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Rocky Mountain Obituaries 11-19-12

Paul W. Fritzler

Travis Dean Darling

Travis Dean Darling, 23, passed away October 28, 2012. He was killed instantly in a rollover accident when he was ejected from his truck just after midnight. The accident occurred near Rockdale, Texas. State Troopers on the scene concluded that neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash.

He was born January 3, 1989, in Steamboat Springs, Colo.



Growing up in Steamboat Springs, Travis loved skiing, horses, wrestling and football. As a skier, he had no concern for technique; he was focused on the fastest way down. Fear was never part of his reality. Travis wrestled from second grade through his senior year in high school and also excelled in football. During his freshman year, he moved to Ignacio, Colo., to be with his dad and to gain from his dad’s coaching, knowledge and experience in wrestling, rodeo and cutting. He was part of the Ignacio Bobcat team at three Colorado State Wrestling Championship tournaments.

Travis’ first cutting horse, Tom, whom he raised and trained, beginning at the age of nine, won him three Colorado high school cutting horse championships. During the same period, he also rode saddle broncs and was part of teams representing Colorado at the National High School Rodeo Finals in cutting and saddle bronc, throughout his high school career.



In the summer of 2009, at age 19, Travis won the Saddle Bronc Championship of the Steamboat Spring Pro Rodeo Series and the Pat Mantle Memorial Bronc Riding Championship. Travis attended Casper College in Casper, Wyo., on a full rodeo scholarship. He earned two associate degrees in Agriculture Business and Animal Science. Since then he’d been on the road competing in PRCA rodeos throughout the Western US and Canada. One of his goals was to compete at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev. Travis’ last, best bronc ride was in Abilene, Kan., at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo on August 4, 2012.

The last year he had been working as a ranch manager for Mike Jones near Stillwater, Okla. On October 21, 2012 Travis moved to Rockdale, Texas for a new adventure. Travis’ last week of life was spent doing what he loved; riding cutting horses from dawn till dusk at the Teimenn Land and Cattle Co. with trainer Jonathan Rogers.

Travis was well loved; he cared deeply and loved his family and friends. He would have wanted you all to continue to love and take care of the people in your lives and to be sure that you are always “ALL-IN” in your life.

He is survived by his mother, Barb Lynn, and step-father, Charlie Cammer, of Clark, Colo.; his father and step-mother, Mark and Tammy Darling, of Morrison, Okla.; his brother, Jeremy Darling, of Boulder, Colo.; his sister, Katie Darling Latham, of Savory, Wyo.; and his brothers Kane and Chase Darling, of Montrose, Colo.; grandmother, Mil Plant, of Frisco, Colo.; and his grandfather, George Darling and his wife, Marian, of Laramie, Wyo.

Memorial contributions may be made in Travis’ name through the Casper College Scholarship Fund and at http://www.JustinCowboyCrisisFund.org.

Memorial services were held November 4, 2012 at the University of Wyoming’s Hansen Arena in Laramie, Wyo. ❖

Barbara Martinson

Barbara Martinson, 89, passed away November 8, 2012 in Longmont, Colo.

She was born March 14, 1923 in Galveston, Texas, to Eugene Reedy Guild and Isabel Carney Jenkins Guild.

As a child of an army family, Barbara attended 15 schools. During her preschool years, she lived on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines.

Barbara majored in voice at CU. It was there she met Reuben “Swede” Martinson, who became her husband of 55 years.

Barbara was known to sing opera arias on the city bus, embarrassing her children. She directed the Sweet Adeline chorus for several years. She was an accomplished seamstress. Her embroidered chambray shirts were well-known in craft fair circles in Boulder, Colo. She knitted a beautiful ski sweater for everyone in her family. She was an artist, and also enjoyed gardening, quilling and macramé.

The family bought a rustic 80-acre farm east of Boulder, Colo., in 1960. She chopped wood for the stove every morning and took the laundry to town for several years before upgrades were completed on the farm. While the laundry ran, she made each child learn to change tires. On cold days, she greeted the children with mugs of hot chocolate after their walk down the long lane from the school bus. Barbara enjoyed the beautiful view of the Front Range from the large farmhouse window. She loved birds and other wildlife.

They had four children: Jean Martinson Pazour (John), Chris Martinson (Libby), Doug Martinson (Wendy), and Elizabeth (Lubby) Martinson (Sid). She had five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and her brother, John Guild.

Memorial services were held November 16, 2012 at the farm.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Nature Conservancy, The Carter Center, Save the Redwoods, Tiger Creek Wildlife Refuge (TigerCreek.com) or The Red Cross for disaster relief. ❖

Lee Roy Guffey

Lee Roy Guffey, 77, passed away October 14, 2012.

He was born April 14,1935 in Salt Lake City Utah. He was the son of William and Josephine Guffey.

He married Deanna Benton in 1956 and there was three children to that marriage, Steven,Craig and Sandy. They where later divorced.

He married Carol June McNabb November 4, 1969 and they raised seven children. Carol passed away November 15,1991.

In his younger days he was a cowboy and did ranch work through Wyoming and Idaho. He also had a tire business in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lee Roy was a very likable person and had many friends. He had a very happy go lucky personality. He was very charitable and would help anyone he could fix anything especially old cars and trucks. His hobby was wheeling and dealing—he could sell you anything.

He had the greatest love for his grandchildren and for his great-grandchildren and his family and nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by two sisters, Sharen (Kevin) Swenson and Alice (Garry) Anderson; a brother Jerry Guffey; three children; seven step-children; 25 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Fren Robb, Margie Hardy, Jean Robertson, and a sister-in-law, Jean Guffey.

Interment was at the Monument Hills Cemetery in Thermopolis, Wyo., in a family plot.

