Retta June Harley

Obituary
Retta June Harley
June 1, 1934- November 29, 2025
Retta June Harley, 91, passed away on November 29, 2025 at the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin, Wyoming. She was born on June 1,1934 to Elihu R. Wiestling and Viola (McCleary) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Retta grew up in the Harrisburg, PA area and was the middle child of 6 siblings; Tom, Lois & Laura (twins), William and Shirley. She was always a fan of sports and being active but could also take it down a notch to enjoy reading. She was an "avid reader". She was deceivingly athletic, playing basketball in high school and then in an adult city league after graduating and even had a nickname within the sport; "Spider".
Retta graduated from Lower Paxton High School in 1952 and in 1953 she married William (Bill) Doyle Harley who was also raised in the Harrisburg area.
Shortly after their wedding, Bill, who was in the Air Force, was deployed to serve in Korea. Upon returning to the U.S. he was stationed in Enid, OK - where Retta joined him. It wasn't long before they welcomed their first child, Wendy, who was born in 1955.
After Bill's completion of service, they moved back to Pennsylvania. Over the next 9 years Bill & Retta brought 4 more children into the world. Dave, Crystal, Jim and Bryant. During that span, the family relocated to West Chester, PA – where Retta continued to raise the children and kept up with her athleticism as a club-level Lacrosse referee and also worked part-time as a school bus driver and at a pharmacy in downtown West Chester.
While in West Chester, Retta (and Bill) formed a friendship for life with the Butz family (Irene "Rene" & Newt), who were neighbors and (at the time) had 3 children. It was a friendship that became a family-bond and continued for the rest of their lives, with Rene & Retta often being taken for "sisters" by many who didn't know the history.
In the early 70's the Butz family left West Chester to move to Wyoming. Then, in June of 1972, Bill & Retta followed their friends! After selling the house in West Chester, they moved the family, 2 dogs, a cat and a rabbit across the country, to Basin, WY.
Eventually, Retta went to work at the Wyoming Sanitarium, where she worked for a while as a CNA, along-side her best friend, Rene, who also served as a CNA. Later, Retta changed roles and assisted the Activities Director. After the new Wyoming Retirement Center was built and all staff and services were moved into the new building, she transferred to an accounting position in the office, in charge of patient accounts. After dedicating 28 years of service at the Wyoming Sanitarium/Retirement Center, Retta retired in l989.
During her career and while still raising her kids, Retta was part owner and bookkeeper of the local Texaco station and continued her active lifestyle, playing women's softball (well-into her 50's).
After retiring, she participated in and enjoyed bowling, boating, fishing, camping and road-trips to visit her family and grandchildren - all with her beloved Bill until his death in 2003.
Following a lifechanging fall in 2021, Retta was moved to two area nursing homes until ultimately, in December 2024 she made the move to become a resident in a familiar place. The Wyoming Retirement Center. During her residency, many of the caregivers were touched by Retta's feisty and caring personality. She often reminded them that she knew what they were supposed to do from when she worked there (36 years ago).
Retta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; brother, William Wiestling; sisters, Shirley Dively and Laura Brooks; son-in-law, Rod Kindel; daughter-in-law, Joyce Harley and grandson, William "Dan" Harley.
She is survived by her sons, William "David" (Ja) Harley of Worland, James "Jim" (Tammy) Harley of Casper and Bryant "Bry" (Michelle) Harley of Savannah, GA; daughters, Wendy Kindel of Casper/Princeton, TX and Crystal (Chris) Riley of Basin; brother, Thomas Wiestling and sister, Lois Wolf; and 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Her surviving extended family includes Annell Grant (Butz) of Casper, Virginia (Jay) Richardson (Butz) of Circle, MT James (Donna) Butz of Cody and David (Shannon) Butz of Circle, MT and all of their children and grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held next spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Wyoming Retirement Center activity fund. Please send checks to PO Box 524 Worland, Wyoming 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.