Della Burris Smith, 1932 – 2015
Della passed away peacefully, Tuesday, August 11th at Johnson County Health Care Center.
Della was born in Buffalo, WY to Rolla and Ida Lea Burris. She spent her young years enjoying ranch life and attending country school. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1950. Her senior year in high school, she was chosen to be the first Powder River Rodeo Queen and went on to be runner up in the Miss Wyoming Beauty Pageant.
After she graduated, she married Steve Popp and had six children. She received her degree as a Surgical Technician at the Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. Della worked in Rawlins, Wyoming at the Carbon County Hospital and Buffalo’s Hospital.
She met and married Ollie Smith in 1980 and were together until her passing.
Della is preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Maggie Delap; parents, Rolla and Ida Lea Burris; sister, Norma Phillips; and son, Steve Popp, Jr.
She is survived by son, Ray (Lorena) Dicken of Billings, MT; daughters, Stephanie Vusich of California, Caulene Wittenberg of Buffalo, Brenda Popp of Gillette, and Treva Ross of North Dakota; 13 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren.
Della was a caring, strong woman who loved her family and Buffalo. She will be remembered and missed by all who knew and loved her. She believed the purpose of life is a life of purpose. She requested no memorial services in her behalf.
Donations to help defer costs are appreciated and may be made to: First Interstate Bank, c/o C. Wittenberg or S. Vusich. Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted with Champion Funeral Home, Sheridan, WY.