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Rocky Mountain Obituaries 7-2-12

Richard Francis Heckendorf, 79, of Kersey, Colo., passed away June 3, 2012 at the Valley View Center in Fort Morgan, Colo.

He was born June 22, 1932 at Saint Luke’s Hospital, Denver, Colo. He was the only child of Richard H. Heckendorf and Jeanette Kretschmer Heckendorf of Littleton, Colo.

Richie, as his friends called him, grew up in extraordinary circumstances created by his grandfather, Edward H. Heckendorf who founded the Climax Molybdenum Mine in Leadville, Colo., one of three in the world. Richie was raised on the family estate Middlefield located in Littleton, Colo., along with extended family. Richard’s mother, Jeanette, left her young son to be raised by his father Richard H. Heckendorf and stepmother June Heckendorf, grandmother Edna Aicher Heckendorf (Grammy) and grandfather, Edward H. Heckendorf (Bumpy).



Richard graduated from Littleton High School in 1950 and later attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. He left CSU to move to the family ranch in Fort Garland, Colo. The ranch, named the Trinchera Ranch, was one of the original Spanish land grants dating back to 1800s, totaling over 171,000 acres. Richie flourished on the ranch as a cowboy and young man with mucho gusto! Richie rode the range and carried a six shooter along with his, Mexican friends and ranch hands.

Richie met his future wife, Joanne I. Mang of Blanca, Colo., at a large forest fire on the Trinchera Ranch. Joanne’s father was a railroad engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad and raised sheep. Joanne and Rich were married on June 10, 1954. June 10, 2012 would have marked their 57 wedding anniversary. Richie was known for his adventures on the Trinchera Ranch, and Grammy Edna Heckendorf was grateful when he married Joanne!



Rich and Joanne bought a ranch located in Radium, Colo., along the Sheephorn Creek, where they began their life in a two room log cabin. They raised native hay and commercial Herefords. The newlyweds also purchased a house in Kremmling, Colo., because the winters were so severe on the ranch which was 30 miles from town, and only accessible by a very narrow two lane dirt road which traveled over the Trough Road (a high road carved out of the mountain 400 feet about the Colorado River). Richie enjoyed hunting, cowboying, fishing, shooting, practicing demolition, fast cars and white water rafting.

In 1965 Rich and Joanne sold the ranch at Radium and moved to the Dalton Ranch south of Kersey, Colo. Richie spent great times with family and friends hunting arrowheads, rattlesnakes and blowing stuff up.

Rich and Joanne purchased the old Burdette farm in 1969 located along the South Platte River north of Kersey, Colo. At this time, he began employment with the Colorado Department of Agriculture where he worked on predator control helping a lot of the good people in Weld County. He retired from this job after 23 years. Richard resided on the Burdette Place for 43 years until his death.

Richie was a sharp shooter, avid gun collector and expert on all types of firearms and munitions. He was known to hit 98 out of 100 clay trap (even though he was blind in one eye) and could easily drop an elk at 450 yards. Richie’s passion was the great outdoors and hunting. He was an expert trapper dispatching hundreds of coyotes and other varmints. Richard was a 32 degree Mason, and belonged to the El Jebel Shrine and Weston Lodge in Littleton, Colo. He was a 20 year member of the Round-Up Riders of the Rockies, member of the Colorado Trappers Association (where he was in charge of the barbecue for many years) and guest marksman/hunter for the One Shot Antelope Hunt and Two Shot Goose Hunt. He was an active member of The Church of John Wayne.

He is survived by his loving wife Joanne of Kersey, Colo.; two daughters, Edna Joy Heckendorf of Oceanside, Calif., and Kersey, Colo., and Karen Mai Heckendorf Case and her husband Jim of Cheyenne, Wyo.; three half-siblings, Ann Heckendorf Meier of Redlands, Calif., Robert Heckendorf of Gypsum, Colo., and Bud Ames of Corvalis, Ore.; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard H. Heckendorf, June Heckendorf, Jeanette Page and grandparents Edward and Edna Heckendorf.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Trappers Association, Bill Rogers Scholarship Foundation c/o Allnutt, 702 13th St., Greeley, Colo., 80631.

William Benjamin “Bill” Babcock, 84, of Wiggins, Colo., passed away June 22, 2012 at the Sunset Manor Care Center in Brush, Colo.

