Dahl Judy Mills

Dahl Judy Mills left this earthly existence on November 3, 2024, at Broken Back Ranch north of Ten Sleep, at the age of 91.

Dahl was born on August 5, 1933 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the 2nd of five girls born to William Lavern Judy and Bessie Rachel Jameson. Her oldest sister, LaJean, born and died on the same day in 1931 leaving Dahl to grow up as the oldest living daughter. She was raised in Ammon, Idaho, a suburb of Idaho Falls and lived her younger years on a Dry Farm owned by her parents.

She loved the outdoors and spent her entire childhood and youth roaming the farm, taking care of animals, picking potatoes, riding horses, swimming, playing with her siblings, cousins, and neighborhood children. This outdoor childhood would help prepare Dahl for her future as a ranch wife and mother.

When she was in the 8th grade, she jumped the Broad Jump and they told her it was farther than the high school record. She played the drums for the band, accompanied a dance group and the choir in high school. She graduated from high school in Ammon, Idaho in 1951. She went on to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and spent three years studying Business. Dahl did not finish her degree but met and married a rancher's son, Boyd Sawyer Mills from Ten Sleep, WY on October 22, 1954, in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Boyd and Dahl moved out to Broken Back Ranch in 1955, seven miles north of Ten Sleep. They were blessed to have five children: Terril, Valerie, Lorraine, Lynette and Tom. Dahl loved her family and dedicated her life to care for them. She also worked equally hard on the ranch. Dahl learned to manage a beautiful garden each year, make wonderful meals, milk cows, plow a field, change sprinklers, mow lawns, burn weeds, help gather cows sometimes riding when needed and other times being in front of the herd in a pickup, ride motorcycles, drive hay trucks and tractors, give vaccinations, help cows have their babies, assist Doc Asay during c-sections, and anything else she was asked to do to keep the ranch going. She was the best hired hand her husband Boyd ever had.

Dahl served in the community as PTO President for Ten Sleep Schools and was a faithful member of the Library Board for years. She did cub scouts with Terril and worked in many church callings with the youth. Dahl had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being baptized at age eight. She served faithfully in many callings through the years. Dahl was a teacher in Relief Society, Sunday School, and Primary. She was a Relief Society President and Stake Nursery Leader teaching others how to work with toddlers. She was a dedicated extraction worker using microfiche for years. Her ability to read old Spanish records was miraculous.

When life slowed down a little she liked to walk and collect flowers and plants to identify their kind and usefulness. She enjoyed fishing like her father. Hunting old relics, especially arrow heads, brought her a lot of joy. Listening to music and sewing quilts helped pass the time when it was cold outside. Reading a good book and doing puzzles kept her mind sharp. Dahl loved the Reader's Digest and watching good movies.

Dahl was a caregiver for her husband Boyd for years with the help of Lynette, Terril and Becky. Little did they know that these three would dedicate care to Dahl for many years as well.

Dahl is survived by her five children: Terril (Becky) Mills, of Ten Sleep, WY; Valerie (Larry) Brubaker of Kaycee, WY; Lorraine (the late Mark) Taylor of Gillette, WY, Lynette Mills of Ten Sleep, WY and Tom (Mara) Mills of Riverton, WY. She has 12 grandchildren: Susan Frazier and Saylor Brubaker; Jamin, David, Andrew, Coulter and Cassie Mills Weber; Troy and Zane Taylor; and Dustin, Nathan and Jordan Mills. She has 16 great grandchildren. Dahl is survived by her three sisters and one brother-in-law: BethAlene (the late David) Bodily of Salt Lake City, UT, Dorothy and Lynn Scoresby of Highland, UT, and Lois (the late Jay) Critchfield of Orem, UT. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews living throughout the United States.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd Sawyer Mills, her parents: Vern and Bessie Judy, her sister, LaJean Judy, her in-laws, Milo and Ireta (Sawyer) Mills, her sisters-in-law Merlyn B. (Israel) Daughtery, Charlotte (Gene) Whitlock and Rhoana (Grant) Goodrich.

Bryant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the funeral. A viewing will be held at Bryant Funeral Home 1320 Big Horn Avenue in Worland, WY 6 – 7 PM Wednesday, November 6, 2024. The funeral will be 2:00 PM, November 7, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one mile east of Ten Sleep, WY.

A viewing will be one hour preceding the funeral. Burial will be at Ten Sleep Cemetery on Cottonwood Street on the Northwest side of Ten Sleep immediately following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Ten Sleep Ambulance or Ten Sleep Library. Checks may be sent to PO Box 524 Worland, Wyoming 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.