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Rocky Mountain Obituaries 7-30-12

Stanley Griffith

Stanley Eugene Griffith, 82, of Fort Collins, Colo., passed away July 23, 2012, at University Hospital in Denver, Colo.

He was born in Fort Collins, Colo., on April 7, 1930, the son of John and Thelma Griffith.



Stan attended Fort Collins schools and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1949. He attended Colorado State University for two years.

He was married to Judy Mack, and to this union one son, Steven Stanton Griffith, was born. Steve now resides in Florida.



The Army was Stan’s preference for military duty and he served for two years in the Korean War.

Stan worked for his parents and grandparents in Griffith Sporting Goods for years. He owned and operated Griff’s Toy Store, Ace Liquors, and Ace Cab, until he was hired by Woodward Governor Co. as a mechanist. He remained with Woodward Governor for 10 years before his retirement in 1988.

On July 10, 1981, Stan married Linda Wilkinson Renz at the Sweetheart Chapel in Loveland, Colo. With the exception of his military duty, Stan resided in the Fort Collins, Colo., area from his date of birth until March 1994, when he and his wife, Linda, moved to Illinois. After living in Illinois and traveling for five and a half years, they returned to Colorado, living in the Greeley, Colo., area.

A man who loved and respected the outdoors, Stan could be found hunting, fishing, camping and exploring in the mountains on most weekends. Stan enjoyed carving Alabaster sculptures and continued to work in this hobby until his health prevented doing more.

Stan was a 30-year Life Member of the Elks Lodge and a 30-plus year member of the Loyal Order of Moose, having attained the Highest Degree in the Fraternity, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit for his Community Service work.

He is survived by his wife, Linda of the home in Greeley, Colo.; his son, Steve and grandson, John Marshall Griffith of Florida; his brother, Mitchell and wife, Char Griffith of Arizona; one stepson, Thomas Renz and wife, Karen of Denver, Colo.; two step-daughters, Karel Oppie and husband, Don of Fort Collins, Colo., and Konnie Loera and husband, Al of Greeley, Colo.; and nine step-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held July 27, 2012, at the Greeley-Evans Moose Lodge No. 909, 3456 11th Ave., Evans, Colo.

Graveside services were held at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Moose Lodge in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colo., 80524.

Friends may send condolences to the family at BohlenderFuneralChapel.com. ❖

Sunday Joseph Espinosa

Sunday Joseph Espinosa, 52, of Greeley, Colo., passed away July 17, 2012, at North Colorado Medical Center.

He was born October 4, 1959, in Greeley, Colo., to Antonio and Andrea Espinosa. He was raised and attended school in the Kersey, Colo., area.

Sunday loved farming. He also enjoyed spending time fishing and camping with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Louise; his children, Monica, Jeremy and Joseph; brothers, sisters and several other family members.

He was preceded in death by his nephew, fishing buddy, Sammy; a sister; and a niece, Pam.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Please sign online guest book at http://www.StoddardSunset.com. ❖

Lorraine M. Rigli

Lorraine M. Rigli, 89, of Fort Morgan, Colo., passed away July 23, 2012 at her home south of Fort Morgan.

She was born February 12, 1923 in Arvada, Colo., to John and Anna Mattive. She moved to this area from Brighton, Colo., around 1945.

Lorraine married Carl J. Rigli on June 17, 1947 in Brighton, Colo.

She was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Wiggins, Colo., where she served on the Altar and Rosary Society.

Lorraine was a rancher and school teacher. For years, she rode her horse to work when she taught at the Shamrock, Okla., and Adena schools. She also worked at Baker School in Fort Morgan, Colo., for a time. She canned, loved to crochet and was a Campfire Girls leader, member of the PTA, the Extension Homemakers / FCE, helped with the Morgan County Fair, and was a voting judge during election years.

She is survived by her husband Carl of Fort Morgan, Colo.; two sons, Joe Rigli and his close friend Eva Graham and her son John of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Jimmy Rigli and his wife Linda of LaSalle, Colo.; one daughter, Julie Frink and her husband Tom of Fort Morgan, Colo.; grandchildren, Heather Knighton and her friend Patches Hallock of Casper, Wyo., Shawn Frink and his wife Trinnette of Loveland, Colo.; and great-grandchildren, Alex and Trevor Knighton and Maddy and Bronson Frink.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her three brothers, Wayne, Leonard, and Johnny Mattive.

