Wyoming

Obituaries: Buckingham; Lockwood; West; Landers; Carpenter; Mullin; Stapleton

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2026

Obituaries: Buckingham; Lockwood; West; Landers; Carpenter; Mullin; Stapleton

Anna Eunice Buckingham: 1941 – 2026

Funeral services for Anna Buckingham, 84-year-old Buffalo resident who passed away Monday, April 6, will be held on Friday, April 17 at 2 p.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo with Pastor Paul Gilbert officiating.

Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside committal service to immediately follow the funeral. Donations in Anna’s memory may be made to the Grace Fellowship Building Fund at 108 N. Burritt in Buffalo, Wyoming, or the Learning Tree Christian School at 820 W Fetterman Street Buffalo, 82834.Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

M Joyce Lockwood: 1942 – 2026

Our mother was born on December 14, 1942 to Jim and Thelma Kramer in Tucson, Arizona. She and her sisters (Joan and Jerry) grew up in Longmont, Colorado. She dreamed of being a vet one day and enrolled at Colorado State. While at college she met our father, Daniel Harbour, and soon they married. College would have to wait as within a short time, Thomas (1962) was born, followed by Stephen (1963) David (1965) and Joel (1968).

Our childhood was magical! Our refreshment chairman always had snacks, stories, hugs, and made the world’s best Christmas cookies! Sadly, the marriage ended. After a few years, mom introduced us to Harold Lockwood, who would become her husband and our dad in 1972. Through this marriage she gained another son, 12-year-old Steve (we now had a big Steve and a little Steve). Also, joining the family was daughter, 11-year-old Leslie, who lived with us part-time. Mom was raising five boys, six if you count Harold! Chaos, noise, dirt, broken walls, worry, more bills than money…paradise on earth for our mom.

Dad decided to move to Douglas, Wyoming and open a carpet and flooring store in 1976. Every woman dreams of packing up her life and moving to a tiny town! Mom was all in, supporting our dad and her family. They worked side-by-side and built a successful business. Mom did the books and managed the store while dad installed flooring and began teaching his sons the trade. Life can’t stay simple, big news, guess what? You are going to be a grandma! Leslie and her husband came to stay at our house. Five sons, a daughter, a new son-in-law, and a precious granddaughter, Nettie. Mom made a home for everyone. Helped care for the baby and our overwhelmed sister. She continued maintaining the house and working side-by-side with dad. Yet again life hit our mom with a curve ball. Tom was in a terrible dirt bike accident in 1981. Several times we were told Tom would not survive. Our mother’s dedication and faith resulted in Tom recovering beyond what anyone could have ever hoped for.

Life carried on, Leslie (Brian) had more kids (Nettie, DJ, Marcus, Nicky and Gabby). Big Steve had kids (Joshua, Crystal and Alicia). David had a son (Luke), sadly God only gave him a short time on earth. During this time in David’s life, he was a bit overwhelmed. He called our folks and said he needed them. They dropped everything to stand beside him. The earthly love of our mom and dad pulled David through. Life went on and mom and dad continued supporting and caring for all of us. Stephen (Ann) had a daughter and sons (Stevie Rae, Jacob and Lucas). David (Kristl) had more kids (Luke, Blake, Ivy, Anastasia, Isaac and Nevaeh). Joel (Tara) had four kids (Megan, Cassie, Ethan, and Amaya). Mom loved being Grandma Lockwood.

Sadly, Harold passed in 2019, they had 47 happy years together. Mom will be buried next to dad on the family’s land in Rist Canyon, Colorado on May 30 at noon. A memorial reception will follow at 2 p.m. at the Howling Cow Café in Bellevue.

Garrett Tyler West: 1978 – 2026

Garrett Tyler West, 48, of Gillette, Wyoming, passed away on April 4, 2026, in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Garrett was born on February 10, 1978, in Laramie, Wyoming, to Lanny and Linette West. He grew up in the small town of Hanna, Wyoming, where he developed his lifelong love for the Wyoming outdoors. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Wyoming, a path that perfectly matched his adventurous spirit and deep appreciation for the land he called home.

