Ruth Bernice Vannoy 91, of Ranchester, Wyoming, passed away Monday, September 12, 2011 at Sheridan Manor Nursing Home in Sheridan, Wyoming.

She was born January 30, 1920, to Dewey and Ethel Krohn in West Plains, Missouri. She came to Clearmont, Wyoming when she was 9 years old where her parents homesteaded and raised sugar beets.

She grew up in the Clearmont area and talked often about her life and working in the beet fields. She contacted Rocky Mountain spotted fever during one of the summers doing so, and nearly died. She attended only grade school because she had to stay home and take care of her five younger brothers and sisters, while her parents worked the fields.

She met Udell Vannoy (Puncher) while growing up in the Clearmont area and couldn’t wait to get married so they eloped November 1938 to Hardin, Montana. They were married 56 years before Udell passed away in 1995. They traveled around Wyoming working at various ranches and construction until Ruth finally said enough and settled into Ranchester where they bought a little house that she resided in until this year at Easter when she became ill.

She enjoyed keeping her yard mowed with her John Deere riding lawn mower but the last few years she wasn’t heavy enough in the seat to keep it running.

She worked at the Ranch House in Ranchester for a short time in the 1980’s as well as cleaning house for the IXL Ranch in Dayton, Wyoming. Other than those times Ruth was a stay at home mom always having hot breakfast on the table, homemade bread and always a good home cooked meal.

She also enjoyed always being outside and raising a big garden but as her age got to her the garden got smaller and smaller until no garden in the recent years. She to this day has a ton of canned goods in the basement. She was extremely fond of the wild animals and fed the rabbits, deer, pheasants, and birds. She once had a moose come into her yard right in Ranchester.

Ruth is survived by 4 children, Dwayne Vannoy of Billings, MT, Lucille (Fred) Holwell and Lynn (Randy) Olsen of Sheridan and Michelle (Dean) Frickey of Idaho Falls; six grandchildren, Brenda Johnson, Myron Holwell, Travis McKinley, Tyler McKinley, Keri Ann Bulkley, Katelynn Bulkley. Six great grandchildren, Ashley and Brittney Johnson, Kayta McKinley, Blain, Brekyn and Bralyan Holwell and one great, great grandchildren Madison Smith.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, parents and her 5 brothers and sisters, Jean Castle, Margret Madren, Ross, Ralph and Pete Krohn.

Memorial service will be 10:30am on Monday (Sept. 19th) from Champion Ferries Funeral Home with Pastor George Snider officiating. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Memorial may benefit the Dog and Cat Shelter 84 East Ridge Road, Sheridan, WY 82801.

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