Henry Yake

Funeral services for Henry Oliver Yake will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 26, 2007 at Family Life Church with Pastor Bill Morel officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2007 at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home. Henry Yake, age 84, of Gillette, Wyoming died on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home of natural causes. He was born on July 18, 1922 the son of Henry and Mary Ann (Culp) Yake in Kettle Falls, Washington. Henry grew up in Marcus, Washington. He attended Marcus High School, where he was a star basketball player and graduated in 1940. Upon graduation, Henry worked in the apple orchards in Washington before joining the United States Marine Corps. Henry was a Technical Sergeant and served as an MP in Okinawa, Japan. Upon returning to the states in 1944, he met Lois Jean Peterson who traveled from Gillette, Wyoming to Chicago, Illinois to be of assistance during her sister?s pregnancy. On August 19, 1945, they were married in her parent?s front yard in Gillette. They lived in Gillette until 1947, and then moved to Kettle Falls, Washington where he worked for a lumber mill and later owned a Chevron gas station. They returned to Gillette in 1956. Henry worked as the General Manager for Bennage Chevrolet and Cadillac Garage which later became D & I Motors. He also worked as a hunting guide for the Walker Ranch on Powder River and was a co-owner manager of Camelanes Bowling Alley. In 1967, Henry and Lois moved to Pinedale, where Henry managed Highland Lumber Company. He also had a partnership in Bonnevilla Mobil Homes and owned the KOA Campground. After retiring from those ventures, Henry did custom haying and backhoe work. In 1998, Henry and Lois bought a farm 23 miles northwest of Bemidji, Minnesota. They returned to Gillette in February of 2004. Henry loved animals and had several horses and mules as well as a pair of Clydesdales. He loved the outdoors and hunting, especially Big Horn Sheep. While in Pinedale, Henry was a regular as a ?Mountain Man? in the local Rendezvous with Lois as his ?Squaw?. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and served as the President of the Wyoming snowmobile Association. He and Lois would take extended trips with friends including trips to Yellowstone Park and traveled to surrounding states. Henry served as an officer in the VFW, in Pinedale.Henry is survived by his three sons: Henry Jay Yake of Yakima, Washington, Sylvan Lee Yake of Gillette, Wyoming, and Garry Dean Yake of Casper, Wyoming; 11 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Clyde and three sisters: Beth, Thelma and Janice.Memorials and condolences may be sent in Henry?s name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonwilson.com.