Lyla Mitchell

Lyla Lorraine Mitchell, 71, Passed away on Sunday, March 12th, 2023, at Dignity Health General Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. She had her husband, two daughters, sister, family friend, and Aunt and Uncle by her side. She spent the last week of her life checking off her bucket list to attend a Chicago Cubs game while on her annual sister trip. This trip started years ago as a ‘mother-daughter-sister’s-cousin’ trip, to always venture somewhere warm, as it could never be too warm for Lyla.

Lyla was born in Whitefish, Montana, on July 18th, 1951, to Alida and Leroy Ames. The family did a fair amount of moving because of her father’s job with Halliburton. It took them from Whitefish to Tioga, ND, and to Watford City, North Dakota. While living in Watford City, her sister, LaNette Elaine, was born on November 11th, 1953. Two years later her brother, Arnold Lee, was born on August 12th, 1955. As Lyla began Elementary School, her second sister, Andrea Marie, was born on August 2nd, 1956. The family soon moved to and settled permanently in Glendive, Montana in 1963. That same year her youngest sister Christie Valeta was born on September 19, 1963. Lyla attended and graduated from Dawson County High School in 1970. When Lyla was a senior in high school, she met the love of her life, Larry Mitchell. Larry was working on a seismograph crew in Glendive. He was smitten with her fiery spirit and gorgeous, long, blonde, hair. Lyla’s sister recalls how Larry would come up to Montana and bring her a gift, whether it be a little Sinclair dinosaur or flowers, he always brought her something special. They were married on June 20th, 1970. They made their first home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Larry worked for the Wyoming highway department. On September 8th, 1971, their first child, a son, Jason Blake, was born. Almost exactly one year later, their first daughter, Traci Lynn was born on September 28th, 1972. As Jason was in his first year of Elementary School, their youngest daughter Kimra Lynn was born on May 8th, 1977. Three months later, the family moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, to build their forever home.
Lyla was an independent spirit who loved her family with the fierceness of no other. Every holiday possible was spent with her parents and brother and sisters. She continued to visit her mother every chance she could after her father’s death in 2008. After her mother’s passing in 2016, she continued to make sure she talked to her brother and sisters every day and kept very close to them. She made sure her children knew their cousins and gave them as many opportunities as possible to keep the family close. Lyla was incredibly proud of her Norwegian Heritage and she made absolutely sure her children knew where their ancestry stemmed from. Traditions like making and eating lefse, rummrgrot, and lutefisk (only enjoyed by her and her father), the meaning of Uff Da, and of course drinking lots of coffee!

In her local community, Lyla was an avid bowler at Cloud Peak Lanes. She bowled on many leagues for 20-plus years. Her bowling friends really lifted her spirits, and she absolutely loved each and every lady she ever bowled with and remained friends with them all in and out of the bowling alley. This included her best friend Katie White(2018), who along with her husband Jerry White were friends with Lyla and Larry since 1986, when their sons Matt and Jason, became best friends. She passed down her love for bowling to her daughter and her grandchildren and was that Cloud Peak Lanes every Saturday morning to yell at them to do better, but of course to always cheer them on. She had a strong Lutheran background and loved God. She touched the lives of so many, family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all.

Lyla is survived by her husband Larry, her 3 children, Jason (Sharon), Traci Whittecar (Rob), Kimra Barber (Josh), her grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, and Savannah Whittecar, Dalton and Rheanna Vantassel, Alison and David Mitchell, Lillian King, Jayce Barber, and Kiara Jo Ellis and also, survived by her Sisters LaNette Simonton (Richard) and Christie McLain (Robert), aunts and uncles, and many cousins.

She is preceded in death by her father LeRoy, mother, Alida, brother Arnie Ames, and sister Andy Hrushka (Keith).

Memorial contributions to honor Lyla may be made to the Sheridan Youth Bowling Association at Cloud Peak Lanes 1520 Coffeen Avenue, Sheridan, WY 82801.
A Celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 1PM at First United Methodist Church, 214 W. Works St. Sheridan WY 82801.