Western Wade "Gus" Thayer

Western Wade "Gus" Thayer, 69, of Fort Washakie died on August 8, 2026, in Casper, Wyoming. The All Night Wake Service will begin at 7:00 pm, Friday, August 14, 2026, in the Rocky Mountain Hall, 19 North Fork Road, Fort Washakie, Wyoming. The Funeral Service will be at 10 am, Saturday, August 15, 2026, also in the Rocky Mountain Hall. Burial will follow in the Sacajawea Cemetery, 50 Sacajawea Cemetery Road, Fort Washakie, Wyoming.
Western Wade "Gus" Thayer, 69, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, passed away August 8, 2026, surrounded by his family. Gus was born in Riverton, Wyoming on February 22, 1957 to Jerry Thayer and Alberta Friday. He was the third eldest of his siblings and the eldest son of his parents. While Gus had called several places home during his life (Idaho, California, Wyoming), he spent most of his life on North Fork Road in Fort Washakie, at the base of the mountains he loved so much. No matter where his travels took him, his heart always resided on the Wind River Indian Reservation. He attended both Mill Creek and Fort Washakie elementary schools. He continued his high school education and graduated from Wyoming Indian High School. After high school, he pursued higher education and received a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Management from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. He was also a graduate of the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in Douglas, Wyoming. 
Gus's career path throughout his life consisted of various roles: wildland firefighter, horn hunter and trapper, stay-at-home dad, security at The Shoshone Rose, a game warden with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game, and a councilman on the Shoshone Business Council. 
He always described his 16 years as a game warden as his dream job. His boots have walked all over the Wind River and Owl Creek ranges. Gus was a true mountain man and loved spending time in the mountains camping, trapping, hunting, fishing, and horn hunting. He cared about wildlife conservation, served as a tribal representative to the Wyoming Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Committee, and was an active voice for the reintroduction of buffalo on tribal lands. 
Gus served on the Eastern Shoshone Business Council. He was first elected in 2018 and served continuously until his passing in August 2026. He was proud to serve and happy to help the land and the Shoshone people. 
It's hard to put Gus into words because words don't do him justice. Anyone who was fortunate enough to be a part of his life has a memory of a crazy time, a shared laugh, or a story of generosity and warmth. He was a good man with a tender heart who showed kindness to everyone he encountered. Gus was shy when he initially met someone, but once he got to know you, his sense of humor came out in full force. He loved to sing, to laugh, to eat, to be outside, and to help others. In his memory, when you laugh with loved ones, sing a song, eat a good meal, help someone, or spend time in nature, think of Gus. 
His Shoshone name was Sunrise Singer, Davay doy - dureen qwuh-wap. His children fondly recall waiting for the bus in elementary school and having their father serenade them. Gus would throw open the kitchen window and belt out a powwow song as they boarded the bus. They also remember being able to pick out his voice during powwows as they walked around the arbor. He was part of multiple drum groups during his life: the Blue Sky Singers, Warm Valley, and the BG Boys. 
His happiest times were spent with his children and the people he loved. He was an amazing, supportive, and loving father and grandfather. He constantly said his children were the most important thing in his life and he embodied that statement. He was also a devoted, caring brother and son, through the good times and the hard ones. His affection extended to his friends and his loyalty did not waver. 
He is survived by children Noma, Helen, and Western V. Thayer; daughters, Dezarae Antelope-Poncho, Kayla Bullock; grandsons, Wyatt Thayer-Emmons, David Poncho, Redstone Antelope; Indian spouse, Francis Bigman; sisters, Joette Thayer, Julie Kutch, Jeri Michelle Thayer, Arlene Oldman, Ida Broncho, Reva Hill, Angie Hernandez, Sara Robinson, and Naomi Johnson; brothers, John Hugh Friday, Mark, James, and Val Thayer, and Dennis O'Neal; aunts, Merle Haas and Ingrid Teuscher; uncle, Orville St. Clair; nieces Leslie St. Clair, Sandra St. Clair, Sonni Rae Lonebear, Meldonna Hill, Elisa Duran, Miracle Spoonhunter, Brittany Christian, Kezia Washakie, Gabrielle St. Clair, Kiya Friday, Amber and Chopper Hidalgo, Miki Dixey, Ava Zamora, and Marcia Rodriguez, Singing Brook Willow, Tara Friday, and Effie Hernandez; nephews, Darwin III, Bryan and Noah St. Clair, Kyle Burnett, Finny Burnett, Heto Thayer, MJ Hill, Jordan St. Clair, Nykeen and Chordlen Duran. 
He was preceded in death by parents, Jerry Thayer and Alberta; daughter, Julia Stevie Thayer; siblings, Baby Girl Friday, Hubert Hugh Friday, and Sharon Rae Thayer; maternal grandparents, Herman and Daisy St. Clair; paternal grandparents, Charlie Thayer and Ina Witt; nieces, Deanne "Tyvones" and Andrea Coando; nephews, Ryan and Kennard "Bird" Burnett; and family members, Darwin and Sandra St. Clair, Doug St. Clair, Angelo Hernandez, Jeffery Brown, Albert and Vivian Ballard, Harvey and Colburn Ballard, Noma, Joyce, and Lavida Ballard, Jimmy and Marsha Allen, Raymond "Raisins" Ferris, Verlon and Meldon Hill, Gladys Hill, and Rose Ruleau. 
We apologize if we missed or misspelled any loved ones' names; there were many wonderful people in his life and you all mattered to Gus. 
Please sign the on-line guestbook: hudsonsfh.com.