Gwen Audeen Falkenburg Belin 1937-2011

Gwen was born July 11, 1937, in Ely, Nev., daughter of Neva Arlene (Robison) and Walter Sam Falkenburg.
Gwen Falkenburg
Gwen Falkenburg, Christmas 1955. Photo courtesy Janet Jares
Gwen Belin
Gwen Audeen Bellin 2009. Photo Janet Jares
Gwen Belin
Gwen Belin with great grandchild. Photo Janet Jares

Gwen Audeen Belin, 74, of Laramie, died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at her home.

“Gwen graduated from White Pine County High School in 1955 and as a young woman, she was a Girl Scout leader and helped with the Boy Scouts of America and Special Olympics. She also taught reading classes. A highlight of her younger days was racing stock cars with her first husband (Bryan Douglas Walker) at the Flamethrower race track outside of Ely.

She moved to Laramie in 1990, to be closer to her family. Here, she found a delightful and enduring friendship with the women and men who worked with her at the Albany County School District’s hot lunch program. Those friendships sustained her during her battle with lymphoma.

Her family will miss how she made them laugh and her knowledge of everything fun.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, James Bell.

She is survived by her children, Janet Jares, of Cheyenne, Jodie Hiller, of Mesa, Ariz., and Brent Walker, of Laramie; her grandchildren, Jenifer and Oved Ruff, of Omaha, Neb., Lelania Barton, of Mullen, Neb., and Jim and Lydia Jares, of Cheyenne; her great-grandchildren, Isaac, Rayna, Alexandria and Annabella; two sisters, Janice and her husband, John Moote, of Moses Lake, Wash., and Joyce Bell, of Ely; a brother, Robert and his wife, LuAnn Falkenburg, of Ely; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.”

A graveside remembrance service was held on Oct. 6 in Green Hill Cemetery.

Gwen's grave
 Gwen’s grave.                                  Photo Janet Jares