On November 2, 2009, Len succumbed peacefully to prostate cancer. He is survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law Philip and Kathryn of Ridgefield, CT; Richard and Marjorie of Litchfield, CT; his wife, Eleanor; his son, Gordon; his three daughters: Susan Nichols (John), Brenda Wychulis (Steve) and Cynthia Zwadlo (Christopher); and seven grandchildren: Lee Nichols; Zach, Seth, Chase, and Bailey Wychulis; and Claire and Sophia Zwadlo. A service is scheduled for November 27 at 2 p.m. at Swan Law Funeral Home, to be followed by a reception at the Bergquist home. Len graduated from the University of Connecticut in. He was commissioned in the United States Air Force in 1955. While stationed at Francis E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Len met Eleanor, the love of his life. They were married on April 25, 1960 He retired from the Air Force in 19754 and used his time to help raise his children and to follow his passions for bowling, mowing, dancing, gambling and square dance calling. He participated in PAYO, the Performing Arts Youth Organization, by introducing hundreds of elementary school students to square dancing. Len and Elly were active in the local and international square dancing community. Len served as caller for several clubs over the years, including the Vietmy Mixers in Vietnam. He served several years as General Ssecretary for the Overseas Square DancerAssociation (OSDA). He was a member of Callerlab, a professional callers' organization. In April, 2003, he was honored by CallerLab for achieving 50 years as a square dance caller. OSDA proved to be a rich source of life-long friendships which are celebrated each year in annual reunions throughout the United States. Len and Elly participated in these reunions for more than thirty years and Len attended his last one in August 2009. Len was also an avid bowler who participated in National Championships and shared his love of the sport with Elly, with whom he participated in leagues and tournaments. He served as secretary of the Ent Blue League for 25 years. He was a lifelong Grange member. Later in his life he became a 32nd Degree Mason. He served as Master of Ramah Lodge #165 for one term. Len was especially proud of his family and felt that his life had been filled with love and that he had lived it well. Lenâ€"you will always be Elly's BFF. Daddy, we will always miss you.

Leonard Gordon Cook “Cook” passed away at his home on November 19, 2009 at the age of 72.He was born August 31, 1937 in Sylvester, GA to the late Addy and Carrie Cook. He was married to Violet L. Morrell-Cook on May 23, 1981 in Colorado Springs. “Cook” retired from Fort Carson as a SFC with the US Army serving with the Engineers, he served two tours in Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star Medal, National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 9 Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, Good Conduct Medal, 3 Overseas Bars and Five Service Stripes. “Cook” was a driver for Schneider Trucking receiving the Million Mile Safety Award, he was also a driver for Enterprise Car Sales. He is survived by his Wife Violet, His Children Sandra Gross, Wanda Foster, Kem Conway, Dianna Coffey, Garry Coffey, Michael (Michelle) Coffey, Leonard Cook Jr., Andrew Cook, Betty Jean Cook, Alfonzo (Maria) Cook, Tina (Eric) Slaughter and Tyrone Cook. His Sisters and Brothers; Ruth M. Fowler, LeLia (Lester) Patterson, Eleoise Clark, Thelma Mormon, Johnny Cook and Addy Jr. (Mary) Cook. 40 Grandkids, 15 Great Grandkids and a host of Nieces, Nephews and Cousins. A Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 24, 2009 from 5pm to 8pm at Dove-Witt Family Mortuary 6630 S. Hwy 85/87 Fountain, CO. Funeral Services at 10:00am on Wednesday November 25 at Dove-Witt Family Mortuary with Burial to follow at 2:00pm at Fort Logan National Cemetery Denver, CO.

Gary Clark Holladay, 65, passed away in Manitou Springs on November 16th. Gary was born in Dodge City, Kansas and was a resident of Manitou Springs since 1953. Gary had a strong presence in his community and was known for his quick wit and loyalty to family and friends. Gary was an avid outdoorsman and loved watching a good Broncos, Nuggets or Rockies game. Gary is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sharon Holladay. Gary and Sharon met while attending Manitou Springs High School and married shortly after. Gary is also survived by his 2 children Nannette and Chad, his 4 adoring grandchildren; Kyle, Cody, Taylor, and Alyssa, his father, Preston, and 2 brothers, Ronald and Dennis, along with many extended family members. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, November 23, 2009 at Bethany Baptist Church, 1930 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers please send donations to National Emphysema Foundation, 128 East Lake Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851

It's been 4 years since you were taken from us. We love and miss you so very much. A candlelight vigil will be held Sunday, November 22, at 7:00 p.m. at 3914 Constitution Avenue.