Condolences can be made at BelieverSKS@live.com. ❖

Paul Fritzler

Paul W. Fritzler, 67, of Greeley, Colo., passed away October 30, 2012 at Hospice of Northern Colorado after a long battle with lung cancer.

He was born May 16, 1945 in Greeley, Colo., to Paul and Bertha (Schmidt) Fritzler.

Paul grew up on the family farm in rural Greeley, Colo., and attended Windsor schools. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Ranger during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1969. In 1971 he married Holly Pinger in Windsor, Colo. They later divorced.

He worked for Weld County Road and Bridge Department for more than 20 years. He also raised a large garden and sold regularly at the Farmers Market in Greeley, Colo., Fort Collins, Colo., and Cheyenne, Wyo.

Paul was a good hearted person who never met a stranger. He enjoyed Dutch hops, gardening and his pets. He will be remembered by his family as a man who enjoyed life, was happy-go-lucky, loved his family and was a great father, brother and uncle.

He is survived by his son, Daniel Fritzler; a sister, Kathie McDermed; brothers, John (Karen) Fritzler all of Greeley, Colo., and Rick Fritzler of Kersey, Colo.; nieces, Tara Bollig of Loveland, Colo., Kristin Chambers of Charleston, S.C., Katie Fritzler of Greeley, Colo.; nephew, John Fritzler of Kersey, Colo.; great-niece, Kaylyn Chambers; and great-nephew, Brayden Chambers both of Charleston, SC.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services were held November 5, 2012 at Adamson Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society in care of Adamson Funeral & Cremation Services, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, Colo., 806734.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.AdamsonChapels.com. ❖

Ted D. Smith

Ted D. Smith, 98, passed away October 12, 2012 at his East Cherry Creek ranch.

He was born in Carrolton, Ohio, on September 14, 1914, to Charles and Gertrude Smith.

His family moved to the Elbert County, Colo., area in the 1920s, and he resided in Colorado Springs and Douglas County ever since.

Ted graduated from Elbert High School and soon after married Barbara Walker on March 26, 1936.

Ted started working in construction in 1936; during WWII he worked in Alaska on heavy construction projects. Upon returning home, he continued working in heavy construction and also as a rancher in SE Douglas County.

He is survived by his wife of 76 years, Barbara,; two children, Dale (Marieta) and Raye Wilson (Rick); six grandchildren, Jennifer Smith (Dave) Askey, Lisa Smith (James) Rudolph, Duke (Amy) Smith, Bob (Mani) Smith, Dan (Christy) Wilson, and Sara Wilson (Joe) Hunter; 17 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother, Dennis, and his grandson, Matthew Dale Wilson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. ❖

Lydia Freauff

Lydia Freauff, 95, of Greeley, Colo., passed away November 9, 2012 at Grace Pointe Care Center.

She was born May 5, 1917 to Jacob and Katherine Kaiser in Loveland, Colo.

On April 1, 1937 Lydia married Byron Dale Freauff in Fort Collins, Colo. They moved to Wiggins, Colo., where they farmed for 15 years. In 1978 they moved back to the Greeley, Colo., area and farmed until retirement.

She is survived by two grandsons, Jay D. Glenn and Justin Glenn and wife Lori; great-granddaughter Jordyn all of Roggen, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Marilyn, three sisters and six brothers.

Graveside memorial services were held November 14, 2012 at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Please visit online memorial at http://www.StoddardSunset.com. ❖

Mildred C. Johnson

Mildred C. Johnson, 83, long time resident of Wheatland, Wyo., passed away November 8, 2012 at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo.

She was born to Lester E. and Isola Mae (Talley) Cobb on June 15, 1929 in Wheatland, Wyo.

Mildred graduated from the Wheatland High School in 1948, and married the love of her life Peter Wesley Johnson on her 19th birthday June 15, 1948 at the United Methodist Church in Wheatland, Wyo. They celebrated 52 years of marriage together making the Antelope Gap Community their home.

To this union they raised three children, Gary, Linda, and Lee on the family ranch. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, East of Town Club, and Antelope Gap Grange. She was a 23 year 4-H leader. Her home was always open to 4-H Junior Leader parties, MYF parties, community get togethers, family, and friends. She enjoyed cooking meals for any gathering, gardening, embroidering, crocheting, canning, and baking. Every year she enjoyed exhibiting her baking, canning, and fancy work at County Fair and State Fair. She won the Premier Culinary award at the State Fair in 2011 along with winning numerous Best of Shows each year.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Ed) Gilbertson of Meriden, Kan.; son, Lee (Evelyn) Johnson of Wheatland, Wyo.; daughter-in-law, Gayle Johnson of Checotah, Okla.; grandchildren, Dallas (Jason) Kipper of Lincoln, Neb., Tanya (Jason) McGee of Fremont, Neb., Dr. Jeremy (Crystal) Johnson of Oklahoma City, Okla., Justin (Ali) Johnson of Fayetteville, Ark., Jace Johnson of Fayetteville, Ark., Jayme Johnson of Oklahoma City, Okla., Ashley Johnson of Wheatland, Wyo., and Matthew Johnson of Wheatland, Wyo.; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Maxine Suntych of Wheatland, Wyo.; nephew, Neil Suntych of Wheatland, Wyo.; aunts, Alice Johnson of Wheatland, Wyo., and Phyllis Cobb of Topeka, Kan.; and cousin Jeri Berg.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester on July 26, 1973 and Isola on September 11, 1993; husband, Peter Johnson on September 6, 2000; son, Doctor Gary Johnson on September 11, 2008; niece, Winnie Buckley on September 3, 2008; and infant brother, Austin Elmer Cobb.

Memorial services were held November 12, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Wheatland, Wyo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the choice of the donor would be appreciated by the family.

Condolences may be sent to the family at GormanFH.com. ❖


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