Grace Connell

April 30, 1918 – Aug. 31, 2013

[caption id="attachment_6777" align="alignright" width="202"] Grace Connell[/caption]Longtime Riverton resident Grace Connell died Aug. 31, 2013, at Westward Heights Care Center after living there for more than eight years. She was 95.Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 419 E. Park Ave., Riverton, Wyo. The Reverend Vernon Boehlke will officiate. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. A viewing will be held prior to the service starting at 9:30 a.m.Grace Esther Richter was born on April 30, 1918, in La Crosse, Wis., to George and Amanda (Kleinsmith) Richter. She attended a one-room school in Smith Coulee, Logan High School in La Crosse and graduated from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She then taught in rural schools in the area and later in Middleton, Wis.She married Rolland Connell on Dec. 21, 1941. After his service in the Army they lived in Middleton, Lodi and Beloit, Wis. They then lived in Greeley, Colo., before moving to Riverton in 1957.She was active in her church and was a member of Trinity Lutheran since her arrival in Riverton. Her love of music led her to learn to play the organ and then helped all four children learn and play in church. She was instrumental in developing the bell choir at Trinity. She also was involved in 4-H as a parent and leader and, as a substitute, taught in the Riverton schools.She collected dolls and bells. Her love of poetry was apparent in the many poems she had memorized and still recited verbatim up until her death, including many classics. She loved flowers and had pretty gardens, roses were her favorite.She is survived by her daughters Jody (Stanley) Bryant of Riverton, Beth Connell of Riverton and Dawn (David) Hoffman of Lovell; her grandchildren Kristi (Daryne) Fegler, Rob (Kim) Bryant, Spencer Connell, Elizabeth (Derek) Schumacher, Jack (Sabra) Hoffman, Abigail (Zach) Moody and Thomas Hoffman; her great-grandchildren Macey, Camey, Tye and McAye Fegler, Braxton Bryant, JD Schumacher, Wesley, Evan and Erik Hoffman, and Olivia and Maximus Moody.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Rolland, and her son Todd Connell.Memorials may be made to Westward Heights Activities Department in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501.Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home. Online condolences for the family may be made at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com.