Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884

Arvid D. "Buz" Myers

Arvid D. "Buz" Myers, 80, of Torrington, Wyoming, passed away on April 26, 2023. Arvid was born in Alliance, Nebraska, on December 3, 1942 to Orval L. and Mildred Arletta (Dinkel) Myers.

He grew up in the Hay Springs, Nebraska area on a farm about ten miles from town. He was the middle child, having an older sister, Sandra, and a younger brother, Lynn.

He attended Sandridge Country School, where a teacher nicknamed him "Buz" for talking all the time. Arvid graduated from Hay Springs High School in 1961 where he was active in FFA and was on the basketball and track teams along with playing baseball in the summers.

After graduating from high school, he attended the Rapid City Business School in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Arvid married Marjorie Thorvaldson on February 14, 1974 in Rawlins, Wyoming. He was the father of four children: Kimberly Kay, Jeffrey Craig, Arvid Jr. and Mikala MarJeanne who were the joy of his life.

Arvid began his working career with the Hay Springs Gambles store and eventually transferred to Rawlins in 1966. In 1967, Arvid hired on with the Wyoming Highway Department in the engineering department.

Later, the WHD began downsizing and that is when Arvid transferred to the maintenance department and began working on the highways. He advanced through the various classes and was certified to drive the states heavy equipment.

In the fall of 1976, Arvid was promoted to maintenance foreman and moved to the Baggs area, where he worked for 22 years. In December 1999, Arvid then moved to Sundance, Wyoming, as Area Maintenance Supervisor overseeing Sundance, Moorcroft and Hulett.

Arvid retired on October 9, 2009 after 42 years of service with WYDOT. The German meaning for "Arvid" is "friend of the people" and that is what he was.

He was always concerned about the safety of the people traveling on the highways and took this to heart. He was one to get up at 4 a.m. (or earlier) and have a plow with sand on the roads before the general public got on the highway in hopes of preventing any accidents.

There were times that Arvid would miss meals, special events such as anniversaries, birthdays and/or holidays just to make sure that other families would be going home safe to their loved ones.

After retiring from WYDOT, Arvid was hired at the Sundance Golf Course as a groundskeeper, where he worked for three summers. Then, because of his love of working outside and working with heavy equipment, he hired on with the Croell Ranch outside of Sundance, where he was able to do the farming for the ranch.

In 2016 while doing what he loved, working with livestock, and helping others on the ranch, through a series of normal yet unpredictable events, he sustained a traumatic brain injury that would change the course of his (and his family's) life forever.

He was an avid outdoors man who loved hunting, fishing, boating and camping. He always had a fishing trip planned and in the makings: with his family, kids, friends, neighbors, strangers (of which he never met any) and yes, he even made time to go fishing with other WYDOT friends during/after those WYDOT meetings he had to go to.

He, a good friend, and his sons made a trip to Canada for a special fishing trip. He always made time to see his children and grandchildren.

This included going anywhere from sports events, FFA/4-H events, music concerts to parade/rodeo contests, and even traveling to and from camps for all such events. He loved to travel with his friends and family.

He and Marge made several trips to Canada, took a cruise to Alaska, and spent time in Nebraska, Colorado, Disney World in Florida, took a trip with the WY band kids to California who participated in the Rose Bowl Parade in 2004, and southern Utah and a week at Lake Powell with friends.

He loved being a part of his kids' and grandkids' school and sports activities and even hired on with the LSRV School as part-time bus driver in order to travel with his kids and their friends for various school events.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orval and Arla; his sister, Sandra; his brother, Lynn; his aunt and uncle, Murphy and Eleanor Myers and nephew, Kerry Clark; along with other aunts, uncles and cousins.

Those surviving him are his wife, Marge; his sons, Jeff and wife, Deborah and AJ and wife, Ann; his daughters, Kim and husband, Todd Thomas and Mikala; grandchildren, Andrea Myers "Peanut" of Lincoln, Braidon "Little Charlie" and wife Heather, Camdon "Smokie" and Havyn "Half Pint" Myers of Cheyenne and Cathryn "Spook" and Eleanor "Little Smokie" Reimer of Torrington; step-grandchildren, Hailey and Lexi Heath of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; sister-in-law, Marlene Myers of Lewellen, Nebraska; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dick and Joyce Clark of Lincoln; nephews and nieces, Randy Clark of Lincoln, Eddie Myers and L'dene Zamora of Salt Lake City, Utah, Creston Myers of Alliance, Nebraska and Carissa Munn of Lewellen, along with many cousins.

Memorial Services will be held later this summer. Arvid's wish was to have some of his ashes spread at the Little Snake River area where he enjoyed fishing. Final graveside services and inurnment will be at the Hay Springs, Nebraska cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Arvid's name has been established to benefit the families of fallen veterans and responders with educational scholarships at Folds of Honor, Dept. #13, Tulsa, OK 74182 or foldsofhonor.org/squadron/other ways to give.

Or you may donate to a church or organization of your choice. Please place Arvid's name in the memo portion of your check.

Arrangements are under the care of Colyer Funeral Home in Torrington.

 
 
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