Memorial services were held July 30, 2012 at the St. Helena Catholic Church in Fort Morgan, Colo.

Interment was in Memory Gardens.

Mary Lou Brophy

Mary Lou Pickering Brophy, 76, passed away July 16, 2012 in Wray, Colo.

She was born June 6, 1936, on the Troublesome in Grand County, Colo. Both of her parents were from Middle Park pioneer families. She attended school in Kremmling, Colo., and graduated from Kremmling Union High School in 1954. Mary Lou continued her education at Colorado Teachers College at Greeley, Colo., to earn a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. She then taught in Stratton, Neb., for two years.

From Nebraska, she came home to Colorado to marry her first husband Wallace Reynolds. The children from this marriage are Ronda and Rance Reynolds. She later taught at Kremmling Union High School. After she and Wallace divorced, she moved to McClave, Colo., and taught for several years at the Junior/Senior High School there. During that time, she worked to earn a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education from CSU.

After earning her Master’s degree, she moved again, this time to Wray, Colo. In Wray, Colo., Mary Lou worked in the Extension Office as a Youth and Home Economics agent. While in Wray, Colo., she met and married the love of her life, Desmond Brophy. By marrying Des, she increased her family tremendously, including six step-children, whom she treated like her own. Also, Des has some 50 first cousins and multiple nieces and nephews.

After her retirement, they spent many years pursuing their mutual passions: rodeo, fishing, hunting, and playing cards. Mary Lou “chauffeured” Des around in their motor home, following these interests, and visiting their many friends and relatives. Since 1985 they have been to all of the National Final Rodeos in Las Vegas, Nev., never missing a performance. Their love of rodeo extends to never having missed the National Finals for the Professional Bull Riders, since its beginning in 1992. They also had perfect attendance at the PBR events in Denver, Colo.

Mary Lou was a person with many passions throughout her life. In recent years she spent many hours researching oil and gas leasing practices. Her expertise of these laws resulted in her testifying at the State Legislature and serving on the Colorado Royalty Owner’s board of directors. Many oil and gas executives will not soon forget encountering Mary Lou and getting an ear full of her ideas.

Some of her other favorite times were going hunting and fishing. She also loved pheasants and watching for them to come into her yard. All the local pheasants knew they would always be safe there, as many hunters (including Des, Randy, and Todd) will testify.

She is survived by her husband, Desmond Brophy of Wray, Colo.; daughter, Ronda Reynolds Meyers (Richard), of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo.; son, Rance Reynolds, of Wray, Colo.; grandchildren, Pamela Peterson, (Richard), of Fargo, N.D.;Amelia and Simon Nichols, both of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo.; sister, Nancy Pickering Earl (Gary), of Wray, Colo.; aunts Katherine Pickering, Loveland, Colo., and Frances Pickering, of Kiowa, Colo.; by Desmond’s six children, Jackie, Doug, Todd, Tracey, Paula, and Tom, who through the years have become like her own, as well as all of the grandchildren and great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by parents Clyde Becker Pickering and Gertrude Olson Pickering; brother, Donald Perry Pickering; sister, Terry Pickering Edmonds, and niece, Brenda Earl Maclennan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Plains. ❖

Carlos S. Herrera

Carlos S. Herrera, 94, of Johnstown, Colo., passed away July 19, 2012, at Life Care Center of Greeley, Colo.

He was born on April 17, 1918, to Carlos and Catalina (Sanchez) Herrera in El Mulato Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. He married Teresa Saucedo in Mexico in 1936. She passed in December of 1975. He later married Gloria Hernandez, and she also passed.

He came to Colorado in the early 1950s to make a better life for his family. Carlos farmed for John and Victoria Nelson for 30 years.

He is survived by his children, Hortencia (Luiz) Troncoso, Johnstown, Colo., Carlos (Josefina) Herrera, Loveland, Colo., Oscar (Lupe) Herrera, Milliken, Colo., Isabel (LeeRoy) Montano, Milliken, Colo., Raul (Elena) Herrera, Johnstown, Colo., Omar (Della) Herrera, Milliken, Colo., Mario (Janice) Herrera, Johnstown, Colo., John (Carmen) Herrera, Loveland, Colo., Hector (Shellen) Herrera, Johnstown, Colo., and Kathy Herrera, Loveland, Colo.; sister, Basilisa Zapata, Mexico; brother, Raul Herrera, Mexico; 34 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife; and sons, Manual, Louie and infant son, Raul.

