Richard Milo Williams of Sheridan, Wyoming died on Friday, November 15, 2013 at Sheridan Manor. Richard was born July 13, 1925 at the family ranch on Piney Creek to his parents Harry Ernest and Alice Bremer Williams. He was the fifth of 11 children.
Richard moved with his family from Piney to his Grandmother Sommerville's place on Coal Creek Road several miles from Ulm, WY in 1936 when he was 11 years old. He attended Coal Creek School through the eighth grade. It was during this period that he first met his wife to be some years later, Lois Pence. The Pence ranch was just a few miles towards Ulm from the Sommerville place.
Dick started working at an early age for some sheep and cattle ranchers in the vicinity in addition to the Pence ranch. When he was 18 years old in 1943 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and first served in the horse cavalry at Ft. Riley, Kansas before being shipped overseas to France with duty in France, Germany and Austria during World War II. He was stationed in Europe when the war ended and honorably discharged while at Camp Cook, CA in early 1946.
When Dick returned from Europe, he married Lois Pence on August 18, 1945 in Ulm, WY. They had three children together, James Richard, Bruce Milo and Gayle Marie.
Dick worked for his uncle Gregg Williams shearing sheep after his return home from the Army. He then worked at Holly Sugar then Sheridan Flour Mill until he joined the Sheridan Fire Department in December of 1949. He worked for the Fire Department for over 23 years until he retired as Assistant Fire Chief in 1973. Later Dick would work at Decker Coal until retiring from there and at their ranch on Ulm Road not too far from Clearmont, WY. He raised cattle and farmed that land for many years which was originally part of the Ernest Pence Ranch and is still in operation today.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife Lois Pence Williams, parents Harry Ernest and Alice Bremer Williams and 8 siblings; James Orville, Ernest Eugene, Lois Blanche (Rogers), Mildred Louise "Betty", twins died at birth and Helen. He is survived by his 3 children James Richard Williams of Tucson, AZ, Bruce Milo Williams of Sheridan, WY and Gayle Marie Karlsen and her husband Geir of The Woodlands, TX, brother Donald Edward Williams of Sheridan, sisters Norma Lee Grimm of the Chicago area and Emma Jane and her husband Ivol Martin of Casper, WY along with many nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be 10:00am on Friday (Nov. 22nd) from Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Reverend Doug Goodwin officiating. Interment will be in the Masonic section of Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Military rites are by the American Legion and the Wyo. National Guard. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.
A reception will be held at the Sheridan Elks Lodge #520 immediately following.