Jane Ann Van Valkenburg Obituary 1937-2016

September 28, 1937 ~ January 6, 2016

Our mother, sister and grandmother ended her life's journey peacefully on January 6, 2016, after enjoying an eventful and full life.

Jane was born on September 28, 1937, the sixth child to Galen B. Van Valkenburg and Florence E. Rees. She grew up roaming the hills in the area north of Rock Springs and enjoyed complete freedom while exploring an imaginative, care-free childhood. Jane attended grade school, junior high and high school in Rock Springs. She graduated from high school in 1955. In high school she served as Secretary to the student body and was active in many activities.

Jane married Larry A. Johnson in June of 1957 and had three children, Laurie, Stuwert and Scott. Jane and Larry were divorced in 1967 and Larry died in 1975. Following the divorce, Jane moved to Ogden, Utah to attend a Radiologic Technology program at St. Benedict's Hospital. She completed the program, became certified and graduated from Weber State University with an Associates Degree. She worked for several years at St. Benedict's Hospital in radiology.

Jane remarried to Joy A. Ward in 1972 in Elko, Nevada and divorced him in 1992.

She continued her education at the University of Utah Medical Center and became certified in Nuclear Medicine. Because she enjoyed learning, Jane completed a baccalaureate degree from Weber State University and was hired by Weber State University to teach in the Radiologic Technology program. While working full time, Jane pursued further education and received a master's degree from Utah State University and a doctoral degree from the University of Utah in educational administration.

Appointed to the position of Department Chair of Radiologic Sciences, our mother worked at Weber State University for 33 years, retiring with the rank of Professor Emerita. During this time, she was very active in her professional organizations on a state, regional and national basis. She served as a Board member of the national certifying agency for eight years and the Board of the national accrediting agency for three years. Jane was instrumental in organizing and developing a national educators' consortium within her profession; developing and implementing an advanced level technologist's educational program that has a national impact in medical imaging; and had written numerous research papers that were published.

Although Jane had left Wyoming due to her schooling and work, she held the wide open spaces of Wyoming in her heart. Upon retiring, she bought property in Lander, build a home and moved back to her beloved state.

Among Jane's hobbies are arrowhead hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, reading and teasing her younger sister, Mary. She also enjoyed listening to all kinds of music, art and ballet.

Survivors are Laurie Winters (Greg), Stuwert Johnson; and two grandsons, Tyler and Chase Johnson; her sister, Mary Koritnik (Joseph); and brother, Howard Van Valkenburg. She is preceded in death by her parents, a sister Eva (Bill); and brothers, Galen, Robert (Enid) and Albert (Alice) Van Valkenburg; sister-in-law, Florence; and her son, Scott.

Cremation has already taken place. Her ashes will be spread to the winds in the red desert at a later date.

John William Firmage Obituary

John W. Firmage

Funeral services for John W. Firmage Jr., 62, were held Thursday at the L.D.S. church. Bishop William Gibbs conducted the rites and burial was in Mountain View cemetery.

Friends who served as pallbearers were J.M. McLennan, James Parr, Herman Seilaff, William Tolar, Mike Zakovich and George White.

Mr. Firmage, a life-long resident of Rock Springs, died at his home at the No. 6 pump station Monday. He had been in failing health for several years.

John William Firmage was born Jan. 27, 1895 in Rock Springs, a son of John Firmage Sr. and Janet Hunter Firmage, pioneer residents of the city. He was a World War I veteran from Sweetwater county.

Mr. Firmage and Florence Cook were married May 14, 1918 in Green River. Mrs. Firmage and their four daughters survive. The daughters are Mrs. Edward (Janet) McPhie of Pinedale, Mrs. August (Ethel May) Bakka of Rock Springs, Mrs. Louis (Esther) Stevens and Mrs. Howard (Florence Jean) Van Valkenburg, both of San Diego. Eight grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Edward (Janet) Hoy or Layton, Utah, also survive.

Mr. Firmage was a longtime employee of Union Pacific Coal company and served as superintendent of the company's pump house at No. 6 for about 15 years.

The Iconography of Manhattan Island

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_5800727_002/pages/ldpd_5800727_002_00000012.html

Lambert Van Valkenburg is on page 388. 

Gary Lee McPhie Obituary

CASPER - Visitation and greeting of the family of Casper resident Gary Lee McPhie, 62, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today, Sept. 9, at Bustard's Funeral Home and Crematory. Another visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at Lindquist Funeral Home in Ogden, Utah. Interment will be in North Ogden Cemetery. He died Sept. 6, 2005, in Casper. Born July 8, 1943, in Rock Springs, the son of Janet (Firmage) and Edward George McPhie; and was raised and educated in Rock Springs and Pinedale. On Oct. 15, 1982, he married Norine Dickemore in Farr West, Utah. They moved to Casper in 1987. He was employed by Interstate Brand/Sweetheart Bakery. His interests included sports, hunting, and fishing. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved spending time with his grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 22 years; two daughters, Lorey and Kay of Ogden; son, Gary Jr., of Casper; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.

