Private family services for Diane L. Hudson, age 77, were held Friday, October 30th at the Lander First United Methodist Church and burial followed at Mount Hope Cemetery. Diane passed away October 22, 2020 at the McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah from complications of COVID-19.
Diane Louise (Knosp) Ekardt was born January 19, 1943 to Arthur and Marjorie (Knosp) Ekardt in Cincinnati, Ohio. Diane was the oldest of three children. She attended Western Hills High School graduating in 1961. After graduation Diane attended the Cincinnati Jewish School of Nursing where, on a blind date, she met a mortuary school student from Wyoming. Diane and Butch dated while they finished school. After her graduation from nursing school, Butch sent her a train ticket to Wyoming. Upon arrival she fell in love with Butch and his home town of Lander. The couple were married August 30th 1963 at the Lander United Methodist Church. Diane started working at Bishop Randall hospital shortly after while Butch worked for Davis Funeral Home in Riverton. In 1966 Butch and Diane opened Hudson’s Funeral Home and three years later they built a new funeral home located near Mount Hope Cemetery, showcasing an amazing view of Lander and the Wind River Mountains. Diane worked full time as a nurse at Bishop Randall Hospital and in her spare time continued to help Butch provide funeral services, both helping the community in many different ways. They helped supply local residents that needed home oxygen but most importantly they offered Emergency Medical Services with the Hudson’s Ambulance Service. Butch and Diane had a great support system from family and friends with these ventures. With everything going on in their lives they found time to have three children; Annie, Kathy and Nick. While the children were young, Butch and Diane taught Basic Emergency Medical Technician classes all around the State of Wyoming. Diane continued to work in the Lander Regional Medical Center as an ICU nurse and retired as a nursing staffing supervisor in 1996. Diane worked full time at the funeral home until 2003, when she officially retired completely. During retirement Butch and Diane enjoyed travelling the country in their motor home, and she was an active member and past Worthy Matron of the Lander Order of Eastern Star (OES), Olivet Chapter No. 3. Diane enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Pass Creek, quilting, and spending time with her friends. Diane was a voracious reader and most of all loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and her dogs.
She is survived by her husband Butch, children Annie and Bill Heninger, Kathy and Ron Wells, and Nick and Toni Hudson all of Lander, grandchildren Josh, Emlie, Kegan, Kolbey, Jenae and Jaclyn, her sister Sharon and Ken Schuesler of Cincinnati, Ohio, her brother David and Joy Ekardt of Tampa, Florida and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
She is preceded in death by her parents Art and Marjorie Ekardt.
A community Celebration of Life will take place when we can all get together safely.
With her strong faith and belief in higher education memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Lander First United Methodist Church, 262 N. 3rd Street or the Scholarship Funds of OES, Olivet Chapter No. 3, 569 Garfield Street in Lander, WY 82520.
Please sign the on-line registry at www.hudsonsfh.com