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Several longtime Wyoming residents — including a former state lawmaker, a veteran public servant and local educators — died in late May, prompting memorial services and reflections from communities they served. Their passing marks the loss of decades of service in education, state government and local institutions across Cheyenne, Laramie and beyond.
| Name | Age | City | Date of death | Service / Memorial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theodore “Ted” Hassinger | 92 | Cheyenne | May 21, 2026 | Memorial: June 12, 2026 — Wiederspahn‑Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes |
| Bonnie R. Strand Johnson | 83 | Laramie (died in Phoenix) | May 26, 2026 | No public service listed |
| Kathryn Ann Sessions | 84 | Cheyenne / Jackson native | May 25, 2026 | Memorial: July 11, 2026 — LDS Church, Cheyenne |
| Kathleen Vandeventer | Not listed | Cheyenne | May 26, 2026 | Funeral liturgy: June 5, 2026 — St. Mary’s Cathedral |
Theodore “Ted” Hassinger
Ted Hassinger, a Cheyenne resident and long-serving employee of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, died May 21 at Davis Hospice Center. He was 92.
Born in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen on July 16, 1933, Hassinger moved west after serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He spent 37 years as the department’s Purchasing Manager and supplemented his income in later years preparing taxes for H&R Block clients in the evenings.
Colleagues and family remember him for a rigorous work ethic and small-town commitments despite his big-city origins. He often recounted youthful memories of playing street games with notable figures from his New York neighborhood.
- Survivors: Sons Wayne (Stacie) Hassinger and Dan (Amy) Hassinger; grandchildren including Hayden, Hannah and Wendi; step‑daughter Becky (Rudy) Nesvik; sister Dorothy (Dave) and nephew Richie.
- Preceded in death by: wife June Hassinger (43 years), step‑sons Steve and David Sencabaugh, and his parents.
- Memorial: Friday, June 12, 2026, 10 a.m., Wiederspahn‑Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. Cremation has taken place.
- Donations: Friends may contribute in his memory to the Davis Hospice Center.
Bonnie R. Strand Johnson
Bonnie R. Strand Johnson, originally of Laramie, passed away May 26 in Phoenix. She was born in 1943.
Family members describe Johnson as someone who was much loved by relatives and friends. Public details are limited; her survivors include siblings and descendants who will carry forward her memory.
- Survivors: two sisters, two sons, two grandsons and one great‑grandson.
Kathryn Ann Sessions — educator and state lawmaker
“The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.” That line captures the approach Kathryn Lambert Sessions carried through a life spent in classrooms and state government.
Kathryn Ann Sessions, a former teacher, librarian and legislator who advocated for public education across Wyoming, died May 25, 2026, surrounded by family. She was born Feb. 13, 1942, in Jackson and grew up in Big Piney.
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Education at Utah State University and later a master’s in curriculum, Sessions taught across the Big Horn Basin and served as librarian at Johnson Junior High in Cheyenne. Her classroom and library work left a lasting impression on students who later returned to thank her for early encouragement.
Sessions entered elected office in the 1990s, representing Laramie County in the Wyoming House from 1993 to 1998 and then serving in the Wyoming Senate for District 7 from 1999 to 2011. She was Senate Minority Leader from 2009 to 2010 and later served on the Wyoming State Board of Education.
- Survivors: children James (Lynn) Sessions, Robin (Dan) Cooley, Samantha (John) Cowper; multiple grandchildren and great‑grandchildren.
- Preceded in death by: husband E. Scott Sessions.
- Memorial: July 11, 2026, 11 a.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 3312 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne.
For decades, Sessions combined classroom experience with legislative service, pushing for policies and funding priorities that supporters say strengthened Wyoming’s public schools. Even after leaving elected office she remained engaged in education policy at the state level.
Kathleen Vandeventer
Kathleen “Kathy” Vandeventer of Cheyenne died suddenly on May 26, 2026. Her professional life spanned beauty, advertising and horticulture — roles in which she taught, marketed and cultivated communities.
Vandeventer worked as a Max Factor representative and cosmetologist, later writing and directing advertising for local media outlets. A certified Master Gardener, she was known locally for meticulously tended gardens and award‑worthy bonsai displays featured in the city’s newspaper.
- Survivors: children Tracy Vandeventer, Shawnee Anderson and Katrina Howell; 14 grandchildren; 12 great‑grandchildren; and her Doberman, Tomi.
- Funeral: June 5, 2 p.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Her passing leaves a gap in several local circles — from horticulture clubs to small business and media communities where she built long relationships.
These notices reflect publicly available information and details provided by families. Where memorial or donation instructions were shared, they are noted above for those wishing to pay respects.