He was born October 27, 1927 in Phillipsburg, Kan., to Frank Arthur and Effie (Bugbee) Babcock. Bill moved with his parents to Fort Morgan, Colo., and settled on the farm located in the Hoyt Community where he farmed and raised livestock.

Bill married Betty Jane Miller in Fort Morgan, Colo., on April 24, 1949. Betty passed away November 8, 1996. Later in life, Bill married Margaret Jacoby in Windsor, Colo., and they made their home in Greeley, Colo.

Bill enjoyed farming and his involvement in various organizations, which included being a board member of the Wiggins Farmers Elevator Association and a member of the Colorado Pork Producers Association.

He is survived by four sons and a daughter, Glenn (Trish Stark) of Eaton, Colo., Kenny of Greeley, Colo., Kathy Williamsen of Longmont, Colo., William Rodney (Pam) of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Russell Babcock also of Fort Morgan, Colo.; and his youngest sister, Mollie (Iman) Goracke of Phillipsburg, Kan.; and 18 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Effie; his wife, Betty Jane (Miller) Babcock; his siblings, Eldon Babcock, Wayne Babcock, Alice May Goracke, Bonnie Goracke, and Dean Babcock.

Private family graveside services were held at the Hoyt Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Summit Baptist Church in Wiggins at 401 E. 2nd Ave., Wiggins, Colo., 80654 or to the church in care of the Heer and Dahl Mortuary, 225 E. Platte Ave., Fort Morgan, Colo., 80701.

Tyrone “Tye” Banderet, 45, of Berthoud, Colo., passed June 22, 2012.

He was born March 3, 1967 in Longmont, Colo., to Francis Banderet and Jane Fickel.

Tye was self employed as a solar design consultant, and Web design developer, had designed various products and had been with IBM as a client representative for the banking and securities industry.

He was an alumni of Colorado State University and Arizona State University with degrees in engineering and computer sciences. He was a member of the National Honor Society and had numerous scholastic and athletic awards.

He enjoyed spending time with his family (especially nieces and nephews) and friends, traveling throughout Europe, vacationing in Mexico with his brother, Trevor, and had lived in Florida, Dallas, and on his boat in California.

He is survived by his father, Francis, mother, Jane Fickel, step-mother, Darlene, brothers Rick Ramage (Terri), Trevor Banderet (Yvonne Butcher), Abe Bergan, North Bergan, sisters Cindy Kelley (Jimmy), Andrea Ross (Andrew Majeske), Jennie Koolstra (Eric), Julie Koejancic, his uncle, R. Bruce Fickel (Karen Christensen), daughter Leanna Roones, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Francis and Nanna Banderet, Drs. Helen and R. Bruce Fickel I, and his beloved dog, Sampras.

Memorial services will be held July 9, 2012 at 4 p.m., at Church of Jesus Christ LDS, 550 Spartan Ave., Berthoud, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made to Colorado State Veterinary Teaching Hospital in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, 1102 N. Lincoln Ave. Loveland, Colo., 80537.

Sharon Farthing Tuck, 85, of Cheyenne, Wyo., passed away June 12, 2012, due to complications from Type I diabetes that she had dealt with for 68 years.

She was born November 23, 1926, in Cheyenne, Wyo., to Tom and Irene (Elrick) Farthing. She lived most of her life in Cheyenne, Wyo., graduating from Cheyenne Central High School in 1944. She attended the University of Wyoming earning a teaching certificate in 1946. She taught country school at Farthing, Wyo., near Iron Mountain, Wyo.

She married R. E. (Gene) Tuck on June 6, 1948, at the Farthing Community Hall which her father was instrumental in building along with other family, friends and neighbors of the Farthing community. Sherry and her students helped raise funds for the building with box socials and performing in plays.

Sherry worked for the State Treasurer in the 1960’s and the Wyoming Legislature in the 1980’s.

She had been active in the Republican Party, W-Heels, Laramie County Cow-Belles, Friendly Folks Extension Club, X-JWC, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, having taught Sunday school when her children were young. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and for many civic organizations through the years.

Sherry was very proud of the tradition her grandparents, Charlie and Maude Farthing, started in the 1940’s of donating a Shetland pony to the University of Wyoming for their mascot. Cowboy Joe continues to be donated by Charlie Farthing II, her cousin.

Sherry lived her life with gusto, enjoying national and international travel with her good friend, Willie Condron, dancing, gardening, and crocheting. She had three children.

