Jeanette Dye

Jeanette (Stark) Dye was born on October 22, 1934, on the family farm north of Baker, MT to Hugh and Helen (Flohr) Stark. (Dr. Tarbox arrived just 15 minutes before she did. )Jeanette attended the one-room Big Hill School, one-half mile south of the farm, through the 5th grade. Her older brother Jack started high school then, so she attended the Baker schools, graduating in 1952. She worked for the telephone company in Baker for a short time and then went to Billings to attend college, also for a short time. She went into the secretarial field, and in 1955, moved to Denver. From there, she went to Japan for two years as a civilian secretary for the Air Force, returning to the States in 1959. In 1960, Jeanette married Col. Fred Dye, an Air Force physician, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the following year, they bought a future retirement home in the mountains near Jelm, Wyoming, outside of Laramie. In 1963, Jeanette and Fred were transferred to Clark AFB in the Philippines, where they remained for three years. They were then stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho until her husband’s retirement in 1972. They then moved to their home in Jelm. Jeanette and her husband were instrumental in the major expansion of the Laramie Trap Club and she was an accomplished shooter. In 1976, Jeanette won the Frontier Handicap Championship, shooting 96 out of 100 skeet from the 20 yard mark. She was the first woman in the event’s 16 year history to win, topping over 100 men who entered. Later in the year, she won 2 state championships at the Wyoming State Trapshoot, ladies doubles and ladies handicap. Her husband Fred Dye passed away in early 1984. Jeanette was the Albany County (WY) Republican chairman and was selected in 1984 to be a delegate to the National Republican Convention in Dallas. Through the years, she spent much time in Baker and on the farm to be with her mom and brother. The farm was always “home” and where she wanted to be. When her mom and brother passed away in 1996, the urge to move home grew stronger. She sold her Wyoming place in April, 2003, and made the move to Baker permanent. Jeanette passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at the Fallon County Medical Complex in Baker, MT. In accordance with Jeanette’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Survivors include her step-children and spouses, Patricia Mariette (Albuquerque), Scott Dye (Sandi) (Colorado Springs) and Jeff Dye (Debbie) (Albuquerque) along with her loving, caring neighbors and dear friends Doug and Randi Wenz. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother and husband. Jeanette’s family suggests memorials to the Fallon Medical Complex or a charity of your choice.


Burial Date: February 29, 2016