Due to complications from cancer, Sheryl Ann “Sherry” (Stenson) Bodan passed away peacefully in her home on October 9, 2020.
From her birth to her death, Sherry created beauty all around her. She was born on November 18, 1946 to Ruth Elaine (Rees) and George (Swede) LeRoy Stenson, in Ainsworth, Nebraska.
Sherry had a happy childhood in Casper, WY, but later moved to Lander, WY and graduated from FCVHS, where she met and married Duane Bodan in 1964. Later, she and Duane were blessed to become the parents of twins – Darren and DeVon. Because she became a mother at such a young age, much of her life was dedicated to her children – whom she dearly loved.
When she unexpectantly lost each of her children, Sherry was heartbroken, but displayed strength, courage, and resilience. Besides her children, Sherry was preceded in in death by her father (Swede) Stenson, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Joyce and Emerson Bodan. Despite the many challenges she faced in life, Sherry was always stellar at reaching out in love to neighbors, friends, and family members.
For 31 years, Sherry worked as a secretary at Northside Elementary School in Lander, WY. She had much love and compassion for those with whom she worked – students and adults alike. One of her co-workers recently said of the days working with Sherry, “when Sherry was gone, things just didn’t run right.”
Sherry loved her flowers and her garden. She often referred to them as “her comfort.” She and Duane spent many long hours together planting, tending, and harvesting the vast garden they created. The flowers were fabulous, the produce prize winning. Not only did the plants provide peace for Sherry, but the spoils of the harvest often became favors for friends and family.
Besides raising a family and a beautiful garden, Sherry and Duane love to spread beauty by traveling to different states and decorating the gravesites of passed relatives. She arranged flowers and documented their travels / experiences in a special book.
Not only did Sherry surround herself with beautiful things on the exterior, Sherry valued “inside beauty” as well. She had a beautiful heart that was evident to all who knew her. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, aunt, friend, neighbor, co-worker and the list goes on.
She will be missed by those who are her surviving family members; Duane Bodan, mother Ruth Andrews, grandchildren Tahna (Adam) Sabin, Janea (Paul) Livingston and Trevor Bodan as well as six great-grandchildren Cayson, Dayton, Brynlee, Khydalyn and Taysom Livingston and Maverick Bodan.
Sherry’s family would like to thank Duane for being so devoted to her loving care since her diagnosis, meeting her every need and making sure she felt comfortable and loved.
We love and will miss Sherry and are thankful for the beautiful life she created and shared with us.
A memorial service for Sherry will be held at a later date in Lander, WY.
Please sign the on-line registry at www.hudsonsfh.com
Hudson’s Funeral Home and On-Site Crematory, 680 Mount Hope Drive, Lander, WY 82520