Joe Ben George

Joe Ben George, 85, of Lander, Wyoming passed away at his home on June 10, 2014 with his family at his side. Funeral services will be held at Hudson's Funeral Home, Chapel of Mount Hope in Lander, Wyoming on Monday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Scott Engelhart officiating. Burial will take place at the Hudson Cemetery, and a reception will follow at the Hudson Town Hall.
Joe Ben George was born February 26, 1929 in Rock Springs, Wyoming to Ben and Leona George. He was one of five children. His father was an immigrant from Bulgaria, and his mother grew up in Utah on the family ranch known as the "Robbers Roost". Until he was six years old the family lived in the mountains in a log cabin in the DuNoir Valley near Dubois, where his father was a tie hack. Later they moved to Hudson where his father owned a coal mine. He attended grade school and high school in Hudson and Lander.
Joe began working on highway construction during the summers, and in the winter he worked in the coal mine with his father.He served in the U. S. Army from 1951 to 1953, during the Korean War, and was a heavy equipment instructor with the Army/Operating Engineers in Labrador and Newfoundland. He was honorably discharged and then returned to Wyoming. He worked for many years supervising highway construction for Asbell Brothers and for Brasel and Sims on many roads throughout the state. His favorite job sites were South Pass, Togwotee Pass, and Burgess Junction over the Bighorn mountains. In 1982 he began working for Fremont County Solid Waste and retired as superintendant in 1992.
While working in Chamberlain, South Dakota one summer he met his wife, Carole. They were married in 1953 and enjoyed 60 plus wonderful years together. They had three children, Jeri, Benny, and Jill.
After retirement Joe and Carole enjoyed many adventures in their motor home. He loved working with wood and spent winters in his shop crafting many beautiful pieces of furniture for the family. Especially appreciated are the arbors he built for his wife and daughters.
He also enjoyed gardening, rock hunting and music. His love of music was expressed in his mandolin and harmonica playing, especially during 'hoedowns' with his family. Joe's love of the mountains lasted his lifetime. Just last summer he took his family up to the old tie hack camp in the mountains above Dubois, sharing with them his memories of that time.
One of his greatest pleasures was getting together with his friends from Hudson and recalling colorful stories of their childhoods and of their immigrant families. His children and grandchildren loved listening to him as he told them about his boyhood escapades with his Hudson friends. What an exciting childhood they had!
Joe was a loving husband, father and grandfather, always concerned with the welfare of his family and always there for them for guidance and support. We will always love and miss him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Marguerite Stowe and brother Toney George; and son, Ben Ryan George. He is survived by his wife, Carole; daughters Jeri Poe and Jill Johnson, both of Lander, Wyoming; granddaughters Jolie Connolly Poe, Aimee Moore, and Katie Johnson; and 2 great-grandsons.
Memorials may be mailed directly to First Baptist Church, 339 Sweet Water, Lander, WY 82520.
On-line guest book: www.HudsonsFuneralHome.com


Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520