Henry Oliver Yake, 84, of Gillette, Wyo., and formerly of Bemidji, died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Gillette.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Family Life Church with the Rev. Bill Morel officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home in Gillette.
He was born July 18, 1922, to Henry and Mary Ann (Culp) Yake in Kettle Falls, Wash. He grew up in Marcus, Wash. He attended Marcus High School, where he was a star basketball player, and graduated in 1940. Upon graduation, he worked in apple orchards in Washington before joining the United States Marine Corps. He was a technical sergeant and served as an MP in Okinawa, Japan.
Upon returning to the United States in 1944, he met Lois Jean Peterson, who had traveled from Gillette to Chicago to be of assistance during her sister's pregnancy. On Aug. 19, 1945, they were married in her parent's front yard in Gillette.
They lived in Gillette until 1947, when they moved to Kettle Falls, Wash., where he worked for a lumber mill and later owned a Chevron gas station. They returned to Gillette in 1956. He 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 and manager of Camelanes Bowling Alley. In 1967, he and his wife moved to Pinedale, where he managed Highland Lumber Company. He also had a partnership in Bonnevilla Mobile Homes and owned a KOA Kampground. After retiring from those ventures, he did custom haying and backhoe work.
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In 1998, he and his wife bought a farm 23 miles northwest of Bemidji. They returned to Gillette in February 2004.
He loved animals and had several horses and mules, as well as a pair of Clydesdales. He loved the outdoors and hunting, especially bighorn sheep. While in Pinedale, he was a regular as a "Mountain Man" in the Green River Rendezvous, in which his wife also took part. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and served as the president of the Wyoming Snowmobile Association. He and his wife took extended trips with friends, including visits to Yellowstone Park, and traveled to surrounding states. Henry served as an officer in the VFW in Pinedale.
He is survived by his sons, Henry Jay Yake of Yakima, Wash.; Sylvan Lee Yake of Gillette, Wyo.; and Garry Dean Yake of Casper, Wyo.; 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 his name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716 or via the Internet at stevensonwilson.com.