To know Garrett was to know someone who lived life fully and with great heart. He loved nothing more than hunting and fishing, immersing himself in Wyoming’s great outdoors—whether it was early mornings in the field, casting a line on a quiet lake, or simply soaking in the beauty of the landscapes that surrounded him. His daughters Shelby and Scarlett were the absolute center of his world, and his grandchildren Sophia and Matthew brought him endless joy and pride. He cherished every moment spent with them, creating memories that his family will hold onto forever.

Garrett was also a devoted movie buff with a quick wit and a movie quote ready for nearly any situation. He could lighten the mood or make a point with just the right line, often leaving everyone laughing. One of the family’s favorite stories was the notorious Bigfoot sighting he shared with his brother-in-law, Wayne—a tale that grew more legendary with every retelling and never failed to bring smiles around the table. In his early adult years in Laramie, he was inseparable from his loyal dog Bandit, and more recently, his beloved dog Nocona was his constant companion.

Garrett’s warmth, humor, and love for his family touched everyone who knew him. He was a proud father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle who found his deepest happiness in the simple things: time spent with loved ones, days in the wilderness, and the everyday moments that made life meaningful.

He is survived by his daughters, Shelby (Bryce) West and Scarlett Phillips; grandchildren, Sophia and Matthew Salzer; parents, Lanny and Linette West; sister, Christina (Wayne) Tucker; nephew, Jordan (Ross) Tucker; and niece, Ashlie (Justice) Tucker.

Garrett was preceded in death by his grandparents: June and Harold West and Max and Mae Case.

Though his time with us was far too short, Garrett’s spirit lives on in the stories we’ll continue to tell, the love he poured into his family, and the Wyoming wilderness he cherished so deeply. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

James Walter Landers: 1946 – 2026

James Walter Landers, 79, passed away February 12, 2026, after a courageous battle with colon cancer.

Jim was born in Casper, Wyoming, to Minerva and Harvey Landers and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1965. During high school, he played bugle in the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps. He attended the University of Wyoming and went on to earn his dental degree from Creighton University School of Dentistry in 1974.

After a brief period practicing in Gillette, Jim moved to Cody in 1977, where he opened his dental practice and served the community for nearly four decades. Known for his humor and genuine interest in others, he cared for generations of families.

He was active in his profession, serving as President of the Wyoming Dental Association and as a national dental examiner. He was also inducted into the International College of Dentists.

Jim was active in ski racing, serving as a Technical Delegate for races across Wyoming and Montana.

He was known for his generosity, wit, and playful sense of humor. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, woodworking, and traveling throughout the American West and internationally.

His proudest role was being a father. He raised his daughter, MacKenzie, on his own from the time she was two and remained deeply proud of her throughout his life. He was also a devoted grandfather.

He is survived by his daughter, MacKenzie Landers Thorn; and his grandchildren, Kingsley Thorn and Landers Thorn. He was preceded in death by his parents, Minerva and Harvey Landers, and is also survived by his sister, Patty and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Cody Methodist Church in Cody, Wyoming, on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11 a.m.

A full obituary is available at www.ballardfh.com.

Barbara Kidd Carpenter: 1936 – 2026

Barbara Kidd Carpenter, 89, from Casper, Wyoming. Daughter of Wyoming pioneer families, Lucille Love Kidd (of Hanna) and David Kidd (of Casper).

Barbara was a loving, respectful, and proud woman who cherished her large extended family and friends. We all admired her tenacity, love for family, and genuine interest in her loved ones’ lives. Her generosity and close connection to her family made her a wonderful gift, and she was renowned for her gift-giving.

She started school at Park Elementary, a few blocks from home, graduated from NCHS, and then attended the University of Wyoming, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

Athletics played a pivotal role in shaping Barbara’s life, encompassing a diverse range of activities such as alpine ski racing, swimming, hunting, fishing, tennis, and golf. Throughout her journey, she relentlessly pushed the boundaries of her physical abilities and the capabilities of her equipment. Joint replacements have emerged as a blessing in disguise, providing her with the mobility and support she needed to continue her athletic pursuits.

