United States High School Yearbooks by County
Helen L. Saunders
Helen L. Saunders, 94, formerly of Sodus, N. Y., died Friday, May 27, 2005, in Arvada. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Marty) Rogers; and sons Jim (Jeannie) Saunders of Lyons, N.Y.; and Jack (Cindy) Saunders of Leadville; 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her son, Richard; her husband, Frank, and her three sisters, Mary, Kate and Alice. A memorial mass will be held Monday, June 6, at St. Anne's in Arvada.
Robert Maurice McIlvaine
Rancher, businessman and civic leader Robert Maurice (Bob) McIlvaine, 69, of Saratoga, Wyo., died Friday afternoon, July 1, at the United Medical Center in Cheyenne following a lengthy illness.At his request, no services will be held. Cremation has taken place and his remains will be scattered at his favorite places in the valley at a later date by his family.McIlvaine was born March 31, 1936, in Lamar, Colo., to C. W. and Ruth (Prout) McIlvaine. He grew up on ranches in Colorado and attended school in Gunnison and Craig, Colo., and Ogden, Utah. The McIlvaine family moved to the Lazy River Ranch in 1951, and McIlvaine graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1954. He was the heavyweight on the first full wrestling team at the local school.He attended Colorado School of Mines in Golden and graduated from Metro State College in Denver. As a young man he spent a year working in Afghanistan. McIlvaine moved to Leadville in 1961 and was employed as a mining engineer with Climax Molybdenum Co. until 1970.McIlvaine was married to Betty Cerise on Sept. 8, 1962, at the Chapel of Angels in Denver. The couple moved to Denver in 1970 and lived there until 1974.Although trained as an engineer, McIlvaine's real love was for ranching, moving his wife and three children to the valley in 1974 where he joined his father in the operation of the Lazy River Ranch, five miles south of Saratoga. Following the death of his father and subsequent sale of the ranch in 1990, the family moved to Saratoga in 1991 where he and his wife entered the real estate business. They also acquired rental and commercial property, including the Lazy River Cantina.He was a member of several ranch organizations and served as exalted ruler of Elks Club (BPOE). McIlvaine was an avid flyer and often told his friends that he received his pilot's license at Leadville which had the
“trickiest and highest airport in the world.”McIlvaine was an active member of the Republican Party and a staunch and vocal defender of freedom, independence and the conservative philosophy. He served on the local school board, town council and several joint powers boards.He was preceded in death by a son, Michael, who was killed in a vehicle accident in 1989, and his parents.Survivors include his wife Betty of Saratoga; a daughter Michelle Schutte of Saratoga; three sons, Scott and wife Michelle of Saratoga; Bobby and wife Patty of Pine, Colo.; and Curt of Arizona; a sister, Ginger Berry and husband Keith of Denver; a brother George and wife Mary of Cheyenne; mother-in-law Elvira Cerise and brother-in-law Alvi Cerise of Saratoga; eight grandchildren, Ryan and Sierra Schutte of Saratoga; Kayla and Riley McIlvaine of Pine; and Allen, C.W., Shannon and Linda McIlvaine of South Dakota and Colorado; and four great-grandchildren.Donationa may be made to the Saratoga Cemetery, Pavilion Expansion Fund, Box 1417, Saratoga, WY 82331.
Lois Elaine Dawe
Lois Elaine Dawe died Friday, July 8, at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. She was 69 years old. She was born in Munising, Mich., on Feb. 8, 1936. Her parents were the late Carl and Signe (Salmi) Hendrickson. Dawe went to school in Negaunee, Mich., and on July 12, 1952, married Calvin Clayton Dawe. In 1958, the couple moved to Climax where Calvin Dawe worked in the mine and Lois Dawe worked as a cook and hotel manager for the Leighton Hotel and Rec Center. Later the Dawes moved down to Leadville and Lois Dawe cooked and worked as a clerk for various businesses including the Club Med. She also bartended at the Labor Center and managed the Leadville Laundromat.Dawe loved fishing and camping, traveling, gambling, cooking, knitting, crocheting and ceramics. She found she had a real talent for both oil and water-color painting. But most of all, Dawe loved being with her family.Dawe was a longtime member of the Leadville Eagles Lodge.Dawe was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Calvin, who died in 1993; one grandson, Calvin Carl Dawe, Jr.; and one brother, Roger Hendrickson, who died in 1972.She is survived by her children Debbie Boettcher of Johnson’s Creek, Wis.; Calvin (Jean) Dawe and Gregory Dawe, all of Leadville; grandchildren, Rhonda (Brian) Boettcher, Cynthia (Daniel) Hansen, John Calvin (Kimberly) Dawe, Jennifer (Justin) King and Karen Fenske; one sister, Jean (Dan) Stefaniak and family of Lansing, Mich.; and two brothers, Gary (Rosemary) Hendrickson and family of Elko, Nev., and Carl Hendrickson, of Ishpeming, Mich.; great-grandchildren Daniel, David, Sophia, Summer and Deven Hansen, Kaylee and Kelly Boettcher and Kyley King. She is also survived by many other dear relatives including Eva Ann and Rod Fenske.Memorial services were held on Tuesday, July 12, at 10 a.
m. at the Leadville Eagles Lodge. The Rev. Bill Bland and officers of the Eagles Lodge officiated. Honorary Pallbearers were John and Kimberly Dawe, Cindy Hansen, Rhonda Boettcher, Karen Fenske, Jennifer and Justin King, Bruce Bear and Triza. Memorial contributions may be made to Flight For Life, c/o St. Anthony Health Foundation, 4231 W. 16th Ave., Denver, CO 80204.
