Donna Jo Best Epler

Donna Jo Best Epler was born on May 22, 1930 to Arthur and Gertrude Ullstrom in Wahoo, Nebraska. The Ullstrom family moved to Scottsbluff, NE. in early 1935 and on to Alamosa, Colo. Shortly thereafter, an opportunity presented itself and the Ullstroms moved to Wood River, Nebr. establishing a family farm on the Platte River that still exists today as Luehr Farms.

Donna had two siblings Elaine Luehr Hannon and brother Harold Ullstrom, deceased. Also, a grandson Joel, deceased.

Donna’s entire family are still in awe of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Donna rode her horse to a rural school through 8th grade in Wood River. She graduated in the spring of 1948 and had met her first husband in high school, Clyde Aubrey “Boze” Best. They were married on May 28, 1949 in Wood River. They had 3 children Kent, Patti and Mark, all born in Nebraska.

Our father was seriously injured in a well drilling accident in the summer of 1959. Mom ran our small farm where we raised cows, chickens, ducks, geese and had an elaborate garden. We milked 6-9 cows, separated skim and sold cream and lived a very frugal life. Mom also cleaned the Bank of Wood River, the insurance building two doors down and worked at Maxon’s Drug Store. The family sold their farm and moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming Jan. 19, 1961, a new beginning.

When someone lives a long abundant life, grew a loving family, worked, played, entertained, baked, traveled and touched as many people as she did and never wanted to be noticed, this truly is the passing of an era.

After moving to Wyoming, Donna attended night school to enhance her accounting skills to help secure her job at the Wyoming State Library working 27 years and retiring in 1988. She absolutely loved the many associates from the Library to the Supreme Court and the Capitol, so many seemed like family.

Mom loved every ounce of Mark, Patti and Kent’s school activities which had her scrambling all the time in the 60’s, 70’s: sports, rodeos, picnics, hunting, all of her favorite things. The late 70’s, 80’s brought weddings and grandchildren Joel, Trevor, Courtney, Matthew and bonus Greta, Michael and Brian. All the miles between didn’t deter Donna from driving or flying and to be there. Clyde passed away in June, 1982.

Donna married Orval D. Epler on 10/7/1989, in a wedding fit for a Hallmark movie! This was as authentic as you could imagine i.e., horse drawn wagon, Wyoming Hereford Ranch, barn dance, growing mixed family that had known each other for years through the Shetland pony rodeos, Saddle Tramps, Frontier Days everything, brandings, you name it.

Who could have predicted that Dad and Mom meeting Orval and Maxine in late 1961 and our families still together today? Dad and Mom were “Frontier Days Volunteer Heels” and Grandpa Orval was elected into the CFD HOF two years ago.

There were many extended families from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana, Nebraska that worked all the parades from Frontier Days Park. Donna never met a cream can dinner serving 10 or to 100 that she couldn’t cook for or manage.

Picked up a Wyoming Tribune-Eagle and on the front page is Orval, Donna Jo and sister Patti moving cattle for a weekend chore along I-80, behind the Harriman mines, over by Vedavoo and some near Happy Jack Road, cattle being rounded up.

Donna embraced our outdoor Wyoming culture like no other, she was an enthusiastic sports fan including drives over the Snowies, visiting our cabins in Fox Park, steer ropings, rodeos, football, hauling hay from Walden, you name it. One tiny burr under her saddle is how Josh ended up in Buffalo when her Broncos were right here? She would take Patrick if she couldn’t have Josh, however, no one could replace her Wyoming Cowboys, all sports, “Go Pokes!”

Donna loved to dance, country music and especially George Strait, we have all of his CD’s.

For all of these wonderful memories, entertaining friends, family, cooking for 2 or 100, she also was a Deacon in the Cheyenne and Riverton Presbyterian Churches, a testament to her faith.

Donna was devoted to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and to our families, the Best, the Luehrs, and Eplers. Whether it was birthdays, weddings, reunions, sports of all kinds, she did not do anything half-hearted. She was always there and all in! Almost anyone who wanted an afghan, had one or two that she crocheted!

Thank you for allowing us to share a passing of an era, here are some quotes:

“We were the first amongst our friends to acquire a black and white television. Our friends came over to watch the 1956 World Series, Ed Sullivan, big time wrestling, the test pattern and play cards.”

“I have outlived two cowboy husbands, 5 card playing groups and been retired longer than I worked!”

Donna Jo Best Epler could be a pistol:

A few years ago my sister called wondering if I knew where “my” mother was? “What about your Mother?” She is not home and not answering her phone! Patti had checked with Mom’s friends, my church activities, befuddled.

You know Mom mentioned last week the Eplers may be having a function at Gary and Cheryl’s in Douglas this weekend? Surely in these winds she didn’t take off for Douglas! Mom, why did you take off, “because I wanted to!”

“The little old lady of Cheyenne or Pasadena may have had a lead foot.... or not!”

“A few years ago, Donna Jo, 80 and our Aunt Sherry, 82, loved volunteering at Meals on Wheels delivering to the older people who needed help.”

“Many of my friends and family are gone now, but I have been so fortunate to have lived such an abundant life!”

By the way, we had a 70th birthday party in 2000 for Donna and Matthew’s graduation, where it struck him ‘that graduation must be very important! Grandma never misses any of our graduations whether in Kansas City or Longmont.

Surviving members in Donna’s family are nephews Loyd and Bill Luehr and their families, Mark (Toni), Patti (Ken), Kent (Gayle), grandchildren Trevor (Heather), Courtney, Matthew (Kelly), Greta, Michael, Brian (Jessica), 9 great grandchildren: Zoe, JJ, Bailey, Elektra, Kalel, Layla, Joey, Davis, Aubrey, Braxton, daughter-in-law Jenny (Shawn).

Epler Family: Daughters Wanda and Cheryl (Gary), grandchildren Brenda, Tammy (Pat), Krystal, Nicole (Larry), great-grandchildren Hailee, Caleb (Emma), great-great grandchild Audrey.

Our families would like to thank the staff at Point Frontier, all of Donna’s church friends who visited her, and all of our family and extended family who have stayed in touch all of these years.

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to sister Patti for keeping Mark and I “always in the loop” while super caring for Mom.

If so inclined, memorials will gladly be accepted by Meals on Wheels - Cheyenne or the St. Joseph's Pantry - Cheyenne.

It would be a very short trip for Mom to heaven as she sang ‘The Cowboy Rides Away?’”