Mildred Elaine McGee

Funeral Services for Mildred E. (Pfister) McGee, 97, will be at 10:00 A.M. Thurs., Oct. 6, 2016, at Pier Funeral Home in Lusk. She passed away Sat., Oct. 1, 2016, at Niobrara Community Hospital. Memorials may be made to the Stagecoach museum, Niobrara Community Hospital, or to the donor's choice.

A full obituary will be published at a later date.

Pier funeral Home is assisting the family.

The Lusk Herald

October 12, 2016

Mildred McGee, age 97, passed away October 1, 2016 at the Niobrara Health and Life Center. Funeral services will be held on Thursday October 6, 2016 at Pier Funeral Home in Lusk, Wyoming followed with burial at the Lusk Cemetery.

Mildred was born on April 26, 1919 in Douglas, Wyoming to Edwin and Martha (Huey) Pfister of Hat Creek, Wyoming. Mildred lived all of her young life on the ranch 35 miles north of Lusk on Old Women Creek near Redbird Wyoming. Her stories of her times on the ranch are priceless. She told of going to dances near Mule Creek junction in the side car of her brother's Indian motorcycle, coming home just as the sun was coming up.

Mildred attended Booster School for ten years, two of them included high school. Her mother taught her six of her eight years in grade school. Several of the teachers roomed and boarded with them as there was no teacherage. She began her 4-H "career" in the late 1920's or early 1930's. She looked forward to the meetings because she loved the comradery as she didn't get to see playmates toO often unless at school. She took sewing and her articles went to the State Fair from Niobrara County. To further her sewing education she took classes in adult sewing and tailoring at the University of Wyoming. She exhibited a lot of canned foods for a number of years at both the Albany County Fair and the Wyoming State fair receiving many Grand Champion ribbons. Mildred graduated from Lusk High School in May of 1937 and was the Class Historian. She entered the University of Wyoming in the fall of 1937. She graduated in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the Department of Education. She said there were only nine that year that received this degree. Mildred worked for her meals and also received a scholarship to fund her education. As money was extremely tight her roommate's sister worked at a bakery in Rawlins and would send day-old bread and rolls for them to eat via the Union Pacific each morning.

Mildred met her husband Robert Lee McGee in September 1937. After dating for six years and after Mildred's graduation from the University they were married in Sioux Falls in 1943. They returned to Laramie, Wyoming where they lived for 33 years before Bob was transferred to Cheyenne in 1974. Mildred lived in Cheyenne until failing health required her to move back to Lusk, Wyoming in February of 2012.

Mildred and her husband raised two children, Kathleen Murphy and Michael McGee. Mildred was able to stay home with her children until they were older and did work from her home typing papers for University of Wyoming students and teachers. Her skills as a secretary and training in shorthand and theses earned her work with local businesses in Laramie. Mildred volunteered at St. Laurence Catholic School in Laramie for 8 years. Mildred worked and lived in many places throughout her life, mostly in civil service, following her husband wherever he was stationed. In 1942 she went to San Francisco where she worked while Bob was overseas. Mildred always worked and her retirement years were spent taking care of and helping elderly people.

She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a life member of the Niobrara County Museum, life member of the University of Wyoming Alumni Assn, member of the Bunka Japanese Embroidery Assn, and Wyoming State Volunteers. Mildred was devoted to her Catholic faith and was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Her hobbies included flower arranging, collecting plates, china, jewelry and stamps. She loved her sports, music and dancing in her earlier years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert McGee, children Kathleen Murphy on Feb 8, 2004, son Michael McGee on Feb 12, 2010 parents Edwin and Martha Pfister, brothers James Pfister, Jack Pfister Sr., nephew Jack Pfister Jr.

Survivors include her nephews Patrick Pfister and Jimmy Pfister, nieces Ronda, Lacey and Kaitlyn Pfister, Cally Lund and great nephew Jackson Lund. Kimberly (Frank) Soukup and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorials to the Stagecoach Museum, Niobrara Community Hospital or donor's choice would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements are being handled by Pier Funeral Home of Lusk.

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