Fred S. Wagensen was born August 28, 1895, to Jens and Lena (Olsen) Wagensen at Ruskin Nebraska. He died June 2, 1987, at his home in Gillette, Wyoming, at age 91.
He spent his early years in the Ruskin-Oak area and in 1917 went to Wyoming where he took a homestead in Campbell County, 30 miles south of Gillette.
That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in France. After his discharge in 1919 he returned to his Gillette homestead.
On June 2, 1920, he was married to Mary Jacobsen of Ruskin at Hebron. they spent their entire lives developing, expanding and operating their ranch and also maintained a residence in Gillette.
They started their homestead as a crop farm but soon changed to cattle/sheep ranching. Within the last 30 years oil and coal developments encroached on their land but ranching continued to be their first interest and Fred still ran some cattle as recently as the past year. It was with great reluctance that he gave up active participation in branding and round-ups a very few years ago.
Fred was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a past member of the Wyoming House of Representative, a member of the Campbell County Fair Board and one of the original directors of First National Bank of Gillette, for which he had served as chairman of the board. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 42, Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1972, and by his son, Donald, in 1983, and his son-in-law, Quentin Marquiss.
He is survived by his daughter, Opal Marquiss of Gillette; seven grandchildren, Mickie Wagensen, Gary Marquiss and Trigg Marquiss, all of Gillette, Lexi (Wagensen) Ballard of Casper, Wyoming, Gloria (Marquiss) Clark of Worland, Wyoming, Mary Kyle (Wagensen) Coltrane of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Jan (Wagensen) Fisher of Arvada, Wyoming; and a number of great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 5 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tom Phillips, Ph.D. officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Gillette, with American Legion Post No. 42 in charge of the flag presentation.
Fred and Mary always called Ruskin home and made as many visits back as possible. In 1962 they came back to celebrate with homefolks, Ruskin's 75th anniversary. They brought their children and grandchildren and several unites to enter in the parade. They "camped" at Kathryn Jenssen's home and staked their horses close to the Rock Island right-of-way. It was an experience Fred and Mary wanted for their family so that "Ruskin" would have a significant meaning for the younger generation. They do remember it as a precious gift.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, June 25, 1987; pg. 6
He spent his early years in the Ruskin-Oak area and in 1917 went to Wyoming where he took a homestead in Campbell County, 30 miles south of Gillette.
That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in France. After his discharge in 1919 he returned to his Gillette homestead.
On June 2, 1920, he was married to Mary Jacobsen of Ruskin at Hebron. they spent their entire lives developing, expanding and operating their ranch and also maintained a residence in Gillette.
They started their homestead as a crop farm but soon changed to cattle/sheep ranching. Within the last 30 years oil and coal developments encroached on their land but ranching continued to be their first interest and Fred still ran some cattle as recently as the past year. It was with great reluctance that he gave up active participation in branding and round-ups a very few years ago.
Fred was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a past member of the Wyoming House of Representative, a member of the Campbell County Fair Board and one of the original directors of First National Bank of Gillette, for which he had served as chairman of the board. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 42, Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1972, and by his son, Donald, in 1983, and his son-in-law, Quentin Marquiss.
He is survived by his daughter, Opal Marquiss of Gillette; seven grandchildren, Mickie Wagensen, Gary Marquiss and Trigg Marquiss, all of Gillette, Lexi (Wagensen) Ballard of Casper, Wyoming, Gloria (Marquiss) Clark of Worland, Wyoming, Mary Kyle (Wagensen) Coltrane of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Jan (Wagensen) Fisher of Arvada, Wyoming; and a number of great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 5 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tom Phillips, Ph.D. officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Gillette, with American Legion Post No. 42 in charge of the flag presentation.
Fred and Mary always called Ruskin home and made as many visits back as possible. In 1962 they came back to celebrate with homefolks, Ruskin's 75th anniversary. They brought their children and grandchildren and several unites to enter in the parade. They "camped" at Kathryn Jenssen's home and staked their horses close to the Rock Island right-of-way. It was an experience Fred and Mary wanted for their family so that "Ruskin" would have a significant meaning for the younger generation. They do remember it as a precious gift.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, June 25, 1987; pg. 6
Fred S. Wagensen was born August 28, 1895, to Jens and Lena (Olsen) Wagensen at Ruskin Nebraska. He died June 2, 1987, at his home in Gillette, Wyoming, at age 91.