Mildred Louise (Gilstrap Lewis) Nielsen, born February 2, 1928, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2009 after a long illness. Mildred was born and raised in Geneva, Alabama. Mildred is survived by her son, William F. (Jan) Lewis; daughters: Leigh Anne (Ric) Feeney, Christine (Richard Eveleigh) Lewis; eight grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy F. and Lessie V. Gilstrap; brother, Roy F. Gilstrap, Jr.; husband, Billy G. Lewis; and husband, Mark L. Nielsen. She lived around the world, including Europe, Asia, and several regions of the United States during her long life. She ended her days in Denver, Colorado, cared for in her home by her daughter, Christine, son-in-law, Richard, and the wonderful staff of Denver Hospice. Mildred was known to her family and close friends as one of the most devotedly loving and giving of women, always eager to help others through any difficulty. She loved to laugh and was always quick with a joke. She was deeply, quietly, and gracefully religious and passed away believing that one day, all her family and friends would be reunited in a better world. A memorial service will be held in Mildred's honor at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel in Colorado Springs at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to Denver Hospice, 501 South Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80246.

Dorothy Gray (Doray) Saddler died November 10, 2009 in Colorado Springs while under the loving care of Pikes Peak Hospice. Doray was born to Garold C.J. and Marie (Burchess) Gray on December 12, 1914 in Trumbull, Nebraska. She grew up in Hastings, Nebraska, the oldest of four children. Doray was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Saddler; her brother and sister-in-law, Donald C.J. and Mary Jane Gray, and her parents. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Duane Miller of Hiawassee, Georgia and her brother, the Honorable Robert K. Gray of Washington D.C. and Miami Beach, Florida. Although Doray never birthed a child, she was loved and adored by her eight nieces and nephews; eight great-nieces and nephews, and a great-grand-niece. A special bond exists with niece Robin, Mike and Christina McGrath, her Colorado family. While giving daily support and care for many years, it is the McGraths' whose lives were enriched by Doray. They especially treasured the past two years while Doray lived at Emeritus of Broadmoor, where she enjoyed many new friendships. Soon after high school graduation in 1935, Doray and Ken married, moving to Denver, Colorado. She enrolled in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Denver. She lived the next 75 years in Colorado rejoicing the “Colorado Blue Sky” on even the rainiest of days. A successful career woman long before the “women's movement,” Doray opened her studio “Truly Yours, Doray” on Spear Boulevard in the heart of fashionable Cherry Creek. There Doray, a contraction of Dorothy and Gray, designed for and dressed many of the Grand Dames of Denver Society. Her national customers included Mamie Eisenhower and Ambassador Perle Mesta. As franchise owner and Executive Director of the John Robert Powers school and modeling agency, Doray guided and encouraged many young women in the field of design, as well as modeling. At a time of precise requirements for flight attendants, she trained the instructors for United Airlines' stewardess program. Doray was a founder of the Denver Chapter of Fashion Group International, heading the scholarship program for 26 years. Community service was an important part of her life. as demonstrated by her work as board member of Historic Denver and hands-on for many restoration projects including the Molly Brown and Ninth Street houses and the revitalization of Lower Denver (LODO). Doray loved to travel, especially to Paris and London. Highlights of her travels included visits to Washington, D.C., where, on one occasion, she assisted her brother Robert, as official hostess for the first Reagan Inaugural Ceremonies. Later she was in Hastings for the dedication of Hastings College's Gray Center for Communications. Always a gracious lady, she lived in appreciation and thanksgiving for each new day of her life and especially for her family and many friends. Should friends desire, memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice, 825 E. Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. A Memorial Service will be held in Hastings Nebraska.

James Ray Shanks, a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. He worked in retail sales and was a United States Army Veteran. James was born on October 5, 1958 in Fort Carson, Colorado to Clarence and Domie (Espinoza) Shanks. He married his beloved Virginia E. Martinez on July 11, 1977 in Colorado Springs. He enjoyed fishing and woodworking. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; his children: Raymond R. Shanks and Melody Cortes; his siblings: Nancy Silva, Clarence Shanks, Jr., and William Shanks; his parents; and four grandchildren: Andrew Shanks, Angelina Cortes, Jasmine Cortes, and Israel “Peanut” Shanks. He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Shanks, and his sister, Peggy Shanks. A visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 27, 2009 at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home with a Rosary to follow at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1830 South Corona Avenue. Inurnment will be at the Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum. Memorials in James' name may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