Joshua Ryan Hillis
Joshua Ryan Hillis died July 4, at his parents’ home in Salida. Hillis was born on January 25, 1980, in Aurora, Colo., to Bob and Sherri Hillis. The first three years of his life were spent in Frisco, Colo. In 1983, the family moved to Leadville where he attended school until January 1992. He was a member of Leadville's Cub Scout Pack 69, and attained the Order of the Arrow during that time. The family moved to Salida in 1992. Hillis graduated with honors from Salida High School in 1998. He was also a National Honor Society member, and a member of the drama club of Salida High School. Hillis enjoyed snowboarding, bow hunting, camping, fly fishing, ice and roller hockey, and could often be found at the Longfellow Elementary School basketball court practicing his slap shot. Hillis also enjoyed both making and viewing movies and playing video games.Hillis attended Colorado State University and Florida College for approximately two years. Upon leaving college, he was employed by Lowry Contracting, Inc., as a laborer and equipment operator, where he worked until the time of his death.His grandparents, Loyce and Dixie Hillis and Tom and Dorothy Burns, and his cousin, Christopher Jensen preceded Hillis in death. Hillis is survived by his parents, Bob and Sherri Hillis; his twin brother Justin and sister-in-law Brianna; his niece, Sydney Lynn Hillis; his aunts D'Ann Ague, Sandy (Butch) Schara, Dana (Eldon) Jensen and Melody (Philip) Church; and his uncle Nik (Penny) Burns. He is also survived by cousins Jason (Jess), Scott and Tasha Burns, Chris (Margie) Riddle, Kim (Jason) Peters, Sean (Casey) Bambei, Scot (Jenny) Bambei, J. P. Jensen and Brayden Pappenfort and many second cousins.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sydney Lynn Hillis Fund at either Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home or Collegiate Peaks Bank. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Michael Boyd Rush
Michael Boyd Rush died Saturday, July 9, as the result of a construction accident. He was 58 years old. He was born on Feb. 20, 1947, in San Jose, Calif. His
parents are the late Joseph and Shirley (Cornett) Rush. Rush served in the U.S. Army as a medic. After moving to Leadville, Rush worked with the Lake County Search and Rescue.Rush has operated his own construction-contracting business in Leadville for the last 10 years. He loved snowmobiling and being outdoors.He is survived by his daughters, Caylee and Alina Rush, in Ft. Collins; one sister, Katherine (Bill) Gavan; and his two canine companions, Harvey and Harriet.According to his wishes, Rush will be cremated.Memorial services will be Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home chapel in Leadville. Bobby Wood will officiate.
Anna Stephanie Skala
Anna Stephanie Skala died Friday, July 8, at Columbine Care Center in Salida. She was 92 years old. She was born in Leadville on July 16, 1912. Her parents were the late John and Mary (Damjanovich) Skala. Skala was a lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Alter and Rosary Society. She worked at the Corner Grocery Store in Leadville for many years, but her first priority was her family. She will always be remembered as a most giving person who loved to spoil her nieces and nephews. Skala loved to cook and bake and made many wonderful treats to be enjoyed by all who entered her home. All were welcome and everyone was made to feel that his visit was special.She created beautiful embroidery and crochet items to give as gifts and to decorate the family home. Many of those items continue to grace the homes of those who received them.Skala was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Skala; three brothers, John Skala, Jr., Frank and Joseph Skala; and three sisters, Mary, Josephine and Lilly Skala. She is survived by her brother, William (Helen) Skala, of Leadville; cousins, Martin Skala and Evelyn (Frank) Clune, both of Leadville; Dan and Evelyn Skala, in California; Mike (Mary) Popovich and Helen Popovich, all in Denver. Skala is also survived by her nieces and nephews, John (Norma) Skala, Mary Ann (Carl) Miller, Rosemary (Ken) Pettus, Tom (DeAnn) Skala and Peggy (Louis) LaCome, as well as numerous grand and great-nieces and nephews.The rosary was recited on Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m., and Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, July 13, at 10 a.m., both at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Father Jay Jung and Cindy Koucherik officiated. Joan Dawson sang accompanied by Beverly Pologar. Skala was laid to rest in St. Joseph Cemetery. Pallbearers were John Skala, Jr., Louis LaCome, Tom Skala, Carl Miller, Bob Savoren and Jeff Rutkey. Following the interment, family and friends gathered at the Elks Lodge for a reception.
Arrangements were handled by Bailey Funeral Home.
