Nancy Jean (O’Hara) Beydler of Riverton, Wyoming passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at Hospice Home in Riverton, surrounded by her daughters.
Mom, daughter of the late Stephen and Jean Mead O’Hara was born February 5, 1938, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas with her 3 brothers and 2 sisters. She was proud to serve in the WAC (Women’s Army Corps) before women were allowed to serve in the Army at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. While stationed in Ft. Knox, she met and married her husband Forrest (Frosty) Beydler. They were married for almost 65 years. They were both honorably discharged and moved to Frosty’s family ranch in Kansas. They later left the ranch and opened Beydler Grocery in Ashland, Kansas. By the time they moved to Greeley Colorado in 1961, Naida and Karen had joined the family and Mom had become a full-time homemaker, a job she would keep full-time as Sandra and Lydia joined the family and until Lydia was in first grade. She moved with Frosty as his career moved him to several different locations around the country, finally settling in Riverton, Wyoming. She could also be counted on to be scout leader, bowling coach or ringleader and was very involved in all her kids’ school and other activities and was an advocate for the youth. Her home was the place where you could find all the kids. She was an amazing cook and cooked like she was feeding the army, because she usually was. You could always count on mom to cook your favorite meal for you. When one of her daughters or anyone else was sick or needed help, she could always be counted on to care for you or cook you a meal.
Mom worked for Edith’s Floral, a job she loved and where she met and made many friends in the community. When Frosty started his own business in the 80s, she traveled around the country and worked with him for several years. Mom then worked at Walmart in fabrics and crafts until she retired.
Mom loved her family, friends, Wyoming (especially Riverton), and playing bridge. She was a crafter and could sew, with a machine and by hand and paint and created amazing Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and St. Patrick’s Day decorations, wall art, blankets, and clothing. She has crocheted hundreds of ornaments and blankets. Her hands were never idle. If she wasn’t playing bridge, which she tried to play as many days a week as she could, she would sew. Mom was an active member of the Does Auxiliary for over 40 years. She loved a good story or a good joke and loved to laugh.
Mom was preceded in death by our Dad Frosty, her brothers PJ and Steve, her sisters Naomi and Bina and her great granddaughter Kinley Heller.
Survivors include daughters Naida Simpson of Riverton, Wyoming, Karen Beydler and her partner Greg Gustin of Lander, Wyoming, Sandra Beydler and her partner Dale Herman of Lander, Wyoming, Lydia Andrews and her husband Michael of Pryor, Oklahoma, brother Thomas O’Hara of Portland, Oregan, twelve grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a Vigil service with rosary at 7:00 pm, Friday, August 23, 2024 at Davis Funeral Home in Riverton. Interment will be 11:00 am, Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Mountain View Cemetery with military honors. A memorial service at the Riverton Elks’ Club will follow the graveside at 12:00 noon. Everyone is welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of Mom’s favorite charities, Help for Health Hospice in care of the Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.