Mildred "Honey" Isabelle Windom

Mildred "Honey" Windom

A Wyoming pioneer, Mildred "Honey" Windom, age 96 of Torrington, formerly of Lusk, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2001, at the Goshen Care Center in Torrington where she has been a resident since November 1999. A memorial service was held Tuesday June 5, 2001 at the Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home in Lusk with Reverend Don Chanslor officiating. Cremation has taken place.

Mildred Isabelle "Honey" Windom was born On July 24, 1904, in a log cabin on the banks of the Laramie River at the Scissors Ranch which at that time was Laramie County, Wyoming. Her birthplace lies beneath the waters of the Grayrocks Reservoir in what is Platte County today. Her parents were Horace Wilson Meglemre and Margaret Wilde Meglemre. Mr. Meglemre was a cattle foreman for the Swan Land and Cattle Company at the time.

When Mildred was almost a year old, the family moved into Wheatland to live. "Honey" graduated from Wheatland High School in 1922. She was employed as a telephone operator as a young woman and then as a teller in the Wheatland State Bank owned by Mr. Brice. In 1928 she won a new Chevrolet in a local popularity contest and when she married Dale C. Windom on July 7, 1928 in Douglas, they spent their honeymoon touring Yellowstone Park in the new car. She and Dale operated a Five and Ten Cent Store on Gilchrist Avenue in Wheatland soon after their marriage. The Windoms lived in Wheatland until they moved to Lusk in 1940.

During her years in Lusk, "Honey" worked for the Lusk State Bank, the Stockman's Bank and was deputy County Treasurer under Ada Vogel. She and Mr. Windom owned and operated the Texaco Bulk Plant for several years. Mrs. Windom was a past Matron of Niobrara Chapter No. 26, Order of Easter Star and received her Easter Star Fifty Year Member pin in 1992, and until her death, was a member of the Woodbine Chapter No. 18, OES of Douglas, Wyoming, a past member of the Lusk DOES, and served as Guardian of Bethel No. 10, Order of Job's Daughters of Lusk. To her many friends she will be remembered for her merry attitude and pleasant smile. She enjoyed her flowers, playing bridge and reading while still in good health and visiting the Lusk Senior Center.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dale in 1980, her sister Gladys Baker Frasier, her brother Eldon "Boots" Meglemre and an infant granddaughter Marcie Ann McDaniel.

She is survived by her son Larry Windom and his wife Linda, their sons Brian and Jason of Mukilteo, Wash.; her daughter Barbara Costopoulos and husband Nick of Guernsey, and their son Mark McDaniel and his wife Sandy and their children Brandy, Lauren and Cameron of Casper; six nieces and two nephews.

Memorials have been established for the following organizations: The Goshen Care Center, 2009 Laramie St. Torrington, WY 82240; Lusk Public Library, Box 510, Lusk, WY 82225; Lusk Senior Center, Box 928, Lusk, WY 82225 or the Niobrara Enhancement Community Foundation, Box 1108, Lusk, WY 82225.

The Lusk Herald
May 17, 1989
Wyoming Native Loves This Area and Town
Mildred "Honey" Windom has always enjoyed working with flowers and playing cards, but, because of a medical condition known as retinal detachment, she no longer can see well enough to enjoy these things. She lists "resting" as her favorite hobby.

She was born July 24, 1904, near Wheatland. She lived there until 1940, when she moved to Lusk with her husband, Dale.

She and her husband grew up together, dated off and on and got married July 7, 1928, she said.

In 1935, the couple had their first child, Barbara Ann Costopoulos, who now lives in Guernsey with her husband. Three years later they had their son, Larry, who now lives near Everett, Wash.

Her husband died in October 1980.

Windom attended a three-month course in post high school studies, mostly in bookkeeping, after graduating from high school in 1922. While she was in school, she worked at the telephone office from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

After her post graduate course, she went to work at the Wheatland bank. she worked there until about 1928, when she got married. She worked her way from teller to assistant cashier while there.

In 1936, he husband was assistant supervisor of the Farmers' Security Administration and was transferred to Lusk in 1939.

Windom and her husband bought the Texaco Bulk Plant in Lusk in 1948, she said. She was the bookkeeper for three years. The couple sold the station in 1952.

She began working at the Stockman's Bank in Lusk (now Key Bank) on March 30, 1953. She worked there for nearly six years.

Following this, she worked at the Niobrara County Courthouse for a year. Then she had to have some surgery and was unable to work for a while.

She began working at Lusk State Bank as a part-time person who would come in when needed. In 1964, she began working there full-time and she retired in 1966 at the age of 62.

During the time she could not work, she did some traveling. Her son sent her a ticket to Washington and her brother, who lives in California, sent her a ticket to come visit.

"I was never idle," she said.

"I played lots of cards. I used to love to play cards. I used to play 'old soli' (solitaire) game after game. I can't see well enough now," she said, adding that, because of her poor eyesight, she can't even see the numbers on the large numbered cards well enough to play a game. She enjoys listening to tapes on her tape player and her radio and plans to get a small television set to listen to the news.

Among her most recent activities include participating in the Cowboy State Games Torch Run May 5. She was one of four torch bearers representing the Niobrara County Memorial Nursing Home.

She moved to the home about two years ago following a series of falls. She hurt her back and is now confined to a wheelchair.

She said she especially enjoys flowers because she can see the colors still.

"I used to have lots of flowers outside. I love flowers," she said.

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