Rebecca Lynn Wampler

The following quote is taken from "Leaning into the Wind" the book in which two of Becky's poems were published: "Rebecca Wampler lists her profession as 'unknown.' Though she has worked as a lobbyist, camp cook, bookstore manager, plumber, and cleaning lady, she's always been a writer. She 'would like to continue documenting Western culture and its wholesomeness to newcomers so they might reconsider, or at least introduce their changes slowly and kindly.' She has written magazine articles, the minutes of the Jackson Hole Outfitters, and wildlife and hunting movies, and she was always a closet poet, 'fourth-generation Wyoming working class,' who has lived in ten counties of her home state."

Life Sketch written by the family:

Becky was born on June 11, 1952 in Lusk WY to Ada May and Ernest Wampler. She was baptized in the Congregational Church and went to Sunday School there. She attended first and second grade in Lusk before moving to Jackson in 1960 where she finished grade school and graduated in 1970 as salutatorian of her high school class . She went to the University of Wyoming on scholarships and graduated with a B.A. in Parks and Recreation. After graduation, she worked at various jobs until her marriage to Joe Sondgeroth. When they divorced, she moved to Wilson where she bought a small cabin on an acre along Fish Creek and worked in and around the Jackson Hole area for several years. She made many good friends and devoted time to her great love of writing, becoming a published author. Her other great loves were her horse, Sara, and her faithful dogs, Lefty and Toots.

Becky wanted more open space, so she sold out in Wilson in 1993 and went to Ten Sleep where she developed a little Bed and Breakfast known as the Horned Toad. After a few years, she sold that and bought a small acreage north of town on which she was building a new home after drilling an artesian well. This property brought her endless hours of joy, irrigating the land, planting trees, gardening, and just enjoying the wide open views of Wyoming with her dogs, horses and cats.

Becky was a Job's Daughter, served as Worthy Matron of the Eastern Stars, and attended the Methodist Church. She skied, packed into the mountains, worked with her brother in his hunting camp, and spent endless hours tramping over the countryside with her dogs. She was preceded in death by her mother and is survived by her father, Ernie Wampler, her brother, Ernie, her step-mother, Flicka, and her grandparents Bertha and Walt Hoge and Frances Scott, plus numerous aunts, cousins, and lots of friends.

Memorial services will be held Thursday January 27, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with Reverend Judith Bither-Clair officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Scottish Rite Childhood Language in care of Bryant Funeral Home PO Box 524 Worland, WY 82401.