William Earl Hockaday: 1968 – 2025
February 16, 2025, our beloved husband and father, uncle and cousin, William Earl Hockaday, passed away.
He was born February 6, 1968, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Vicki and Wayne Hockaday. He was the youngest of four children. He had a rough childhood, but he was still loved by many. He spent time in Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma, in which the latter, he lived with his grandparents through his teenage years. He found stability in their home and had wonderful fond memories of his time there. He studied at the University of Oklahoma, then worked construction in California, where he would meet Mari and later have Caitlin.
As time went on, he would have another daughter, Ashley. In 1999, he met Tiffany Hyde, whom he would marry and have three wonderful children: Joshua, Sarah, and Rebekah.
They later divorced, and in 2016, he met the love of his life, Cynthia Liebschutz. They met online and quickly became friends. In 2018, they decided that it was time to see each other face to face, and that was it for them. They began life together 2019 when she moved to Casper, and eventually, Bill decided to make everything official by marrying her on February 2, 2022. Their time together was short, but it was filled with joy and many Adventures.
Bill is survived by his five children: Caitlin and her son, Romeo, Ashley, Joshua (big J), Sarah, and Rebekah; as well as his four stepchildren: Holly Molling, Alex Molling, Mariah (husband George) Terbeck, and Joshua Molling (little J). He is also survived by his brother, Allen and his wife, Jane; his sister, Gayla Stemming, her husband, Tony; and their son, Ethan; as well as his nieces, Lynn Cave and Katherine Hockaday (and their children) from his brother Ryan.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ryan. The family would like to extend gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the Wyoming Medical Center ICU not only for the care and compassion that they extended to him but also extended to the family in this great time of loss. A go fund me account has been set up for Cynthia to help with funeral expenses.
Barbara Jean Miller: 1953 – 2025
Barbara Jean (Alkire) Miller, 72, passed from this life on Sunday, February 16, 2025, surrounded by family in Gillette, Wyoming. A celebration of life for Mrs. Miller begins at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, at the Abundant Life Church.
Barbara was born on January 1, 1953 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Anna Marie and Burt Lee Alkire. She was raised in Minatare, Nebraska with her five siblings. She married Larry Miller in 1979 in Gillette, Wyoming and where they made their home. They have three children: LeAnna Miller, Shawnna (Miller) Houser and Michael Miller.
She was a stay-at-home wife and mother who loved to care for her family. She enjoyed crocheting, painting, and drawing. She valued time around the table visiting or playing cards at family gatherings. A favorite of hers was listening and singing worship songs at church and at home. She and Larry together enjoyed Bible Studies and Barb was involved with the Secret Sister ministry at her church.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Larry Miller; three kids: LeAnna, Shawnna and Michael (Nicole)Miller. Her six grandchildren: Alysen “Niki” (Joshua) Schmidt, Payten(Victoria) Batalden, Branden Woodard, Katelyn Daniels, Elley Daniels.
She is also survived by her eight great-grandchildren: Jaden Schmidt, Zanden Miller, Caiden Schmidt, Brayden Schmidt, Asher Fraga, Neysa Lindsay, Westen Batalden, and Layken Batalden; her mother, Anna Marie Alkire; and sisters: Cheryl Biltjinits, Carol Biltjinits and Sandi Kotschwar; and many nieces and nephews.
Barb is preceded in death by her father, Bert Lee Alkire; her brother, Richard “Rick” Alkire; her sister, Linda Thompson; her brothers-in-law, Garry Miller and James “Jim” Kotschwar; her sister-in-law, Kathy Miller; mother-in-law, Mary Elsie Miller; father-in-law, Charles Edward Miller; her niece, Ashley Case; and many cousins.
Thomas Anthony Ries: 1932 – 2025
Thomas Anthony Ries, 92, passed away in New Orleans on February 11, 2025. Tom was born October 17, 1932, in Cheyenne, Wyoming to Anthony and Grace Ries (Thomas).
He graduated from the University of Wyoming and later earned an MBA from the University of Utah. Tom began his career as a musician with the Cheyenne City Band and went on to play string bass and tuba with orchestras led by Don Hoy, Russ Carlyle, Clyde McCoy, Don Glasser and others.
He joined the Air Force in 1953, traveling across Europe with the 686th Air Force Band. He went on to a successful career as an international business executive, living in Europe from 1964 to 1987, followed by a third career as a university professor and educator after he returned to Wyoming. He taught International Business in Denver, Cheyenne and Laramie while residing in Woods Landing. Tom spent his final years in New Orleans, where he returned to his love of music and helped found the official band of the New Orleans Deutsche Haus.
He continued to travel throughout his life, visiting 110 countries and all fifty U.S. states. Tom’s love of music, travel stories, and sense of humor won him friends in many countries, many of whom he brought on visits to his native Wyoming.
Tom is survived by his four daughters: Grace M. Arteaga (Jorge), Debbie Ost (Ben), Tonia Ries (Keith), and Alexandra Leach (Mark); his niece, Kym Zwonitzer (Dave); and nephew, Jim Roth (Sally). Tom cherished his grandchildren: Nina Arteaga, Andy Ost, Tim Carson, Sam Leach, Dante Ost, Kate Leach, Jack Leach; and his great-grandson, Felipe Carson.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Charlene Stogsdill.
Funeral services will be held at Wiederspahn-Radomsky at 9 a.m. on March 22, 2025, followed by an internment at Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a memorial donation to the Deutsches Haus in New Orleans https://deutscheshaus.org/donate.
