Dennis Peterson Godfrey

Nov. 18, 1930 – Sept. 23, 2026

Dennis Godfrey died September 23, 2026.

He lived a life defined by adventure, service, hard work and a deep appreciation for the natural world. Born and raised in Cowley, he developed a love for the outdoors at an early age. As a young boy, he helped drive cattle through Wyoming and into the Pryor and Big Horn Mountains, experiences that helped shape his lifelong connection to the land.

Throughout his life, he embraced challenges and pursued them with determination. He served his country honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS McDermut. Following his military service, he worked as a logger in Oregon, in the Wyoming oil fields and on road construction crews in Yellowstone National Park. 

He was also no stranger to the rodeo arena, where he rode broncos and worked alongside fellow cowboys. Ultimately, he settled into a career as revenue officer for the IRS, which eventually landed him in California.

His passion for the outdoors remained constant throughout his life. He volunteered with Search and Rescue in Fremont County, Wyoming, helping others in times of need. For many years, he was a devoted Boy Scout leader, a role he loved. 

He was an accomplished hunter and outdoorsman who proudly served as a guide for Wyoming’s renowned One-Shot Antelope Hunt. Among those he guided were distinguished guests Jimmy Doolittle and Walter Schirra, an honor he remembered with great pride. 

Dennis was an avid hiker whose achievements included successfully climbing Mount Whitney three times between the ages of 55 and 70. Among his favorite adventures were leading hikes through Zion National Park, especially through the Narrows, a place he loved returning to again and again.

In the 1980s, he founded the Coachella Valley Hiking Club through Sands Park in Desert Hot Springs, California. What began as a gathering of outdoor enthusiasts grew into a group that continues to thrive, a testament to his leadership and ability to inspire others to enjoy nature.

Beyond his many accomplishments, he was known for his creativity and storytelling. He loved photography and was a talented artist who found beauty in both grand landscapes and everyday moments. Family and friends looked forward to his annual Christmas letters, which faithfully arrived each year and captured the adventures, reflections and humor that defined him. 

Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Erastus Dudley Godfrey and Alda Dale Peterson; brothers Dick, Bill, Sidney, Gene and Dean Godfrey; sister Greta Workman; and his three wives. 

He is survived by one sister, Sharon Blackburn of Cowley; children Kent Weekly (by first wife Shirley Montgomery), Wendy Castillo, Lynne Fish and Diane Godfrey (by second wife Rose Schmidt) and Debbie Sansone Crone, a daughter with whom he happily connected late in life; grandchildren Kimberly Young, Justin Barnett, Krista Weekl, and Jessica Castillo; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In accordance with his wishes, Dennis will be cremated, and the family will hold a celebration of life to be scheduled around next year’s Cowley Days festivities, with burial at the Cowley Cemetery.

Dennis’ legacy lives on in the trails he explored, the lives he touched, the stories he shared and the family and friends who will forever remember his adventurous spirit and enduring love of the outdoors. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

The mountains, the trails, the open sky and the campfires were never just places for him; they were where he felt most at home.