Barbara Kidd met and fell in love with her life partner, Dawn Carpenter, while they were attending the University of Wyoming after his Marine Corps service in the Korean War. Barbara and Dawn had five spirited and active children who filled their house with adventure, lively conversations, and the presence of people. Their extended family and friends were always visiting, and there were many celebrations throughout the years. Her family of five kids: Kim Nyenhuis of Fort Collins, Colorado., Bill Carpenter of Anchorage, Alaska., Brad Carpenter of Casper, Wyoming, Kristin Carpenter Queen of Casper, Wyoming and Kelley Carpenter Klein; turned in 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Barbara was a dedicated servant who held leadership roles in several community organizations, including the PEO Chapter Y, PTO for Crest Hill Elementary, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, and various community service groups. Community was of utmost importance to her.

This super fun, hilarious, and naughty lady is survived by her brother, Bill Kidd; five children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dawn Carpenter; brothers, Tom Kidd and Bob Kidd.

Caryn Ann (Calder) Mullin: 1964 – 2026

Steve Oldham (Nikki) of Benson, Utah; and Jamie Klaassen (Jeff) of Queen Creek, Arizona.

Caryn is preceded in death by her husband, John Mullin; mother, Dodie Wenzel; and stepfather, Joe Wenzel.

Funeral services will be held April 3, 2026, 1 p.m. at 6521 N 2400 W, Amalga, Utah. Burial will be April 4, 2026, 2 p.m. in Dry Fork Cemetery, Vernal, Utah.

Donald Ray Stapleton: 1955 – 2026

Donald Ray Stapleton was born March 29, 1955, in Falls City, Nebraska to Raymond Lee and Lela Jean Stapleton. He passed away on April 7, 2026, in Casper, Wyoming and took his last breath in his GTO to the kingdom of our lord.

Donald lived in Kansas, Nebraska and Utah but spent a majority of his life in Wyoming. While living in Big Piney he met the love of his life, the vivacious Belle Wassenberg. They were married on August 24, 1974, and celebrated 51 years together. On June 7, 1979, they were blessed with their son, Solomon Perry Stapleton.

He enlisted in the Army in 1972 and was trained as a mechanic. Don had a variety of different career choices from rough neck to roustabout, lawn care, garbage collection, custodial, was a jack-of-all trades and a master of several.

In his leisure time he enjoyed the outdoors going rock hounding, four-wheeling, ghost town exploring and back roading. Don loved working on vehicles, especially classic muscle cars like his 1972 GTO. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR and was fortunate to attend a truck race in Las Vegas and a cup race in Atlanta. He was also a fan of football, basketball, baseball and the Olympics.

Don will be sorely missed for his sense of humor, generosity and tutelage of distressed children/people; i.e. Paddy Workman, Danny Bilbeisi and Joe and Donna Mae; that were welcomed into his home and became part of his family.

He is survived by his wife, Belle; sons, Sol and Dan; daughter-in-law, Andrea; grandsons, Ernie and Jude; brothers, Robert and Paddy; sister, Linda; half-sisters, Michelle and Cheryl; and many cousins, aunts and uncles and friends.

May God speed him on his next journey…

Services will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at First Christian Church at 10 a.m.

A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney, Wyoming at 11 a.m.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon won’t seek a third term. He won’t rule out running for other offices, either

Published

7 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon won’t seek a third term. He won’t rule out running for other offices, either

(WYOFILE) – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon will not seek a third term, his office announced Thursday. However, the two-term Republican governor has not ruled out running for another office.

“He’s still kind of exploring his options,” Amy Edmonds, Gordon’s spokesperson, told WyoFile.

As candidates across Wyoming have announced bids for various statewide offices in recent months, Gordon has been tight-lipped about his own plans, leading to speculation that he would put the state’s gubernatorial term limits to the test.

In two opinions about a decade apart, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that term limits on legislators as well as on most top elected positions in the state were unconstitutional. While the high court has not addressed the qualifications for governor, it’s been widely suggested that a court challenge would be successful. Such was the discussion in 2010, when Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal ultimately chose not to seek a third term.