Ethel Mae Firmage Bakka Obituary 1930-2007

RIVERTON - Funeral services for Ethel M. Bakka, 78, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Kim McKinnon officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Viewing will take place today from 7 to 8 p.m., at Davis Funeral Home and from 1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday in the Relief Society Room of the church. She died Jan. 27, 2007, at the Federal Heights Rehabilitation Center in Salt Lake City. She was born Aug. 13, 1930, to John William Firmage and Florence (Cook) Firmage in Rock Springs. She graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1948. She married August E. Bakka on Jan. 4, 1948, in Colorado Springs. The marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 25, 1967. They moved to Riverton from Rock Springs in 1958. She was very active in the church, having been president of the Relief Society, teaching Sunday classes for many years and as counselor in the presidency of the young women's organization. She also participated in civic organizations such as the Downtowners Association, where she was past president; was also past president of the Hospital Auxiliary and active in numerous other civic endeavors. She loved to fish, backpack in the Wind River Range, enjoyed various crafts and enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was employed by Safeway as a bookkeeper for 12 years; managed the family business, Bakka Floor Covering, for 18 years; worked at Wyoming National Bank for three years and managed Books and Briar for 10 years until she retired. Survivors include her husband, "Gus," of Riverton; daughters, Kathy Pease of Rapid City, S.D., Sandy K., Cindy L., and Sherri L.; eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, a sister, Florence Van Valkenburg and her husband of Rock Springs and several nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, a grandson and a great-granddaughter. Memorials may be given to the Riverton Senior Center, in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main, Riverton, 82501. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.

Emma Cook Jones Headstone 1869-1963

On the website canadianheadstones.com was this photo of the gravestone of Thomas and Emma (Cook) Jones. Emma was the daughter of John Cook and Esther Seddon. Thomas was the son of David Jones and Catherine Bellis.

Scott Johnson Obituary

Lambert Van Valkenburg

A great post about Lambert Van Valkenburg on The Olive Tree Genealogy blog:

http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/01/lambert-van-valkenburg-in-new-world.html

James William Burdess Obituary

James William Burdess

Feb 17, 1933 – Nov 2, 2014

"Together Again"

James William Burdess, “Bill,” has passed away at the age of 81 after a full and happy life. He was surrounded by beloved family and dear friends when he left this life to join his late wife on their next journey together. Born Feb. 17, 1933, in Rocksprings, WY, to Agnes and William Burdess, Bill began life surrounded by cousins, friends, and strong family ties. At the age of twelve, Bill’s family moved to Ogden where they soon put down roots building a solid foundation for generations to come. He attended Ogden schools where he met the love of his life, Hazel Marie Davis. They married in 1951 and had six children, Jaylene (Steve), Abbie, Eber (Raelene), Noey, Will, and Darrin, along with 15 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren with one more on the way and who knows how many more. He was a strong and industrious man providing for his family as a machinist and tool maker for Hill Field, Marquardt, and Flame Co, retiring from Western Zirconium in 1998. With an incredible love for family, he remained close to his siblings and their children, along with extended family, throughout his life. Many vacations took Bill and Hazel across the western United States to visit family and friends. Some of their greatest adventures were in the wilderness areas of Utah and Wyoming enjoying family-reunion style camping trips. Bill was an accomplished baseball player in his youth, and as an adult his pastimes included golfing at the White Barn, bowling with Hazel on leagues at Rainbow Lanes, and dancing with Hazel and their friends at the Hermitage and then later at the Oaks and the Eagles. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and took pride in teaching his children and grandchildren the sports. With an inventive spirit, he tinkered in the yard and the garage. He built homemade kites for his grandchildren to fly, cut ATV tracks on his land so the kids could ride, converted a bicycle into a snow sled just for the fun of it, and hosted bonfire parties where the kids and grownups sang and played music together. What he had, he shared, with those he loved. Bill missed Hazel greatly after her death earlier this year. In their 62 years of marriage, they had never missed an anniversary together. Their 63rd wedding anniversary is later this month, and now that they are reunited again their tradition of never missing an anniversary together still stands. Bill is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, La Donna (Joe Ophiekens), as well as a son-in-law, Henry Endow and a great granddaughter, Tylee. He is survived by two brothers, Blair (Colleen) and Wayne. Bill is loved and will be missed by many. Family and friends are encouraged to attend a viewing Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 11 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.

Interviewing a Living Relative

https://familysearch.org/learningcenter/lesson/5-minute-genealogy-episode-19-i-want-to-interview-a-living-relative/477