Julie Ann Kane Dayton

Julie Ann Kane Dayton, 81, passed away January 15th, 2026, at the Wyoming Medical Center, with family members by her side. Services will be held on Tuesday, January 20th, 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church, 262 N 3rd St, Lander, WY 82520. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lander.

Julie was born April 5th, 1944 to Glen Kane and Olive Wenner Kane in Lemmon, SD. She attended elementary school in Lemmon, SD in a one room school house in the country and was taught by her mother, Olive Kane. Her freshman year, she and two other friends (also freshmen) rented an apartment in the town of Lemmon to attend high school, since it was too far (and cold!) to commute from the farm every day! She met Jerry while playing softball and they loved to go dancing every Friday and Saturday night at various small towns in the area. The two married on September 1, 1963 shortly after graduation. Julie then completed Beauty School in Lemmon and they moved to Aberdeen, SD so Jerry could complete his studies. Jerry and Julie lived and worked in several places in South Dakota and Montana, but finally settled in Lander in 1980. Julie loved children and joined the staff at West Elementary for many years. After retiring from the school district, she decided she wanted to continue serving her community and worked for several more years at Sinks Canyon Therapies.

Julie loved traveling to visit family, and would hit the road every summer to visit out-of-state friends and relatives. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, playing cards, cooking, sewing, crafts, gardening (vegetable and roses), and spending time with grandchildren. She loved her Lander community, including her church and her ESA sorority. She and Jerry opened their home to several exchange students over the years. She embraced the idea of the “Village,” and welcomed any hungry teenager into her home who just wanted to lounge around, take a nap after swim practice, or grab a snack. She made everyone feel at home and part of the family.

She is survived by her four children, Jeff (Debra Sasso) Dayton of Belgrade MT, Jay (Melodie Skroch) Dayton of Riverton WY, Jason (Karen Hallett) Dayton of Lander WY, and Jannette Dayton (Joe) Palermo of Sacramento CA, and honorary son Paul Burns and his son Curran of Lander WY, brother Harvey (Gloria)Kane of Montgomery, MN, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lowell and Dorothy Dayton, sister-in-law Myrna Nycont, seven grandchildren, Eliah Dayton, Seth Dayton, Andrew Dayton, Nicki Dayton, Jonathan (Brilee Forton) Dayton, Meghan Dayton, Emily Dayton (Michael) Hanson, and Gianna Palermo, and one great grandchild getting ready to meet the family, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Glen Kane and Olive Wenner Kane Spenny, step-father Howard Spenny, her husband Jerome L Dayton, brothers Lynn Kane, George Kane, and Jim Spenny, and sisters June Kane Filgo, and Carol Kane Pearson.

Julie’s compassion and care for others was actively demonstrated in her work through ESA. She helped raise money with her ESA sisters for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital through many hours of fund raising and charitable work. In lieu of flowers, donations made to St. Jude’s in her name would help continue the love and care she had for children in need.

The family would like to thank Pastor Darin Buse, Teri Fifield, and Maggie Appleby, and The Lander United Methodist Church for their compassion and guidance.

Please sign the on-line guestbook: hudsonsfh.com.