Wyoma Semler

Wyoma “Marie” Semler, always known as Marie, was born Aug. 28, 1936, in Sheridan, Wyo. to Herbert R. Zingg and Madge Son Zingg of Clearmont, Wyo.
Marie grew up on the Zingg Ranch in Clearmont. She graduated from Clearmont High School in 1954, where she was active in school activities, a cheerleader and sang at school functions.
After graduation she and her mother moved to Sheridan, where she attended and graduated from cosmetology school in 1955. She kept her license current but never actually worked in a salon.
She married Michael D. Semler Feb. 7, 1955, at Methodist Church Parsonage in Sheridan. Mike and Marie were wed 54 years before his passing in 2009. They enjoyed camping and traveling to visit family and friends.
She and Mike and family moved to Durango, Colo., in 1962 and then returned to Sheridan in 1967.
She loved music and liked to attend the concerts at the WYO and in the city park. Annually attending the Sheridan WYO Rodeo and events was something she did not want to miss.
Marie wanted it known she loved her husband, kids, and grandkids, nieces and nephews. She supported her children in their many school activities.  She loved her home that she and Mike purchased in the fall of 1970 where they raised their family.
She loved the garden and flowers that Mike tended for her.
Marie was an agent for Hertz Rent A Car for several years. She then worked in the office at the Sheridan Safeway for five years. She then worked for the Sheridan School District No. 2 as a cook in the lunch program, working at Central Middle School and Meadow Lark Schools and retired after 23 years of service in the lunch program. Her grandchildren affectionately called her grandma, the lunch lady or the luncher.
Marie was known to her family as a great cook and loved to cook for those special events and holiday dinners. She loved canning the food from their garden and making jelly. A family favorite was her chokecherry jelly.
She was a wonderful baker. One of her specialties was baking pies and she would often bring her delicious rhubarb maraschino cherry sour cream pies when she could visit her kids. Her love of cooking is now shared by her children and grandchildren and many of her favorite recipes are now prepared by them for special occasions.
She attended the First Christian Church and was a member of the senior center, The “Hub.”
In February of 2021 she moved to Custer, S.D., to be closer to her daughters. It was necessary that she move to Avantara Arrowhead Long Term Care Facility in Rapid City, S.D., in January 2022.
Marie passed away April 21, 2024 at Avantara Arrowhead Long Term Care Facility in Rapid City surrounded by her family. She was 87.
She was preceeded in death by her parents, Herbert R. and Madge Zingg; son, Michael “Mickie” Gene Semler; husband, Micheal Semler; and brothers, James Herbert “Herb” Zingg, Jack Zingg, and Robert “Bob” Zingg.
Marie is survived by her children, Gail (Allen) Trask of Custer, Jim (Lisa) Semler  of Gillette, Wyo., and Jody (Dave) Novak of Custer; six grandchildren, Nathan Trask of Custer, Amy Neihart of Billings, Mont., Jimmy Semler of Denver, Colo., Eric Vance, San Francisco, Stephanie Sones of Rapid City, and Jenny Bendigo of Rapid City; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and cephews. She was loved by her family.
Memorial gifts can be directed to the First Christian Church or The Hub on 5th Street-Home Delivered Meals Program.
She will be greatly missed and her memory lives on in her family and friends.
A public viewing for Marie was held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Champion Funeral Home followed by a memorial service with interment immediately following at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.
Champion Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.
Online condolences may be written at championfh.com.