Richard Dumbrill

Funeral service for Richard Spencer Dumbrill will be at 9:30 a. m., Saturday, February 28, 2009 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Newcastle, Wyoming. Visitation will be 8:30 9:30 a. m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will be at 1:00PM at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Gillette with a luncheon immediately following at the LDS Church in Gillette. Richard Spencer Dumbrill was born in Traverse City, Michigan on March 26, 1926 to Harold and Frances Fern (Spencer) Dumbrill. His parents came to Wyoming when he was a young child and homesteaded on a ranch in the Pine Ridge between Upton and Moorcroft, Wyoming. Richard attended school in both Upton and Moorcroft, graduating from Moorcroft High School in 1944. When he was a young boy, he and his father built a log house on the ranch. The family lived in this house for several years and it still stands today. Richard spent many days herding sheep, delivering lambs, and protecting the flocks from predators. During his time in the Army he served at Fort Ord in California, in the Philippine Islands and with the occupation troops in Korea. He served in a combat zone as a radio operator and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge for this service. He attained the rank of Sergeant. He was honorably discharged November 5, 1946. (He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, The Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.) Right after his discharge he started school at the University of Wyoming. He graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Laws Degree, later changed to Juris Doctor, as well as a Bachelors Degree in English in December of 1951. Richard was married to Lucille Clarke in 1949. The family moved to Newcastle in 1952. Three children were born to this union, Deborah Jane, Richard Douglas, and John Clarke. In 1952 Richard went into practice with Chester S. Jones in Newcastle, Wyoming where in addition to his private practice, he was Deputy County Attorney. He also served as School District attorney for School District #1 and School District #7 in Weston County. He served as City Attorney for the City of Newcastle and Attorney for the Town of Upton. On May 6, 1952 he was admitted to practice before the Wyoming Supreme Court. On April 2, 1973, having been nominated by Congressman Teno Roncalio, Richard was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Richard retired in March of 1988. Donald Hansen continues to practice with James Peck in the firm which Richard and Chester founded on main street in Newcastle. Richard was always been active in the Newcastle community as well as the state of Wyoming. He was a past president of the Newcastle Lions Club serving as chairman of the Newcastle 75th Anniversary Pageant in 1964. He served on the Board of the Anna Miller Museum for many years and as one of the founders helped establish the museum as an integral part of the education system in the area. He was a past president of the Weston County Historical Society and the Wyoming State Historical Society. He received the Cumulative Award for years of service to the Wyoming State Historical Society as well as the L.C. Bishop award for trails. He was always interested in trails and organized the 1974 State Historical Society Trek on the trail blazed by Custer and his troops in 1874 (two years before the fight at the Little Big Horn.) Richard was a member and former treasurer of the First United Methodist Church of Newcastle. During the eighteen years that Alan Simpson was United States Senator for Wyoming, Richard was the chairman for Senator Simpson in Weston County. He was always a member of the Republican Party and a supporter of the political process in Weston County and Wyoming. He and Lucille attended the second Inauguration of Ronald Reagan in Washington, D.C. Richard was always proud to be a member of the Wyoming Bar Association and took his duties as an officer of the court, a defender of the Constitution, a citizen of the Nation, State, and Community very seriously. He lived justly as a wise counselor and advocate, a loving husband and father, and a comfort to his friends and colleagues. Richard is survived by his wife, Lucille of Newcastle, Wyoming; brother John Dumbrill of Santa Rosa California; daughter, Debbie(Jim)McLeland of Gillette, Wyoming; Sons, Doug(JaNel) Dumbrill of Gillette, Wyoming; Clarke(Cynthia) Becket of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania; Grandchildren, Nathan McLeland, Ryan McLeland, Josh Dumbrill, Devin Dumbrill, Alexander Becket, Stephan Becket, Catherine Becket, Max Becket, and Theresa Becket; Step grandchildren Michael Farnsworth, Preston Farnsworth, and Paul Farnsworth, 5 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother Fern and father Harold, two sisters, Phyllis Williams and Mary Pringle, and a grandson, Morgan McLeland. Memorials have been established in Richards name to benefit the Weston County Museum District or the Wyoming Historical Foundation of the Wyoming State Historical Society. Memorials can be sent to Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, Wyoming 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the internet at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com