Deanna Isabelle Lebarron

Obituary

Deanna Isabelle LeBarron

December 10, 1938 – March 10, 2026

Deanna (Hovland) LeBarron passed away peacefully in her home on March 10, 2026 in Worland, Wyoming.

Born at home on December 10th, 1938 in Austin, Minnesota, Deanna was the youngest of twelve and the daughter of Harold and Olga Hovland, who immigrated from Norway. Deanna grew up a voracious reader, and an athletic and funny girl. Despite her high school having no competitive sports for women, she played basketball often. She met her husband Bill LeBarron at seventeen in the library. She asked Bill to the sockhop and the rest was history.

Her bookworm tendencies resulted in Deanna majoring in English at the University of Minnesota, where she worked at the laundromat to pay her way through school. Bill and Deanna wed shortly after graduation, on June 11th, 1960 at the Saint Olaf's Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota. Nine months and six days later, Deanna gave birth to her daughter Leslie Reene in 1961 and her son Jeffrey William in 1962.

The family relocated often at the request of The Bureau of Land Management, who sent Bill all over the country. The LeBarrons resided in unusual places, living in Chester, Fall River Mills, Susanville and Redding, California, Worland and Rock Springs, Wyoming, and Washington DC before they decided to return to Worland permanently. Deanna worked for school districts in Redding, Susanville, and Worland, but she was happiest as an educator and a librarian at Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs. Deanna also loved to play tennis, snow ski, and hiked the Grand Canyon at age 65.

After retirement, most of Deanna's days were spent tending to her garden, reading just about everything, and playing cards with good friends. She loved antiques, red furniture, ornamental blue and white plates, paintings of flowers, and any knick knack from Norway. She served on the library board and foundation in Worland, and was a member of PEO. She sang in various choirs and loved her community of the United Methodist Church.

An instructor of all things fun to her granddaughters, she enjoyed going head to head in Rummikub, Dominos and any and all card games. A good sport, she adored both winning and losing to her grandchildren. Accusations of cheating were made often but always in jest, and talking when it was your turn was a pet peeve. An unexpected prank was always encouraged.

Deanna LeBarron is survived by her husband of 65 years Bill LeBarron, her daughter Leslie Basse and son-in-law Brad Basse of Thermopolis, Wyoming, her son Jeffrey LeBarron and daughter-in-law Tere LeBarron of Tucson, Arizona and four grandchildren Andrea Henderson (Matthew) of Boise, Idaho, Sarah Leddige (Luke) of Nampa, Idaho, Madeline LeBarron of Himeji, Japan and Marissa LeBarron of Los Angeles, California. Deanna is also survived by five treasured great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her eleven siblings. We will miss

her no nonsense attitude, dirty limericks, annual visits to Tucson when the weather in Worland was just too cold, the hilarious stories she shared, and her love for her family. Deanna described her life as a great adventure. Her husband, family and friends will miss her dearly.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at the United Methodist Church in Worland. Memorial donations may be made to the Washakie County Library. Please send checks to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com