David Beemer Tudor, age 94, St. Cloud, MN, formerly of Colorado Springs, CO, died Friday, November 13, 2009 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law. Celebration of Life service will be held August 14, 2010 in Aurora, NE. Burial will be in Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, NE. Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN, assisted the family in honoring David's final wishes for cremation and in arranging a Celebration of Life. David was born August 14, 1915 in West Point, NE to Rev. David and Margaret (Evans) Tudor. He was a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a BS in Economics and Business Management as well as successful completion of the ROTC program. David entered the Army Air Forces on February 8, 1941. On December 27, 1941, 20 days after Pearl Harbor, he married Barbara Seiver in Macon, GA, where he was completing aviation training. David retired as a Colonel of the United States Air Force after actively serving his country for almost 28 years. David's Air Force career included flight instructor during WWII, participation in the Berlin Air Lift piloting the B52 after World War II and the US occupation force in Germany (46-48) as part of the 33 Operation Group (ACC), Professor of Air Tactics Systems and Contract Law at Newark College of Engineering (51-53), 58th Squadron Commander at Otis Air Force Base (56-59), Strategic Air Command, Norton AFB (59-61), Base Commander of Thule, Greenland (62-63) and ended his military career in Colorado Springs, CO as Acting Commander and Vice Commander of the 9th Aerospace Defense Division (62-67). The 9th Aerospace Division was responsible for the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, the Missile Defense Alarm System, the Space Detection and Tracking System, the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) Combat operations Center, the Bomb Alarm System, and the Nuclear Detonation System from 1961-1968. David was most proud of his receipt of the Legion of Merit awarded in 1966 and flying "jets". His final flight was piloting the F101. After retiring from the Air Force, he served as senior member of the executive advisory board of Computer Science Corp. from 1967 until his retirement in 1977. He and his wife, Barbara moved to St. Cloud in February 2007 from Colorado Springs, CO. Survivors include his wife, Barbara of St. Cloud, MN; son, John W. (Sandra) Tudor of Woodbridge, CA; daughter, Priscilla L. (Craig) Porter of St. Cloud, MN; brother, Gomer E. (Jane) Tudor of Bristol, ME; grandchildren Toni Jensen of Woodbridge, CA, Angela R. (Ryan) Linwood of Minneapolis, MN and David Ryan Pfister of Minneapolis, MN; great-grandchildren; Asa Nettles of Woodbridge, CA and Andrew Linwood of Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Patricia Synovec and Pamela Allen. Memorials are preferred to the St. Cloud Hospital Hospice Program, 48 North 29th Avenue, Suite 15, St. Cloud, MN 56303 in honor of David B. Tudor.

Lucile M. Weatherly passed away on November 19, 2009, at the age of 85. She was born on November 24, 1923 in Litchfield, MN. Lucile graduated high school in 1939, and then attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Minneapolis. Upon graduation in 1945, Lucile entered the Army Nurse Corps and was stationed in France & Germany. Lucile met Archie L. “Stormy” Weatherly, while they were both stationed in Paris. In 1947, Lucile returned to the U.S. and attended physical therapy school at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She and Stormy were married on October 2, 1948 at Westover AFB, Massachusetts. Stormy's career as an Air Force pilot took them to Bermuda, Oklahoma, Okinawa, Michigan, and Texas. They had five children between 1950 & 1958. They retired to Colorado Springs in 1966. Lucile was a physical therapist at St. Francis Hospital until her retirement in 1989. She then became a Hospice volunteer and was active in the Peterson AFB and Divine Redeemer parishes. She and Stormy have been blessed with six grandchildren and two great-grandsons. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 am on November 24, 2009 at Divine Redeemer Church with a rosary preceding at 10:30 am.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 31, 2009 at the age of 73. He was born October 15, 1936 in Pittsburg, Kansas to his parents, Ray and Beryl Widner, who preceded him in death. He went to school in various states and helped his father build houses as a boy and young man. In 1959 he settled his young family in Colorado Springs. Ray, Dan and brother Jerry bought Bud's Muffler and then Big 4 Auto Parts which eventually became Widner Automotive. Dan was a race car fan and started his career building and driving top fuel dragsters. He was one of the first racers to build a rear-engine dragster. His next challenge was off-road racing which he proved adept at by winning the "Baja 1000" twice in 1969 and 1970. When Dan started golfing in 1980, it soon became his new passion. He worked very hard at it for the rest of his life and had 3 "holes-in-one". He was a world traveler and loved visiting exotic places and seeing new things. In 1995 he sold Widner Automotive and retired. Since 1996, he and his wife, Barbie, have spent their winters in Arizona and summers in Colorado. He had a witty sence of humor and bore the brunt of many jokes. He is survived by his wife Barbie, brother, Jerry (Ellie) and their family, daughter, Cathy Widner, (Pat Salyer), son Doug Widner and daughter Wendy Wohlhueter (Dave Downie), grandchildren Kyle and Luke Wohlhueter, Brad (Carrie Jo), Teresa and Jeff Wheaton and 3 great-grands with twins on the way. In lieu of flowers, please give extra hugs to your loved ones. May the winds of love blow softly and whisper so you hear - we will always love and miss you and wish that you were here. There will be a celebration of life service November 28 at 3:00 p.m. at Patty Jewett Golf Course Clubhouse.