Memorial services were held July 25, 2012, at St. John Evangelist Catholic Church in Loveland, Colo.

Interment was at Johnstown Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Building Fund in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, Colo., 80631.

Family and friends may view the online obituary and sign the guest book at http://www.Allnutt.com. ❖

Wavah Jean Blevins Boos

Wavah Jean Blevins Boos, 84, of Fort Morgan, Colo., passed away July 14, 2012 at her home.

She was born May 8, 1928 in Highland, Kan., to Charles Emery and Carrie Wavah Henry Blevins. She married Eugene Edward Boos August 7, 1950 at St. Benedicts in Bendena, Kan. From 1933 to 1946 Jean lived with aunt and uncle Lloyd and Etta Henry and cousins Donald and Rex Henry. She graduated from Pattonsburg High School in 1946 then went on to attend Highland Community College where she graduated in 1949. She also worked at the Chase Candy Company in St. Jo., Mo., while attending college.

After graduation she began teaching immediately in Fairview and Denton, Kan., where she met Eugene. After they married, they lived in Highland, Kan., where they stayed until 1973 when they moved to Fort Morgan, Colo., where they owned/operated Boos Grain & Fertilizer. Jean also worked as Chief Book Keeper for Associated Auctioneers of Colorado.

Jean loved to quilt, sew, tole paint and attend auctions. Most of all, she loved to be with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Bernard Blevins.

She is survived by husband Eugene Boos of the home; five daughters, Linda (John) Jeschke of Troy, Kan., Marilyn (Dale) Miller of Napoleon, Mo., Pam (Keith) Watson of Windson, Colo., Jacque (Robert) Christensen of Brush, Colo., Stacey (Howard) Martindale of Fort Morgan, Colo.; three sons, Barry (Kathy) Boos of Robinson, Kan., Greg (Debbie) Boos of Wathena, Kan., and Scott Boos of Park, Neb.; two brothers Nolan (Beryl) Blevins of Highland, Kan., and Barry (Florence) of Kerrville, Texas; 21 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Memorial services were held July 20, 2012 at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland, Kan.

Interment followed at the Highland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jean Boos Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. P.O. Box 33, Highland, Kan., 66035. ❖

Conrad William (Bill) Sauer

Conrad William (Bill) Sauer, 83, of The Dalles, Ore., formerly of Weld County, Colo., passed away July 22, 2012, at Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, Ore.

He was born August 21, 1928, at his father’s homestead near Grover, Colo. The second child of Conrad and Avis (Meyer) Sauer, he attended Gary Valley School until eighth grade. He then worked on the family farm until he attended Parks School of Business in Denver, Colo.

He served in the Army as a clerk typist from 1951-1952. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 42 years. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and a lifetime member of the NRA. He enjoyed driving trucks, helping friends move cattle, horseback riding, telling stories and jokes.

He is survived by sister, Elisabeth (Wayne) Porter of Nampa, Idaho; brother, Cecil A. (Loretta) Sauer of Pueblo, Colo.; daughters, Linda (DuWayne) Bredvik of Germany, and Marlene (Mike) Schuening of Pendleton, Ore.; grandchildren, Eric, Will & Gracie Bredvik, Scott (Corissa) Schuening of Pendleton, Ore.; great-granddaughter, Abigail Schuening of Pendleton, Ore.; nephews, Kenny Thomas of Ardmore, Okla., Cecil (Amber) Sauer of Veteran, Wyo., Chuck (Heather) Sauer of Dumas, Texas, Ed (Darcy) Porter of Idaho; niece, Anna Beth (Mark) Ross of Idaho; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Conrad G. Sauer; mother, Avis Sauer; sisters, Gladys Thomas, Sharon Sauer, infant twin sisters and an infant brother, Daniel Sauer.

Graveside memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on August 1, 2012, at the Mountain View Cemetery in Nunn, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Veterans Home, 700 Veterans Drive, The Dalles, Ore., 97058.

Sign the condolence book online at http://www.BurnsMortuary.com. ❖


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