Elsie Huber died on Christmas Eve, 2016. She was 85. For over 50 years she lived in Casper, active in her community and in her beloved church, St. Patrick’s.

She had a deeply personal relationship with God, an unwavering faith and trust in his grace. It defined her life of hard work and helping others. She lived a favorite phrase of hers, "Let go and let God."

Born in the farming community of Linton, ND to Frank and Regina Jangula on March 11, 1931, Elsie was the youngest of 12 children. She was as comfortable on a farm as she was in town. Hers was a lifelong appreciation of the earth and among her greatest joys were flower and vegetable gardening—even in Casper’s challenging climate.

While in high school, she worked as a checker at the Red Owl grocery. In 1951 she moved to Billings, MT where she married Leonard Huber. The couple divorced in 1986.

Soon after the birth of their first child, Karen, Elsie returned to work at the S & L department store where she worked until the birth of their second child, Deborah Anne.

In 1958, the young family moved to Bismarck, ND where son Kevin was born in 1961. Elsie started what would be a lifelong commitment to volunteer work for the Catholic Church. She served as an officer in St. Anne’s Guild, a group of women who made crafts for fundraising.
In 1963, the family moved to Casper, WY; in 1964, Kathy was born. After both Kathy and Kevin started grade school, Elsie was accepted into the Licensed Practical Nurse degree program at Casper College, graduating in 1968 in the top 10 of her class.

In addition to working at Casper Memorial Hospital, she was a clinical nurse with Dr. Fitzgerald and for 18 years, a pediatric nurse with Dr. Greene. Elsie was a popular nurse, even when it came to giving injections. She always said, “just a stick and a sting.” She retired from nursing in 1994.
Elsie’s greatest joy was her children; she loved family fishing and camping trips with good friends. These trips were the highlight of her summers.
She remained an active and well-known member of both her community and her church until she suffered two strokes in 2013. She made a remarkable recovery but her severe hearing loss made it difficult for her to socialize. Regardless, she had a ready smile and an open heart for everyone.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Deborah, her parents, seven sisters, and four brothers. She is survived by her daughter Karen (Tallahassee, FL), her son Kevin and daughter-in-law Penni (Denver), and daughter Kathy and son-in-law, Jody (Lander); her grandsons, Drew and Kyle; her granddaughters, Karen and Jami; her great-grandchildren Emily and Jason; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, St. Anthony’s Manor, or St. Anthony’s Church.

A celebration of her life is planned for May 20, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Newcomers Funeral Home.

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