Elayne Marie Salzman

Obituary

Elayne Marie Salzman

January 26, 1940- March 19, 2026

Elayne Marie (Rataezyk) Salzman passed away peacefully at Banner Health Washakie Medical Center on March 19, 2026 with her children and her sisters by her side.

Elayne was born on January 26, 1940 in Basin, WY to Conrad Lawrence Rataezyk and Beatrice Marrion (Hodge) Rataezyk. She was the oldest of 4 girls, sisters who would become lifelong best friends. Elayne was raised in Worland and graduated from Washakie County High School in 1958. Soon after graduation she married the love of her life, Joseph Peter Salzman on July 26, 1958. This union brought 3 children, Connie Jo, Curtis Andrew, and Cheryl Elayne.

Elayne and Joe raised their children on the family farm 10 miles north of Worland. After their children graduated from high school and moved on, they decided to move to town and enjoy the comforts Worland had to offer. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church; and for many years was very involved as a catechism teacher and the Council of Catholic Women, of which she served as president. She spent her younger married life being a homemaker, cooking for hired men, driving beet truck during beet harvest and helping Joe wherever she could on the farm. Elayne served as secretary of the local Farm Bureau Board and was a member of the Jayceettes.

She loved to travel alongside Joe and relished the trips they were able to make to Disney World and Disney Land. She was an avid Mickey Mouse enthusiast and adored her 4-legged friend, Candy, the Dalmation. Her greatest joys were the birth of her grandchildren who were the light of her eyes. Elayne was a doting grandmother attending her grandchildren's school and 4-H events, traveling far and wide to celebrate their successes with them. She even traveled to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD through a severe winter storm to watch her oldest grandson play and win his last college football game. She was so elated to be able to see her grandchildren graduate from college and to attend Andrew's Master of Music Education ceremony at the University of Wyoming.

Elayne was preceded in death by her loving husband Joe, her sister Helen Bihr, her parents Con and Bea, her nephews Dean Bihr and Rodney Bihr, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins whom she never forgot.

She is survived by her children Connie Jo (Tom) Clark, Curtis (Debbie) Salzman, and Cheryl (Jay) Hergert. Surviving grandchildren are Colton Bentley Clark, Cenzie (Aaron) Burlison, and Andrew Curtis Salzman, along with her beautiful great grandchildren Makenna Elaine and Connor Bentley Clark, and Foster Aaron and Archer Thomas Burlison.

Other survivors include her sisters Barbara (Bill) Perry and Mary Mallow, her handsome nephews Robert Perry, Brian (Shawna) Perry, Ronald Bihr and Scott (Rudolpho Carbajal) Bihr, her beautiful and only niece Julie (Marty) Cross, her great nieces Kayla (Steven) Gyorich, Talyn Perry, great nephews Brendon Sinn and Braeden Perry and her great great nephew and nieces Hudson, Henley and Hazel Gyorich.

She dearly loved her family and extended family and never missed an opportunity to share how wonderful each and every one was. Her visits to the grocery store or dollar store gave her a chance to visit with all she met along her travels.

A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 PM on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with a visitation held one hour prior. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026. Memorial donations can be made to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. Please send checks to PO Box 524 Worland, Wyoming 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.