The following are obituaries that appear in the April 9, 2009 edition of the Star Valley Independent.

Martice Hancock was born April 24, 1942 and died April 2, 2009. There is simply not enough ink, words, or paper to write on to sum our mother up.   Truest love and wife. Our mother, our mom, our nana.  Confidant and friend. Pillar to her family and all she claimed as her family. A woman, who truly stands alone in beauty, inside and out; in faith, in which she made a way of life. Instilling it deeply into her  children’s hearts; in love, truly displaying what unconditional love was, and there is so much more.  She is survived by her soul mate and husband of 37 years, her five children, six grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.   But really, everyone who she took under her loving wings and made her own. If you knew her you loved her and felt her love for you like a radiant heat. She could heal our wounds and dry our tears. She was the listening ear, the voice of reason, with the most amazing gift to tell us the right thing at the right time.   There’s not one of us who did not receive one of her beautiful cards or letters. We will always remember her black and white check apron, her uniform for feeding the masses. It always brought her such joy, us as well.   What she will most be remembered for is that she was a woman of faith. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 47 years she shared those beliefs and convictions with all whom she met. No one can fill those shoes and we all know it. And to those who did not know our mother this might sound too good to be true, but, it is simply the person she was, why she loved, and why she will be missed.  Memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Grover on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 3 p.m.

Donna Ipsen, 81, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009. She was born July 25, 1927, in Woodbine, Iowa. As a young girl, Donna moved with her family to Geneva, Idaho where she attended elementary school. In 1936, she graduated from Montpelier High School and began a 14-year career as a switchboard operator for the Bell Telephone Company.  In February 1949 Donna married Don Ipsen of Bennington Idaho in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple and recently they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. She was an active leader in the Cub Scout program for many years, but was especially known for her talents at sewing and computerized embroidery.   Donna also drove and managed the Afton, Wyoming and Garden City, Utah mail routes for the U.S. Postal Service. She also enjoyed an active role in the management and acquisitions of the Ipsen Hereford Ranch.  Donna is survived by her husband Don and five of her six children, Loren (Sharon) Ipsen of Boise; Bret (Peggy) Ipsen of Houston; Lillas Ipsen of Idaho Falls; Mark (Becky) Ipsen of Dingle; and Jay Dee (Miho) Ipsen of Payson, Utah.   Donna was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Donna Sue. She was also the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at  in Montpelier. Interment took place in the Montpelier Cemetery

Ross Partington Findlay, age 88, passed away of causes incident to age on April 2, 2009, in Bountiful, Utah. He was born on May 18, 1920, in Smoot to Hugh W. and Gertrude P. Findlay, the fourth of nine children.   He worked on his father’s dairy farm, hauled milk for the Star Valley creamery and was well known for his beautiful singing voice.   Ross graduated from Star Valley High School in 1938. He entered the U.S. Army, serving with distinction in the European Theater during World War II, and was awarded four battle stars.  On July 11, 1945, Ross married Linnie T. Marchant in the Salt Lake Temple. He attended LDS Business College and graduated from Utah State University with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in 1950 and 1952.   Ross began his career in education as a teacher at Ephraim Jr. High School and Spanish Fork High School. In 1955 he began his long career at Snow College as dean of students and associate professor of social science. In 1958 he became registrar, as well as dean of students, serving in this dual role for nearly ten years.   From 1975 until his retirement in 1982 Ross was director of admissions and registration at Snow. In 1994 Ross and Linnie received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Snow College for their service to the college and community.  His service to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was long and varied. Ross served a mission in California in 1939-1941. He was a bishop, high councilor, and assisted the local regional representative as executive secretary. Ross and Linnie served together as missionaries in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1983-1985. He directed the Manti Temple visitor center and served as an ordinance worker and sealer in the Manti Temple.  Ross had a life-long love for Boy Scouting and dedicated himself to furthering the goals and ideals of this organization. He founded and led the Snow College Merit Badge Pow Wow. He completed training at Philmont, served on the staff for Wood Badge, including as course director, was an executive board member of the Utah National Parks Council and received the Silver Beaver Award. He found great satisfaction as he worked to provide the best possible Scouting program for young men.   Ross is survived by his children, Richard Bruce (Linda); Roslyn (Craig) Jackson;  Kimball Ross (Rickie); Donald James (Catherine); Kathleen (Richard) Kimble; Scott William (DeAnne); and Charles Robert (Penny); 34 grandchildren, and 43 great-grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Merrill; Douglas; and Charles Bruce; son, John Michael; great-grandson Taylor James Gedge; and his wife of 63 years, Linnie Findlay.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 11, 2009, at noon in the Ephraim 7th Ward (400 E Center).  Interment will be in the Ephraim Park Cemetery with military rites.

