands. The full skirt featured featured an
inset front panel of pleated nylon net. Her fingertip veil was of nylon
net. She carried a cascade of pink sweetheart roses, feathered
carnations and stephanotis.

She wore a heirloom hook and chain from Scotland which belonged to
her great, great grandfather. She also wore the traditional blue garter.

Mrs. Thomas Cantrell, sister of the bride, was matron of honor, Miss
Dixie Allsup was bridesmaid. They were dressed identical in lavender
nylon chiffon over satin gowns with matching satin cummerbunds. They
carried fans of lavender satin spirals, white carnations, and baby
roses. Sheryl Lyn Bartos, sister of the bride, was junior bridesmaid and
wore a gown of pink nylon sparkle net over satin with pink cummerbund
and carried a matching fan with pink satin spirals. Silver sequin
trimmed hats completed their ensembles. Bobbie Lou Park was flower girl
and was attired identical to the junior bridesmaid.

George Etchemendy, brother of the groom, was best man. Ushers were
Gary Bartos, brother of the bride, and Kenneth Johnson of Montrose,
Colo.

Mrs. Bartos, mother of the bride, wore a rose colored lace over satin
dress with white accessories while Mrs. Etchemendy, mother of the
groom, chose a gray lace over pink with black and white accessories. All
wore pink carnation corsages. The dresses of the attendants and the
bride's mother were made by Mrs. Rena Alexander.

A reception was held in the Keeline Community Hall following the
ceremonies for those attending. Low bouquets of pink gladiolus and
carnations and a memory candle in a floral arrangement graced the
serving table covered with a hand crocheted table cloth over lavender.
The cloth was made by the bride's maternal great grandmother Valentine.

A three tiered cake trimmed with pink roses and topped with bells
centered the table. after the bride and groom cut the first piece of
cake it was then cut and served by Miss Carol Alexander. Miss Carol York
poured coffee and Mrs. James Ryan of Casper served the punch.
Miss Laurel Hughes, Miss Wanda Alexander of Fort Morgan, Colo. and Mrs.
Kenneth Johnson of Montrose, Colo. presided over the gift table. Miss
Eveleen Ethchemendy, sister of the groom, of Denver directed the signing
of the guest book.

The new Mrs. Etchemendy chose a sapphire blue crystallette dress with
white accessories and a corsage from her bridal bouquet for her going
away costume to Yellowstone Park and into Montana.

The bride received her elementary schooling at Keeline and was
graduated from Niobrara County High School as an honor student in 1956.
She attended Chadron State Teachers College for one year where she was a
member of WAA and YWCA. She worked one year after graduating from high
school at McKnight's Bakery.

The groom was educated in Montrose, Colo. graduating in 1949. He
attended Colorado A and M for one year and served in the U.S. Army
stationed in France for two years. They are making their home on his
father's ranch north of Lost Spring where he is employed.

Out of town guests attending the wedding were Mr. and Mrs. Pierre
Etchemendy, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Johnson, Wayne and Glen, Montrose,
Colo.; Mr. and Mrs. James Ryan and family of Casper; Mr. and Mrs. Glen
Bartos, Miss Sandra Smith, Douglas; Mrs. A.E. Sylvester and Clarice,
Wheatland; Mrs. James Church, Benecia and Marty, Millbrae, Calif.; Mr.
and Mrs Leo Alexander and Deanna, Ft. Morgan; Mrs. Ward Hinckley,
Torrington; Mr. and Mrs. Dean Sylvester and family, Wheatland; Mrs.
Patricia Manning and daughter, Covina, Calif.; Donna Grode, Butler,
S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bartos, William Bartos and Louis Bartos,
Hemingford, Nebr.

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