MABLE JUANITA (Davis) BANTA
Marriages
Clair B. Banda - 1940
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel - May 30, 2010
Mable Juanita Banta, 90,
Grand Junction, died May 22,
2010, at her home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. June
19 at Rangely Christian Church.
Survivors include one daughter,
Charleen VonKrosigk of
Riverton, Wyo.; one son, Derry
Banta of Grand Junction; six
grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren;
and one great-greatgrandchild.
Memorial contributions to
Rangely Christian Church, 501
Darius Ave., Rangely 81648.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - June 13, 2010
Mable J. Banta, a long-time
resident of Rangely, Colorado,
died peacefully at her home, The
Oaks, in Fruita, Colorado, on Saturday,
May 22, 2010.
Born in a rural area around Las
Animas, Colorado on March 18,
1920 to William and Carrie
Davis, the Davis family owned a
cattle ranch. The family had one
of the only radios in the area and often hosted barn dances on Saturday
nights. When her dad sold the family buggy and horse team,
Mable remembered hating the newly purchased car and opting to
ride on the fender rather than on the seat. Soon after the dust storms
of the 1930's, the family sold the cattle ranch and moved to Las
Animas. Mable finished school and attended beauty school, later
opening her own beauty salon at the age of nineteen. Mable married
her high school sweetheart, Clair B. Banta, in 1940. They moved to
California in 1942 where Clair welded in the shipyards during the
war. Mable also supported the war effort, joining the ranks of illustrious
women known as "Rosie the Riveters". Their first child,
Charleen, was born in 1944 and the small family moved to Rangely
in 1946. Clair found work in the oil fields as one of the first Stanolind
Oil Company employees. Their son, Derry, was born in 1948,
completing their family. The family later spent five years in Riverton
and Elk Mountain, Wyoming, but moved back to Rangely in
1960 to purchase the Trail Canyon Hunting Lodge. The family ran
the hunting lodge for many years and Mable enjoyed being outdoors,
hunting and cooking for the ravenous hunters. Mable retired
as an x-ray technician from the Rangely District Hospital in 1985
after 25 years. Rangely was home to Mable until she moved to The
Oaks in Fruita in 2008.
Mable and Clair loved their family, loved the outdoors and loved
their community. Community spirit has always been evident in
Mable, as exemplified by her leadership in the Rangely Christian
Church, the community food bank, the Rangely schools, 4H activities,
the PTA, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts. Her generous spirit was
honored in 1994 when she was chosen as the Grand Marshall for the
Rangely School District Homecoming. Mable was later chosen for
the Rio Blanco Country Fair Book Dedication award for her contribution
to the fair and the community over the years. Mable was also
an avid artist, having been introduced to oil painting in 1968 by
Derry. With additional help and instruction from Dawna Wardell,
Mable's painting progressed rapidly. Mable's wildlife and scenery
paintings hang in many homes and businesses locally and in other
parts of the country.
Mable leaves her daughter, Charleen VonKrosigk and her husband,
Dean of Riverton; her son, Derry Banta and his wife, Diane of
Grand Junction; six grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; one great
great granddaughter, and two more great great grandchildren due
later this year. Mable also leaves a nephew and his family in California.
Mable was thankful each and every day for her family and
her great life-long friends.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19,
2010 at the Rangely Christian Church. Graveside services will be at
the Rangely Cemetery following the funeral service, and a dinner
reception will be held at the Church immediately after graveside
services. Donations in Mable's memory may be made to the Rangely
Christian Church.
