Loran Workman

Loran Workman, 95, died peacefully December 25, 2023, at his home in Casper with his wife by his side, following a short illness of pneumonia and heart problems.
Loran was born July 1, 1928, in Lovell, the seventh child of 11 children of Lorenzo Workman and Leah (Asay) Workman.
The family moved from Lovell to Five Springs, where they lived for a time before moving to the family farm outside Lovell when Loran was 5 years old. He loved the farm and enjoyed playing with his siblings on the various knolls and fields.
Loran loved to tell the story of his dad asking the boys to round up the cattle which were allowed to graze in the countryside during the day. The boys would climb the highest knoll and hold up their dog Shep so he could see the cattle, sometimes miles away. The boys would play until Shep eventually came back with all the cattle.
When he was a young man, Loran went to work in the oilfield. He was on top of an oil tank when it blew up and threw him on top of a second tanker. He knew it, too, was going to blow up, so he rolled off and ran. This accident left his face scarred, and he was sent to Salt Lake, where he stayed with relatives while he had extensive plastic surgery.
After returning to Wyoming, Loran worked during the day and played at nights in a band he started. It was during this time that he met Waneta Pearl Elton, and they later married. The couple had six children, Loran Gene, Lonny Wayne, Leonard Dean, Samuel Faye, Waneta Diane and Dawayne Eddy.
For a time, the couple traveled with their growing family while Loran worked building electrical lines around the West. They lived in travel trailers and moved to areas like Casper, Burris, Idaho Falls and places in Montana. They were living in Yellowstone National Park during the earthquake of 1959.
In order for the children to go to school in one place, the family eventually moved to Lovell, where Loran worked for Dick's Appliance. He then started his own electrical contracting company, Northwestern Electric. The couple later divorced.
Loran moved his company to Casper, and he later married Donna Campbell. The company grew, and one by one Loran's kids and their families moved to Casper to help with the business. They loved to camp and hike in the Big Horns and had many family get-togethers, especially during the holidays. Loran loved to fish, and he, especially, loved to eat fish.
Through the years, Loran and Donna had many adventures together. They helped Tom and Charlene Bales with a project in Arizona and shared many laughs while they were working. The couple once went to New York and England to visit one of Donna's sisters. It's always been a mystery who was more impressed, Loran or England. They often drove to Indiana to visit her relatives at the family farm. Her brothers and sisters thought Loran was one of the funniest, nicest, kindest people they ever met.
Loran's son Leonard moved to Arizona to work in the mines, and he and his dad bought a farm together. Leonard lived on the farm, and Loran and Donna went down every year to visit until the farm was eventually sold.
As they were looking to retire, the couple bought property in Star Valley and built a summer home. Loran enjoyed the wildlife, especially "his" moose, and spent his last summer sitting in front of his picture window or on the deck, watching wildlife and enjoying the mountains and the warm summer sun.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers and sisters Elva, Norris, Verland, Raymond, Morris, Tessie, Darrell, William, Angelina and Errol; sons Lonny, Leonard and Loran Gene; and daughter Diane.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; sons Sam and Dawayne (Bobbi); daughter-in-law Linda; grandkids Gene Lee, Lonny, Scott, Diana, Kurt, Shonde, Melissa, Tonya and Jimmy; numerous great-grandkids; and a soon-to-be great-great-grandson.
A viewing will be held Friday, Jan. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m.at Haskell Funeral Home. Services will be Saturday, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church in Lovell, with burial to follow in the Lovell Cemetery.
Those wishing to donate in Loran's memory may do so to Lucky's Place in Thayne, Wyoming, or the charity of their choice.
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