August 6, 1918 – July 12, 2009



A memorial service for June D. Akers, 90, was conducted on Monday, July 20, 2009, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Wheatland, WY, with the Reverends Lori Modesitt, Jill Zimmerschied, and Joel Dingman officiating. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Gorman Funeral Homes. Her ashes will be scattered at her family ranch, the 96, at a later time.

She died peacefully in her own home, with family, on Sunday, July 12, 2009, one week after being able to go “one last time” to her favorite steer roping, the Andy Tillard Memorial Roping held annually at the Isenberger Ranch near Wright, WY. She had only missed one year since it started 19 years ago.

She was born in Wheatland, Wyoming on August 6, 1918, to Thomas B. and Eva L. (Dover) Dodge, the youngest of three children. She grew up on the family ranch southwest of Wheatland. Brothers-in-law, Tom Dodge and Tom McGill had adjoining ranches and Owen McGill was the youngest of the three McGill children, she and Owen were raised more like brother and sister because both their older siblings were 9 and 10 years older than they. She went to school with her cousin Owen at the 96 ranch half of the year and the other half at the McGill ranch. She and Owen would commute back and forth on weekends by horseback to their respective homes. This continued until they had to attend school in town. She graduated from Wheatland High School in 1936 and took a job as a telephone operator where she met her future husband, Arch Akers. They were married on October 23, 1939, in Minneapolis, MN. They had two children, George and Peggy.

Arch was a career officer in the U.S. Army and consequently the family lived in many locations around the country and the world. Upon retirement they moved back to Wheatland and for a time owned and operated the Western Shop in Wheatland. The highlight of their retirement was building their new home just north of town and enjoying many years of family and friends. Besides traveling, they enjoyed being timers for the jackpot ropings and subsequently the Wyoming Steer Roping Association, when they organized.

June’s greatest passion other than her family was steer roping. She would go just about anywhere to watch a steer roping and was a beloved supporter of the Wyo Steer Roping Assoc. She was able to attend the Andy Tillard Memorial roping on July 5th and had a grand time visiting with her many steer roping friends.

She was a devoted member and servant at All Saints’ Episcopal Church from the early 1950’s until her passing. She served actively on the Altar Guild and the vestry until she felt her age and health would cause her to be more hindrance than help. After family, her dearest and most treasured friends were through All Saints’. She was so very grateful for the way they took care of her and made sure that she was never in need of anything after she began living alone. She was a 50 year Pin Holder in the Order of Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.

She is second to last of her generation of her family with the exception of her cousin, Owen McGill. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arch in 1986; a sister, Margaret Laycock in 1994; and a brother, George Dodge in 1995.

Survivors include her children, Peggy Darling and her husband, Ron of Wheatland and George Akers and wife, Lucy of Maricopa, AZ; grandchildren, Anita Phipps (Ron) of Pearland, TX; C.T. Akers (Kendra) of Wright, WY; and Tara Jo Darling-Freedberg (Sam) of Denver, CO; three great grandchildren, Andrew and Sarah Phipps and John Akers; special cousins, Jean Short, Nedalyn Testolin and Owen McGill all of Wheatland; nephews, Tom Phifer of Gilbert, AZ, Tyler Dodge (Nettie) and David Dodge (Betty) all of Wheatland, and Fred W. Phifer of Lander, WY; great grand-niece, CeeAnn Vaughan (Ed) of Albuquerque, NM; and many great nieces and their families.

Named as honorary pallbearers were: The Rev. (Ret.) Kale King, Tony Testolin, Jim Moore, Jim Baker, Bud Tillard, Tim Tillard, T.K. Tillard, Troy Tillard, Tyler Tillard, Marty Tillard, Casey Tillard, Harold Bumguardner, Lee Isenberger, Glen Barlow, and all the rest of the WSRA Ropers, Brent Sherard, Steve Peasley, Joel Dingman, Bud Day, Lee Modesitt, Cam Huston, David Dodge, Tyler Dodge and all the rest of her friends and family.

Memorials to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 997, Wheatland, WY 82201-0997 or Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Virginia St. at Fairfax, Salt Lake City, UT 84103 would be appreciated by the family.

Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland was in charge of the arrangements.