He spent his early years in the Ruskin-Oak area and in 1917 went to Wyoming where he took a homestead in Campbell County, 30 miles south of Gillette.
That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in France. After his discharge in 1919 he returned to his Gillette homestead.
On June 2, 1920, he was married to Mary Jacobsen of Ruskin at Hebron. they spent their entire lives developing, expanding and operating their ranch and also maintained a residence in Gillette.
They started their homestead as a crop farm but soon changed to cattle/sheep ranching. Within the last 30 years oil and coal developments encroached on their land but ranching continued to be their first interest and Fred still ran some cattle as recently as the past year. It was with great reluctance that he gave up active participation in branding and round-ups a very few years ago.
Fred was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a past member of the Wyoming House of Representative, a member of the Campbell County Fair Board and one of the original directors of First National Bank of Gillette, for which he had served as chairman of the board. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 42, Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1972, and by his son, Donald, in 1983, and his son-in-law, Quentin Marquiss.
He is survived by his daughter, Opal Marquiss of Gillette; seven grandchildren, Mickie Wagensen, Gary Marquiss and Trigg Marquiss, all of Gillette, Lexi (Wagensen) Ballard of Casper, Wyoming, Gloria (Marquiss) Clark of Worland, Wyoming, Mary Kyle (Wagensen) Coltrane of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Jan (Wagensen) Fisher of Arvada, Wyoming; and a number of great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 5 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tom Phillips, Ph.D. officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Gillette, with American Legion Post No. 42 in charge of the flag presentation.
Fred and Mary always called Ruskin home and made as many visits back as possible. In 1962 they came back to celebrate with homefolks, Ruskin's 75th anniversary. They brought their children and grandchildren and several unites to enter in the parade. They "camped" at Kathryn Jenssen's home and staked their horses close to the Rock Island right-of-way. It was an experience Fred and Mary wanted for their family so that "Ruskin" would have a significant meaning for the younger generation. They do remember it as a precious gift.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, June 25, 1987; pg. 6
He spent his early years in the Ruskin-Oak area and in 1917 went to Wyoming where he took a homestead in Campbell County, 30 miles south of Gillette.
That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in France. After his discharge in 1919 he returned to his Gillette homestead.
On June 2, 1920, he was married to Mary Jacobsen of Ruskin at Hebron. they spent their entire lives developing, expanding and operating their ranch and also maintained a residence in Gillette.
They started their homestead as a crop farm but soon changed to cattle/sheep ranching. Within the last 30 years oil and coal developments encroached on their land but ranching continued to be their first interest and Fred still ran some cattle as recently as the past year. It was with great reluctance that he gave up active participation in branding and round-ups a very few years ago.
Fred was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a past member of the Wyoming House of Representative, a member of the Campbell County Fair Board and one of the original directors of First National Bank of Gillette, for which he had served as chairman of the board. He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 42, Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the Wyoming Wool Growers Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1972, and by his son, Donald, in 1983, and his son-in-law, Quentin Marquiss.
He is survived by his daughter, Opal Marquiss of Gillette; seven grandchildren, Mickie Wagensen, Gary Marquiss and Trigg Marquiss, all of Gillette, Lexi (Wagensen) Ballard of Casper, Wyoming, Gloria (Marquiss) Clark of Worland, Wyoming, Mary Kyle (Wagensen) Coltrane of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Jan (Wagensen) Fisher of Arvada, Wyoming; and a number of great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 5 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Tom Phillips, Ph.D. officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery, Gillette, with American Legion Post No. 42 in charge of the flag presentation.
Fred and Mary always called Ruskin home and made as many visits back as possible. In 1962 they came back to celebrate with homefolks, Ruskin's 75th anniversary. They brought their children and grandchildren and several unites to enter in the parade. They "camped" at Kathryn Jenssen's home and staked their horses close to the Rock Island right-of-way. It was an experience Fred and Mary wanted for their family so that "Ruskin" would have a significant meaning for the younger generation. They do remember it as a precious gift.
The Nelson Gazette, Thursday, June 25, 1987; pg. 6
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