Passings

Richard Diefenderfer, Jr.

Communication Specialist Richard C. Diefenderfer, 53, died March 3 at his home.

He was born April 5, 1967 in Powell.

Diefenderfer worked at the Wyoming Highway Patrol since March 1998. While Diefenderfer employed with the patrol, he worked as a dispatcher and a dispatch supervisor. Diefenderfer was well-liked by his co-workers and often recognized for being a team player. He was recognized for his diligence and initiative throughout his career. On many occasions, he would go above and beyond to find information to aid with apprehensions.

A celebration of life was held at The Office Grill in Cheyenne on April 3.

Larry S. Gerard

Gerard, and his parents.

Steve was born on March 9, 1946 in Alton, Illinois to Frank and Jean Gerard. He attended the University of Wyoming and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Steve accepted a position with the Wyoming Highway Patrol in 1972 in Lyman, Wyoming and retired in Cheyenne as a Captain in 2002, with 30 years of service. He was associated with Wyoming Trucking Association and was involved with their Safety Council and Truck Driving Championships.

Steve was a member of the Army National Guard of Wyoming from 1966 to 1972, a member of the Cheyenne Masonic Lodge No. 1, a Shriner, and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Steve’s wish was to be cremated and due to COVID-19 there will be no memorial service. Condolences may be made online at https://schradercares.com/ obituary/Steve-Gerard. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Cremation is under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

Larry Steven “Steve” Gerard, 75, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away on March 23, 2021. Steve is survived by his sister, Carole Gerard (Malone) of Denver, Colorado, and he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne Gerard

David Leeling

David Leeling, 64, of Casper, passed away March 6. He was born December 19, 1956.

Leeling came to WYDOT in 2013 and worked as a heavy mechanic in Casper. He was extremely dedicated to his work and enjoyed working with the people he worked with everyday. The family plans to have a gathering this summer at Seminoe Lake to celebrate his life.

Leeling

Vernon A. Montgomery

Vernon Arthur Montgomery, 75, of Sundance, passed away peacefully at home on March 16 surrounded by loved ones. He successfully fought Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for 30 years but ultimately lost a final and brief battle to metastatic Montgomery lung cancer.

He was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota on April 23, 1945 to Kenneth and Betty Jo (Smith) Montgomery. The family lived in Custer, South Dakota until moving to Sundance when Montgomery was two. He attended school in Sundance, graduating high school in 1963.

In June of 1964 he joined the U.S. Navy. He proudly served on the U.S.S. Pyro, an ammunition ship, off the shore of Vietnam, until May 1969. Upon discharge from the Navy he returned to Sundance and began his career with the old Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency.

Montgomery worked for the WYDOT Sundance Construction office, from which he retired in 2005 after 36 years.

He married Arna (Duca) on August 12, 1972 in Sundance at the United Methodist Church. The couple had three children: a daughter, Trista, born in 1975, followed by the adoption of 3-day-old daughter, Kari, in 1979. In 2005, their son Tristan was lovingly welcomed into their home to complete their family of five.

Services were held on March 21 at the United Methodist Church in Sundance. Inurnment followed at Green Mountain Cemetery with full military honors. n