There’s also been speculation that Gordon may run for Congress, which he’s done in the past. In 2008, Gordon ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was ultimately defeated by Cynthia Lummis in the primary election. If Gordon seeks the seat in 2026, he’ll join a crowded field that has already attracted at least 10 Republicans. It’s possible he could also be eyeing a run for Wyoming’s soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat — a choice that would pit him against Rep. Harriet Hageman, whom he defeated in the governor’s race in 2018.

Wyoming’s candidate filing period opens for two weeks at the end of May.

As for the rest of Gordon’s final term in the governor’s office, his “focus remains on essential pillars like supporting core industries, growing Wyoming’s economy, strengthening local communities and families, and safeguarding Wyoming’s vital natural resources,” according to the Thursday press release.

Starting in June, Gordon will set out on a series of community visits to “engage directly with citizens,” the release states, and is particularly interested in having discussions about “protecting our resilient property tax base that funds local services like education, fire protection, police services and others, as well as honoring local control, investing in our future through smart saving and continued stewardship of our wildlife, land, and water.”

The governor also pointed to the Aug. 18 primary election.

“You don’t have to be Governor to make a difference in Wyoming,” Gordon wrote. “Participating in elections is something all of us can do to make a real difference, and these conversations are important to have to ensure everyone makes informed decisions about the future of Wyoming.”

Whether Gordon will run for office is one lingering question — to what degree he will support other candidates is another.

In 2024, Gordon personally spent more than $160,000 on statehouse races, backing non-Wyoming Freedom Caucus Republicans who generally aligned with his positions on energy, economic diversification, mental health services and education.

While many of those races did not go Gordon’s way — the Freedom Caucus won control of the House — the governor is coming off a legislative budget session where lawmakers largely approved his proposed budget.

More specifically, the Legislature’s final budget came in about $53 million shy of the governor’s $11 billion recommendations after significant cuts were floated by the Freedom Caucus lawmakers ahead of the session. Many of those notable cuts — including to the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Business Council — were ultimately rejected.

While Gordon applauded the final budget, he also said in March he was “saddened by some of the reductions,” including the Legislature’s decision to nix SUN Bucks, the summer food program that fills the gap for kids when there are no school lunches. Wednesday, however, the governor signed an executive order that will start delivering food benefits to Wyoming families as early as June.

Details for Gordon’s upcoming community visits will be posted to the governor’s website, according to the press release.

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Wyoming

(LETTERS) Wyoming Supreme Court judges, congressional responsibility, pregnancy and US involvement in the Middle East

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

(LETTERS) Wyoming Supreme Court judges, congressional responsibility, pregnancy and US involvement in the Middle East

Oil City News publishes letters, cartoons and opinions as a public service. The content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Oil City News or its employees. Letters to the editor can be submitted by following the link at our opinion section.

Wyoming Supreme Court judge process better than federal’s

Dear Casper,

This letter is in response to Mr. Ross Schriftman’s letter to the editor from April 11. His opinion appears to be that the Wyoming process of selecting Wyoming Supreme Court justices is somehow flawed. Justices are selected through a merit-based assisted appointment process. When a vacancy occurs, a seven-member Judicial Nominating Commission recommends three candidates to the governor, who appoints one.

Appointed justices serve at least one year before standing in a nonpartisan retention election for an eight-year term.

The commission consists of the chief justice as chair/tie-breaker, three attorneys selected by the Wyoming State Bar and three non-attorneys appointed by the governor. The governor must select one of the three nominees provided by the commission to fill the vacancy.

After serving at least one year, justices stand for retention in the next general election. Voters cast a “yes” or “no” vote. If retained, the justice serves an eight-year term.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens, Wyoming residents for at least three years, licensed to practice law, and have at least nine years of legal experience. Justices must retire at age 70.

U.S. Supreme Court are appointed for life!

I would offer that the Wyoming process is superior to that of the U.S. Constitution. Voters are involved the process, which we are not at the federal level.

Wyoming justices can be impeached and removed from office by the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Michael Bond
Casper

Wyoming delegation must answer for President Trump’s Iran policy

Dear Casper,

Sent this to each of our Wyoming congressional delegates. I lived in Montana for years. These are the questions the Daily Montanan asked of their elected congressional representatives.

I ask the same questions of our Wyoming delegation. Montana got no answers. I doubt that we will either.

