Jacqueline Gail Culbreath

April 30, 1935 – September 12, 2023

Jacqueline Gail Culbreath, 88, passed away peacefully on September 12, 2023, surrounded by her family, at her temporary home near Mack, Colorado.

Born Jacqueline Gail Byers on April 30, 1935, in Breckenridge, Colorado, Gail was raised in and around Summit County with her sister, Frances, and parents Frank and Pauline Byers. She attended Summit schools where she met her husband of 67 years, Grady Culbreath.

Together they attended Colorado A & M, now CSU, where Gail was chosen as the College Days Rodeo Queen and received her associate degree in business. They married in 1956 and lived in Washington DC, the Philippines and Denver while Grady was in the United States Air Force. After finishing active duty, Grady and Gail returned to Summit County, purchased their beloved Otter Creek Ranch from Grady’s parents, Cully and Elizabeth, and raised their family of 5 children. Gail was active in the Kremmling Community Church, Christian Women’s Club, Colorado Cattlewomen and was on the ASCS board. She spent most of her life actively involved in her family’s school activities, 4-H and rodeo events and working wherever needed on the ranch, whether it be raking hay, cooking for the hay crew, branding crew and hunters or cleaning and renting out fishing cabins. She was known for her excellent cooking and spotless home.

Gail and Grady were inseparable and always worked as a team. They welcomed company and enjoyed sharing their Christian life with others.

She is survived by Grady; daughters Lisa Palmer (Wes) of Kremmling, CO, Tammy Willis (Don) of Wheatland, WY, Polly Hill (Mark) of Mack, Colorado and son Frank Culbreath (Carol) of Kremmling, CO. Grandchildren include Clay Culbreath (Amy), Jennifer Willis Bales (Tyler), Holli Palmer Grant (Alex), Tyler Willis (Brooke), Kaila Willis, Bailey Palmer, Nathan Willis, Bode Culbreath, Kane Hill, Carson Culbreath and Lexi Hill, as well as 4 great grandchildren, Raleigh and Maggie Culbreath and Bryer and Landen Willis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, and sons Scott Frank and Steven Grady.

There will be a private family service at Otter Creek Ranch at a later date.

Donations may be made in her name to the Hope West Hospice Center in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Donald Henry Acord

June 22, 1929 – February 22, 2024

A life well and fully lived Donald Henry Acord passed away February 22, 2024 surrounded by family, and rejoined his best friend and beloved wife, Shirley.

Don was born in Greeley, Colorado on June 22, 1929 to Francis Acord and Rebecca (Dagle) Acord. In 1930 Don’s family moved to a ranch on the Williams Fork, near Parshall, where they raised hay and dairy cows. In 1942 the Acord family moved to a ranch between Granby and Tabernash; their property was later purchased by the YMCA of the Rockies and became part of Snow Mountain Ranch.

He worked various jobs in logging, sawmill and ranching before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1948 for the Korean War. Most notably Don served on a Landing Ship Tanker as part of the Incheon Landing, which was the amphibious assault by Allies to retake the Korean peninsula.

In 1953 he met the love of his life, Shirley Cody, when she worked in Grand Lake as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell. They married on September 11, 1954, and had five children: Terry, Polly, Mike, Pat, and Kelli.

Don was an avid reader. He also loved to hunt, fish and camp, especially with his family. He taught his three older children to ski as soon as they could walk, and he drove the ski bus to deliver his two younger children and grandson to the ski area whenever there were ski days. Don spent many hunting seasons up Ute Pass with family and good friends. Don and Shirley loved to travel, and their favorite trips were camping along the way to Alaska and then back home again.

Don was an icon in Grand County and he greeted everyone with his infectious smile. He supported the 4-H, The Middle Park Fair, and his children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities and sports. He was a proud member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and a regular face at the Memorial Day and 4th of July parades. Don was always known for helping individuals anytime, anywhere, and however he could. He is already greatly missed.

A family man through and through, Don is survived by his children Terry (Steve) Zupan of Pueblo West; Polly (Gary) Allison of Granby; Mike (Kim) Acord of Florence, AZ; Pat (Cathy) Acord of Granby; and Kelli (Jon Skelly) Acord of Sandy, OR; his grandchildren Paul (Tracey) Ray, Becky Allison, Gretchen (Danny) Reynolds, Wendy Allison, Zach (Mabon) Acord, Tami (Jeff) Vague, Mary (Daniel) Scheihing, Michael Acord and Erin Swietlicki, Samantha (Doug), Marc (Katie), Dominque (Dave), David (Suzanne), and Patrick (Rhonda); and His great-grandchildren Jackson, Brendan, Brady, Layla, Charlee, Karmen, Daniel “Shug”, Kodi, Henry, Allie, Harper, Oaklee, Maverick, Trinleigh, Afton, Delante, Jenna, Jerad, Arianna, Gianna, Jordan, Salim, Callie, and Collins.

A celebration of life and memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Don’s name to the Grand County Library, Grand County Veterans, Grand County Seniors, or the Grand County charity of your choice.