She is survived by her two daughters, Teema McIntosh Fort Collins, Colo., and Cheryl Tuck-Smith (Jerry), Chico, Calif.; four grandchildren, Thom Rutledge, Sacramento, Calif., Tia Rutledge, Kansas City, Kan., Morgan Dussault, Yuba City, Calif., Tagen Tuck, Coeur d’Alene, Ind.; four great-grandchildren, Marli and Mallaya, Yuba City, Calif., Jatiah and Tiajah, Kansas City, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and son, Tarkley N. Tuck.

Memorial services were held June 24, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church.

Inurnment was at Cheyenne Beth El Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cheyenne Children’s Botanic Garden or Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Denver, Colo.

Gary King, 77, of Greeley, Colo., passed June 20, 2012.

He was born June 19, 1935, in Carroll, Iowa, to Howard Charles and Mildred (Stone) King.

He attended high school in Rapid City, S.D., and graduated from South Dakota State University. Gary worked at Palmer Gulch Lodge, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, during college where he met Mary Edith. They got married on June 11, 1960, in Buffalo, Minn.

Gary worked as a financial and loan officer in agricultural banking through most of his life.

He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Greeley, Colo., the Colorado Dahlia Society, Keenesburg-United Power Advisory Board, was a member of the Prime Rib Club, 4-H in his youth and as a leader, and was an avid Wyoming Cowboys football and basketball fan.

Gary enjoyed gardening, fishing, his grandchildren and coffee with friends.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Edith King; son, Shannon (Kris) King; daughters, Malina (Anthony) Dorchak and Mandy (David) Hydock; and a sister, Carolyn (Doug) Clair. He is also survived by five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a twin sister, Gloria.

Memorial services were held June 27, 2012, at the First Congregational Church.Private family interment was at Linn Grove Cemetery.

Ross Olen Davisson, Sr., 72, of Akron, Colo., passed away June 20, 2012.

He was born March 4, 1940 in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Bernard LeRoy Davisson and Eva Cretus (Greer) Davisson. He was the third of four children (Gwen, Harold, Ross, Shirley).

He graduated from Akron High School in 1958. He married Roberta Rae Carroll on July 17, 1960 in Kremmling, Colo. They were married 39 years until Roberta’s death in 1999. They had three children: Carri, Ross Jr, and David.

Ross owned two different restaurants (The Drive-In and The Homestead). He drove a school bus and was a maintenance man for the Akron School District. Ross was a custom harvester and also farmed his own land for many years. He moved to town and went to work for Washington County as a road grader operator, from which he retired from in 2010. Throughout much of this time, he also worked for Brenner Funeral Home. He was a proud member of the U.S. Army National Guard.

He is survived by wife Patsy, dog Princess, daughter Carri with husband Richard McCasland and grandsons Trent and Joe, son Ross and grandsons Dillon and Logan, son David and fiance Stacey and grandson Austin, sister Gwen Rogers and Brother Harold and four nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bernard & Eva Davisson, sister, Shirley Bruhns, brother-in-law Joseph Carroll, sister-in-law, Joann Davisson, brother-in-law Keith Rogers, and wife Roberta Rae Davisson.

Memorial services were held June 23, 2012 at the United Methodist Church of Akron, Colo.

His final resting place will be at the Akron Cemetery with his first wife Roberta.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Wayne M. Swedberg (Swede), 71, formerly of Brighton, Colo., passed away May 13, 2012, following a long battle with cancer. He was born in Kearney, Neb., to Morris and Marie (Alcorn) Swedberg.

He graduated from Oakland High School in Oakland, Neb., in 1959. He worked for Burt County REA before pursuing a career in law enforcement as a police officer, security officer, and private investigator. He loved farming, working with livestock, and assisting with rodeos, including the Tekamah Rodeo and the Boulder POW WOW in Boulder, Colo. He helped form the Colorado Law Officer Enforcement Rodeo Association.

Wayne loved doing western art, particularly portraits and rodeo scenes, in various media’s. He helped school children with art shows and worked with disabled senior citizens to improve their self esteem through drawing and the arts.

He is survived by his wife Janice (Suppes) of 43 years; children Justin of Windsor, Colo., and Tina of Brighton, Colo.; grandchildren A. J Sparks and Jakobi Moyer-Swedberg; mother Marie of Onawa, Iowa, and brother and sister-in-law Bob and Jackie Swedberg, Denver, Colo., and their families.


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