Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Clarice Mae Michel, 84-year-old lifelong resident of Worland, Wyoming passed away on July 16, 2021. She was born to George E. and Clara (Spadt) Hefenieder on May 23, 1937 in Worland. She grew up on the family farm with two brothers and two sisters and attended school in Worland, graduating in 1955. She worked for the REA briefly after graduating.
Clarice married James Allen Michel at Zion Lutheran Evangelical Church in Worland on March 10, 1957, and they spent the next 64+ years together taking care of each other and their three children. The couple farmed along Washakie Ten for their entire life together.
Clarice was a lifelong member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and served with the Women's Guild for many years. She loved to make meals and cabbage burgers for church functions. She and Jim were active in leadership for 4-H and FFA, devoting countless hours to the youth organizations.
She loved to cook and take care of her family. When she wasn't at home, you would find her driving a tractor in the fields or hauling load after load of beets to the Holly Sugar Factory. Clarice and Jim endured many hardships in farming, but never lost their love of farming life. In recent years, she enjoyed traveling with her family and seeing new places. Her seat in the van is looking very empty now.
Despite severe arthritis and declining health, she never complained and was always ready with a smile and a laugh. She enjoyed doing dot to dot pictures and puzzles and just being with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Clara Hefenieder; her younger brother Charlie Hefenieder; and her older brother Bill Hefenieder.
She is survived by her husband James; sons James Allen, Jr. and Thomas Grant; daughter Jacqueline Marie; sisters Barb (Ray) Ehrmantraut and Susan (Howard) Grable; sisters-in-law Diane Hefenieder and Bonnie Hefenieder; lifelong friend Joan Propp, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Monday, July 26, 2021 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1500 Circle Road. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Z.E.S.T Fund and sent to P.O. Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.