Irene Ritschard

September 27, 1943 – December 6, 2023

In loving memory of Irene “Renie” Ritschard, a remarkable woman whose warmth, laughter and sense of adventure touched the lives of everyone who knew her.
Irene grew up on Muddy Creek Ranch north of Kremmling. CO. Later she moved to Longmont where she raised her two daughters. In 1998 she returned to the Kremmling area, and worked at the Kremmling Branch Library. Her retirement years were spent in Grand Junction.
Irene loved to travel, to spend time in nature, and time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Florence; her sister, Karla Pond; and her sisters-in-law, Barbara Ritschard and Ida Lovelady. She is survived by her husband, Jim Liewer; daughters, Liz (Mike) Gaston and Kathy (Jerry) Westcott; three grandchildren, Evan Gaston, Ryan Gaston and Lauren Gaston; step-son Chris Liewer; siblings Herb Ritschard, Ruth (Bert) Welz, Jim (Diann) Ritschard and Bob Ritschard; former husband Tom Plahte, and many treasured cousins, nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life to honor Irene Ritschard will be held this spring in Grand Junction. Details later. In Irene’s memory, please consider supporting one of her chosen causes:
Dan’s Vans/Hilltop Community Resources, ALS United Rocky Mountain, Hope West Hospice

Kenneth Henry Fosha

May 27, 1945 — March 27, 2024

Drowsy Water Ranch, Colorado

Ken Fosha, a devoted father, grandfather, spouse and friend, passed away March 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
Ken was born on May 27, 1945, in Waukegan, Illinois, to Henry Kenneth Fosha and Margaret Ann Fosha (Gammon). Though his parents were originally from Colorado, they were living in Illinois during the end of WWII where his father was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. After his father completed his service, the family returned to Calhan, Colorado, where Ken grew up on the family cattle ranch, the Big Sandy Ranch.
Ken was the oldest of four siblings. He often recalled riding the ranch horses and doing his ranch chores, including the daily milking of the family's two cows, separating the cream from the milk to sell to the local creamery. Growing up in Calhan meant attending a small school, where Ken, like many of his peers, participated in various activities, from sports to student council and music. Ken excelled academically, graduating at the top of his class, while also displaying talent in sports and the arts. After high school, Ken attended the University of Denver, where he graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
His professional journey led him to work for Denver Water, where he obtained his Professional Engineering certification, focusing on water rights and capital water development projects in the mountains. Ken's time at DU and in Denver exposed him to the recreational opportunities the mountains had to offer. In his leisure time, he enjoyed backpacking and climbing 14ers in the summer, and skiing in the winter. He even sewed his own tent and sleeping bag for summer trips and became certified as a ski instructor, finding joy in teaching and training others. Ken led instruction certification courses at a number of ski areas and summer classes on Saint Mary’s Glacier. His passion for skiing and his engineering background eventually led Ken to become the Manager of Ski Operations at the Geneva Basin Ski area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was during this time that he met Randy Sue Echelmeyer, a fellow skier who would later become his beloved wife of 54 years.
In 1976, Ken and Randy Sue took a leap of faith, risking all they had to purchase the Drowsy Water Guest Ranch, near Granby Colorado. What began as a venture they expected to last 5-10 years turned into a lifelong passion and career. Together, they built a legacy of hard work, outdoor adventure, and genuine western hospitality. They raised two boys at Drowsy Water Ranch, both of whom chose to work alongside their parents in the business. During his time at Drowsy Water Ranch, Ken touched countless guests and employees with his humble manners, his ceaseless work ethic, and with his warm and welcoming laugh. He’d often joke that Randy Sue did all the work and he did all the talking but you didn’t have to look very far to find that Ken was an astute businessman, willing to spend long hours to make the ranch run smoothly.
Throughout his life, Ken's talents and passions extended beyond ranching. He was actively involved in his community, serving as a founding member on the Grand County Tourism Board, a 16-year member of the East Grand School Board, and as a two-time president of the Colorado Dude and Guest Ranch Association. He enjoyed traveling and traversed the world with friends and family. Ken explored Europe, saw Broadway shows, shared scuba diving and sailing adventures and more. Ken was a steady and loving presence in his family, always ready to offer support and guidance. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and love. He was a thoughtful and calm sounding board for his family, his employees, and the community.
Ken is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Margaret Anne Fosha, and his youngest brother, Steve Fosha. He is survived by his wife Randy Sue Fosha, sister Marilyn Gildersleeve (Penn), brother George Fosha (Sally), sons Justin Fosha (Gretta) and Ryan Fosha (Ellen), and three grandchildren: Peyton, Chase, and Scotty Fosha.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 4th at 11:00 AM at the Church of Eternal Hills in Tabernash, Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a Grand County nonprofit of your choice.

Jim Hering

Jim Hering passed away peacefully with his wife of 48 years and daughter by hi side on April 2nd, 2024.

He was born in Emmett, Idaho on August 27, 1949.

The family lived in Ft Morgan and Denver before settling in Grand County where they operated the Porter Motel near Grand Lake.

Son of Heny Hering and Carmen Hering (Barnes), Jim grew up with one sister (Sandy) and two brothers (Carl and Mike). Jim was full of mischief and adventures he and his siblings had. As an avid outdoorsman, Jim grew up fishing with his mom and hunting with his dad.

In high school, Jim was state champion skier and ski jumper. He later used those talents as a skin instructor for many seasons at the Winter Park Ski Resort. Jim met and married the love of his life, Claudia (Edwards), in 1976 in Granby. They welcomed daughter Sarah (Hughes) in 1981.

While the family moved to Pueblo several years later, Jim maintained many close friendships in Grand County. Acting on a lifelong dream, Jim and Claudia moved to Alaska in 2003 where they enjoyed this adventure to the fullest for 12 years.

After moving back to Colorado, Jim was able to spend more time with grandsons (Elijah and Malcom), enjoy time with family and reconnect with friends. As Jim’s mobility declined, he did not let this keep him from adventure. Jim and Claudia enjoyed much time outside – challenging themselves to 20 picnics a year and tearing up the trails on their “walk and rolls”. In 2022 Jim and Claudia decided to move to Virginia to be closer to their daughter and her family. Jim taught his grandsons a lot, not all of it mischievous. Some of his last outings were to watch their sporting events. Jim will be deeply missed, but remembered with a smile and a chuckle by all who knew him.

The family hopes to a celebration of life in Granby this summer.