Andrew Robert Aagard was born March 14, 1985 in Afton to Lyle Rick and Julie Aagard. Andy was the third child into the family.  Andy spent the first 11 years of his life on the Tygee Ranch near Auburn. Andy loved the closeness to the forest and spent most of his childhood playing in the forests, willows, creeks and snow banks with his brother and sisters and friends. He learned to ride motorbikes and snowmobiles and to work hard at his responsibilities.   After leaving the ranch, the family moved into their newly remodeled barn home in the town of Auburn. Andy was a big help with the work that transformed the cow barn into their home.   Andy attended school at Holdaway Elementary in Thayne, Star Valley Junior High in Afton and graduated from seminary and Star Valley High School in 2003.   Andy made many friends in elementary school and junior high that remained his friends throughout his life. Andy loved football and took pride in being part of the Star Valley Braves. He played as the starting defensive end his senior year and helped the team take second place in the state championship.   Andy worked hard at building himself up physically and enjoyed lifting weights. During his sophomore year he broke the school record for the dead lift, lifting 640 pounds.   Following high school graduation, Andy went to work with Rick doing construction and shop work. Working shoulder to shoulder with his dad, he soon became a very conscientious and skillful carpenter. He took pride in doing a good job and appreciated the challenges that came with construction work.   Andy was never one to do a lot of talking. He chose his words carefully and thoughtfully and didn’t waste them on idle chatter. He loved doing things with his family and having any of his siblings come home to visit and play was a highlight for him. Andy loved to help others and was found at every service activity in the ward and others of his own making.  Andy was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and at the time of his passing was serving as a faithful home teacher, Elder’s quorum service coordinator, teacher’s quorum advisor and Sunday school secretary.   Andy passed away at his home in Auburn on March 26, 2009.   He is survived by his parents, Rick and Julie Aagard of Auburn; brother Adam Dane of Rocklin, Calif.; sister and  brother-in-law Allyson and Brandon Major of West Jordan, Utah; and sister Amy Lynn Aagard who is currently serving a full-time mission in San Francisco, Calif. His grandparents, Burchell and Ruby Hopkins of Powell and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins also survive him.

Ronald Royce Nickerson passed away March 25, 2009 in Jackson Hole after a courageous battle with cancer.  Ronald, or also known as “Rotten Ron,” was born on June 23, 1937. He entered the United States Army where he served from 1954-1958. His company was stationed in Germany where he drove a tank. He also worked as a truck driver, visiting all of the United States except Hawaii and Alaska.  His favorite pastimes were spoiling his two granchildren rotten, telling jokes, playing tricks and pranks on people, and spreading his wonderful humor to everyone he met.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda Nickerson, and his father, Kenneth Nickerson.   Survivors include his daughter, Shauna Honadel of Afton; his sister Judith Meyer of Salt Lake City; and his brother, Nick Nickerson of Casper.  A memorial service will take place in Glenrock in early summer.

Otto Dan Peternal, 87, of Kemmerer  and longtime member of the Lincoln County ranching community passed away on April 1, 2009, in Riverton.  He was born Dec. 28, 1921 in Kemmerer. He attended the University of Wyoming until he enlisted in the Army during WWII.   He served his country as a medic on the battlefield in Germany until the war ended.     He returned to Kemmerer to join his family running their three cattle ranches and the Union Meat Market.   He married Helen Farrell in 1963 and made a life of ranching and raising his daughters and was truly devoted to each! He spent his golden years running up and down the Hamsfork and drinking coffee with his friends.    He is survived by daughters Lucy Hillstead; Ann (Scott and son Christopher) Boyle; Ellen Peternal; sister Ida Barlow; grandchildren Devon, Mason, and Caitlin Hillstead; Edna, his sister in law; the Bob Peternal family; the Bob Thoman family and Father Farrell Peternal.  He was preceded in death by wife Helen; daughter Amy;  parents John and Rose; brothers Johnny and Bill (and wife Nancy).    Rosary was held Sunday evening, April 5 at 7 p.m. at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kemmerer.  The funeral Mass took place on Monday April 6 at 10 a.m. with burial at the Kemmerer Cemetery.

Funeral services for Austin Merritt will be held on Friday, April 10, 2009 at noon in the Bedford LDS Church.  Viewings are scheduled for Thursday, April 9 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Schwab Funeral Chapel in Thayne and on Friday from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church.