Ivor Leslie Danielson

Memorial service for Ivor Danielson of Newcastle will be held 2:00 on Friday, April 22, 2011 at the Weston County Senior Services. Private family interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle.Mr. Danielson, died on April 19, 2011 at the Close to Home Hospice House in Gillette.Ivor Leslie Danielson was born May 17, 1942, in Great Falls, MT, to Oscar and Miriam (Hodgkiss) Danielson. They lived in Cutbank, Montana, for several years before moving to Newcastle in 1949. He attended schools in Newcastle where he graduated in 1962. He worked at Sly's Market and Cramer's Market for years while going to high school. In 1963, at the high school homecoming game he met the girl he often said he loved at first sight, Veronica Mulkey. His feelings were definitely returned and they became engaged two weeks later. They were married in Rapid City, South Dakota, on November 23, 1964. On April 29, 1965, in Newcastle, son John Ivor was born and became the light in his Dad's' life. In 1967, Ivor enrolled in auto body school under JFK's Manpower Development Training Act. He graduated in March 1968, and came home and went to work for what was then Berman Chevrolet. In January 1969, Ivor and Veronica lost a set of twins shortly after their birth and in January 1970, they moved to Gillette, Wyoming, where he was employed at Pete's Body Shop. After working there for about two years he went to work for Davis Chevrolet where he managed their body shop for several years. Ivor always said his dream was to have his son work with him and in October 1983, he and son John opened Custom Classics Auto Body. They ran the business together until the industry slow down in June of 1998, which made them decide to close. Ivor and Veronica then moved to Billings, Montana, in August 1998, where he went to work for General Parts, Inc. (Carquest) to manage their auto body paint training center they were in the process of opening. While there he was able to see many parts of the country he'd never seen before. He decided to retire in December 2006, and the couple came back home to Newcastle. Retirement lasted less than six weeks before he couldn't stand it anymore. He went to work at Weston County Senior Services as a janitor and then switched to driving their vans. He met many new people and renewed many old acquaintances there. In February 2009, he was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer and had surgery at Mayo Clinic. He underwent chemo and radiation for three intensive months in Gillette but the cancer came back in June of 2010. Ivor's greatest hobby was his guns. He loved to hunt but enjoyed himself whether he got anything or not. Just before moving to Billings he discovered black powder cartridge rifles and went into the sport with the same fervor he tackled everything else. After moving back to Newcastle he started shooting shotguns at clay targets and had lots of fun shooting with friends. The last year of his life he started learning to fly radio controlled airplanes and had lots of fun building them and watching friends fly their planes. He loved to go camping and spent many weekends at his favorite camping spot in the Black Hills and, during the last year, at a beautiful spot by Mallo Camp.Ivor is survived by Veronica, his wife of 46 years, beloved son John, daughter-in-law, Vermae, who was never a daughter in law but always a daughter of Gillette, Wyoming, pride and joy grandson, Senior Airman Nicholas Danielson just home from Fort Walton Beach, Florida and brother Larry Danielson of Gillette, Wyoming.Ivor was preceded in death by infant twins Ivor Leslie and Lesley Ann, his dad, mother and an uncle. Condolences can be sent in Ivor's name in care of the Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716