Jeff Ailts, age 59, of Gillette, Wyo., died Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Jared Tucher officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Pisgah.  Visitation will be held at 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Gillette Memorial chapel. There will also be visitation at the church one hour prior to the services.
Jeffrey Lynn Ailts was born on Nov. 20, 1954 to Bernard and Sarah Ailts in Veblen. He graduated in 1973 from Canby High School in Canby, Minn.  After high school graduation, he attended Canby Area Vocational and Technical Institute where he earned his welding certification.
He worked in Casper, Wyo. as a welder, on a dairy farm in Whitewood with his brother-in-law, on a farm in Woonsocket and in the coal mines in Gillette, Wyo. When he was no longer able to work due to his cancer he took up gardening, which he enjoyed very much.
On May 28, 1983, Jeffrey married the love of his life, Holly Sue Zwingelberg. They were blessed with four children, Jessica Lynne, Benjamin Jeffrey, Joshua Johnny and Karissa Sue. One of his greatest joys was being “Pa” to Johnny and Olivia.
Jeff was always a man willing to help others. He was always full of smiles, laughter, jokes and pranks.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Holly; children, Jessica (Brandon), Benjamin (Dixie) and Karissa; two grandchildren; his mother, Sarah; a sister, Phlayne; a brother, Brian (Shelley); his father- and mother-in-law, John and Audrey; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Joshua; father, Bernard; his grandparents, uncles, aunts and a nephew.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in Jeffrey’s name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via the Web site at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.

Verle Hjelm, 93 of Woonsocket died Feb. 4, 2014 at Prairie view Care Center, Woonsocket.
Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 7 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Letcher. Burial was in the church cemetery with Pastor Mindy Ehrke, officiating. Visitations were at the Basham Funeral Home on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 6-9 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
Verle was born on Jan. 22, 1921 at Letcher to Lloyd and Hazel (Hardman) Skinner. She was the oldest of eight children. She lived with her grandparents, George and Maggie Hardman, and attended school in Letcher graduating in 1939. After graduation she was a telephone operator in Letcher.
On Sept. 22, 1946 she married Darwin Hjelm at the Methodist Parsonage in Woonsocket. They lived on a farm in Elliot Township until 1997 when Verle moved into Woonsocket and Darwin was a resident of Storla Sunset Home. Verle became a resident of Prairie View Care Center in April 2008.
Verle was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she taught Bible School and belonged to a circle. She also was a long time member of the “If You’ll Go I’ll Go” extension club and a Sanborn County 4-H leader for many years.
She is survived by her three children, Ruth Ann (Larry) Olinger and Paul (Jeannie) Hjelm of Woonsocket and Myrna Hjelm of Mitchell; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Elaine Cranston of Montevideo, Minn.; one brother, Francis Skinner of Willow Springs, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Hjelm of Woonsocket, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Darwin; one grandson, Tracy Ziebart; three brothers, Leon, Duane and Myron; two sisters, Phyllis McClure and Shirley Lindstrom; her parents; and her step-mother, Vivian Skinner.