Barbara Elmeta (Beaver) Valentine

Longtime Thermopolis resident, Barbara Elmeta (Beaver) Valentine, 87, passed away March 9, 2020, in Casper, Wyo., at Casper Mountain Rehabilitation and Care Center following a long battle with vascular dementia and congestive heart failure.

Barbara was born on a homestead west of Thermopolis to Alma Grace (Lawrence) Beaver and Clifford Owen Beaver on July 22, 1932. She was the youngest of three sisters. She attended Thermopolis schools, and along with her older sister Dode earned a GED later in life. 

Barbara met the love of her life, sailor Daniel Valentine, while employed at The Star Plunge in Hot Springs State Park. They were joined in marriage April 2, 1949 in Thermopolis at First Baptist Church. They later reaffirmed their vows at Saint Francis Catholic Church. To that union were born three children, sons, Daniel Jr (deceased at five days old) and Clifford, and daughter, Vivian. Barbara and Danny lived early-on in Klamath Falls, Ore., returned to Thermopolis, put down deep roots, bought a house in 1954, and made it a home. It was full of love, and always a work-in-progress. Barbara was later widowed, suddenly losing her beloved Danny in 1983.

In her younger days, Barbara worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell and at Montgomery Ward. Later, she was a checker, dairy manager and bookkeeper at Don's IGA. Following her husband's death, she became a program director for Green Thumb, covering the counties of Hot Springs, Park, Big Horn, Washakie, and Fremont. Following Green Thumb, she delivered prescriptions for Vicklund's Pharmacy. She also served for many years as an election judge.

She was grandma to five grandchildren, Jason, Darin, and Emily Valentine (born to Cliff Valentine); Sunshine and Danielle Bayert (born to Vivian Valentine-Bayert). Aidan and Hunter Valentine and Emily Stone were her great-grandchildren. She adored her grands and spending time with them. 

Barbara enjoyed flowers, gardening, canning, cooking, baking, sewing, crocheting, and playing Pinochle and Scrabble with friends and family. She was an avid artist with oil and acrylic, mainly painting traditional Western scenes and folk art. She was handy with power tools and insisted on doing most home projects on her own. She chopped wood, mowed the lawn, shoveled the walk, and various other tasks around the house. Over the decades, she designed, baked, and decorated ("built") countless birthday, themed, and wedding cakes for family, friends, and others. She loved children and dogs and babysat both. Until recent years, she enjoyed the companionship of several canine friends.

Barbara was a member of Saint Francis Catholic Church, Council of Catholic Women, Pioneer Association, and Ladies' VFW Auxiliary. She frequently rooted for the underdog and believed in championing their cause. She is now at peace and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by an aunt, Leone (Lawrence) Ramsey; two children; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Frances Carneal and Doreen Dickeson; husband Danny; and infant son, Daniel Jr.

Bustard's Funeral Home is assisting the family and cremation has taken place. A memorial will be planned at a later date. A public notice and invitation will be posted. In lieu of flowers, please send donations "In Memoriam" to Saint Joseph's Children's Home; 1419 Main St; Torrington, WY 82240.

Services are entrusted to the care of Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home, 600 CY Avenue, Casper, WY 82601.