President Donald Trump has continued to threaten to hit targets that would affect or kill civilians in Iran. Do you support his stated objectives and deadlines?
Are you concerned that some of these targets could be construed as attacking civilians and therefore become war crimes?
Do you have any concerns about wiping out an entire civilization, as Trump has threatened?
If these are only rhetorical threats, what does that do to our stature in the world when we make threats, but don’t follow through with them?
Polls have continued to show more than a majority of Americans do not support the efforts against Iran. Why do you support the effort?
If you do not support the effort in Iran, at what point would you support Congressional intervention or oversight on the issue?
Have you been briefed and do you believe that there are clear objectives in this war with Iran, and how can you communicate those with your constituents?
The U.S. has repeatedly criticized Vladimir Putin and Russia for its invasion and treatment of the Ukrainian people and it sovereignty. How does that differ from America’s “excursion” into Iran?
What is your message for Montanans who are seeing gas prices and the cost of living generally increase?
Last week, President Trump said that America doesn’t have enough money for healthcare and childcare; further, those things must be left to the individual states in order to fund the military? Do you agree?
President Trump continues to boost military budgets and request additional funding for the war in Iran. Do you support these?

Tami Munari
Laramie

Pregnancy is personal, not political

Dear Casper,

The recent Wyoming Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed abortion is health care, has caused some who disagree with the ruling to attack Wyoming’s judicial system.

In an opinion letter, candidate Ross Schriftman facetiously writes, “…our God-given First Amendment right of free speech does not apply when criticizing our fellow citizen judges.”

This is the first flaw in his logic because the Constitution was not written by God, therefore the right of freedom of speech was thought up and written by men. God is not the author nor guarantor of personal freedoms — our Constitution and judicial system are.

The second flaw in his argument references a letter signed by 111 professionally-trained, experienced, and well-respected Wyoming judges and attorneys explaining how the courts arrive at their rulings. It is illogical to claim we are all “citizen judges” because even though citizens have a constitutionally-guaranteed right to an opinion, it does not make every citizen a legal expert. The judges’ and attorneys’ excellent letter speaks for itself.

Mr. Schriftman claims the Supreme Court, “… create(d) an absurd definition of health care to include the intentional murder of pre-born human persons; something they did to justify overriding the equal protection clause… .” This logic is flawed because it is based on a conflation of an obsession with “pre-born human persons” and equal protection under the law.

There is significant disagreement on the issue of fetal personhood and who gets to determine it: the doctors? the lawyers? the pregnant woman? the anti-choice crowd?

Many understand and appreciate it has taken women almost 200 years to gain and keep Equal Protection Under the Law, and the disagreement over who is legally, materially, and morally responsible for a fertilized human egg has always been part this historical struggle. But it was the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that finally established a constitutional right, for women and men, to private health care decisions and, since pregnancy is a health condition, that included abortion.

Even though it wasn’t explicit, Roe also effectively affirmed that bestowing of “personhood” is a private determination to be made by the pregnant woman and her God. But, sadly, here we are again, dealing with folks who mistakenly believe they have a right to interfere in someone else’s pregnancy.

The Rev. L Kee
Casper

Why does the U.S. keep troops in oil producing countries?

Dear Casper,

There are two facts that don’t ever seem to be considered by our government that cost us dearly.

Osama Bin Laden said the stationing of U.S. troops in the Middle East was the reason Al Qaeda attacked us on 9/11. Does the U.S. believe that the oil producing countries in the Middle East will only sell us oil if we force them to by stationing troops there? I’m not aware of any other countries that believe that.

The other fact is, the U.S. is the only country to ever use a nuclear weapon offensively. There are several countries that have nuclear weapons, including North Korea. The reason countries have been reluctant to use nuclear weapons is MAD, mutually assured destruction. Consequently, is it reasonable to expect Iran, should they develop a nuclear weapon, to attack the U.S., knowing that our superiority in nuclear capability would assure the complete destruction of their country? It clearly would be suicidal for them to do so.

But, just to be cautious, rather than destroying the entire country to deter Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, wouldn’t it make more sense to destroy their nuclear infrastructure?

Bill Douglass
Casper

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