The Riverton Ranger, Sunday, April 20, 2003
Riverton, Wyoming

Betty L. Lye of Riverton died Friday, April 18, 2003 at Wind River Healthcare in Riverton. She was 73 years old.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the United Methodist Church of Riverton. Burial is at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Oregon State Veterans Cemetery in Casper.

Betty Leona Willman was born April 20, 1929, at Haig, Neb., to Henry and Katherine Willman. She attended Owl Creek elementary and Lyman High School until 1946 when her parents moved from the Stegall community south of Morrill, Neb., to Shoshoni.

She graduated from Shoshoni High School in 1947 and married John W. Lye on Dec. 7. 1947.

Mrs. Lye was a newspaper correspondent for The Ranger and the Lander Journal for 25 years. She was State Grange Secretary for 20 years, State PTA Treasurer, District PTA officer, Kinnear Grange Secretary since 1988, and a lifetime member of the PTF and United Methodist Women's group.

At the time she became ill, she was serving as secretary of the Kinnear Grange, secretary of the Women's Auxiliary of the VFW, and secretary of the United Methodist Women's group. She was a choir member, Sunday School teacher, and 4-H leader.

Her family said Mrs. Lye's favorite pastimes were writing and reading. She wrote stories and articles for several papers including The Fence Post, RVEA Magazine, Farm Journal, The Plainswoman, Manic Morns, and the Casper Star Tribune.

Mrs. Lye also authored poetry for Wyoming Writers, National Poetry, Solutions for Seniors, Stories of Women of the West, and the Bicentennial Book for Wyoming.

She is survived by her husband, John W. Lye of Riverton; son Dennis of Taylor Mill, Ky., his wife and children; daughter Denise of Gilbert, Ariz., her husband and children; son Dale of Brookfield, Wis., his wife and children; and eight grandchildren.

Arrangements are by the David Funeral Home of Riverton.