Memorial Service
Long term Riverton resident Ernest (Ernie) Acton passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin, Wyoming. He was with family at the time of his passing.
Ernest Raymond Acton was born in Lewistown, Montana on May 25, 1931, the fifth child of Wilbur and Nora (Smith) Acton. He grew up on the family Airyland Stock Ranch, where his father raised registered Angus cattle, the first ever in Montana. Ernie attended Lewistown schools until his mother’s death in 1946. Grieving such a loss, his father lost passion for cattle ranching, and the property was sold. The family moved to Billings where he graduated from Billings Senior High School, class of 1949.
After high school, Ernie attended college for three years, and then was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served with the 32nd Antiaircraft Battery as a radio operator in Mendenhall, England. After his honorable discharge, Ernie attended Bible college in Minneapolis for a year. He then returned to Montana where he sang in a male quartet at Church of the Air. Ernie worked on various ranches, and in 1956 he went to work for an International Harvester dealership in Livingston, Montana. While in Livingston, he met and married Patsy Montana Shinn on July 12, 1957. They were married 65 years until her passing in 2023.
The newlyweds moved to Bozeman, where their three children were born and Ernie finished his college degree at MSU. After graduation, the family moved to Sunnyvale, California, where he worked as a buyer for Fairchild Instrumentation.
Tiring of the hectic California life, he and the family moved to Riverton in 1967 where Ernie worked as a Purchasing Agent for Datel. He also worked for Brunton, LRC, the Riverton Police Department, Lucky Mc Mine (Pathfinder), and lastly the Riverton Water Treatment Plant. He officially retired in 1993.
For many years Ernie was a member of both the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department and Fremont County Firefighters, serving as a trainer on both departments. He also served on the Riverton City Council for four years and was a member of both the Elks and the Eagles.
Ernie loved the ranch life. After moving to Wyoming, he continued living it by helping friends with branding, campouts, and mountain/prairie adventures. He was known for his campfire rotisserie chicken and recitation of Robert Service poems. One of his favorite in-town activities was spending time with his firemen friends, and hosting backyard hootenannies. A self-taught harmonica, washboard and spoons player, Ernie loved the friends and family gatherings where food, music and laughter was shared.
Ernie is survived by his children, Cindy (Richard) Hogan of Horsefly, BC, Canada, Dr. Scott (Heidi) Acton of Niwot, Colorado (currently Scotland UK), Kathy (Lee) Clucas of Greybull, Wyoming; sister, Cora Sawyer of Billings, Montana; brother, Dr. Loren (Evelyn) Acton of Sparks, Nevada; sister-in-law, Annie Asplund of Sparks, Nevada; several nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Winston and Howard, sister, Erma (Monte) Diehl; wife, Patsy; and grandson, Shaun.
A service is planned for 4:00 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2025 at the Riverton Elks Club, with burial the following day at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton. Memorials in Ernie’s honor can be made to the Riverton Volunteer Fire department in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 W. Main Street, Riverton, Wyoming 82501.
On-line condolences for Ernie’s family may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home, Crematory and Monuments.