Lora Minnick

Lora Marie Minnick, 78, went to meet her Savior on the morning of March 26, 2022 while at her home, with her husband of 49 years, Bob Minnick by her side.

Lora was born on February 3, 1944 to Alvie and Sarah Bachler. They lived in various places in Wyoming and Nebraska, with her attending Moorcroft High School and later having 3 children (Todd, Scott, Debbie) with Kenneth Rathbun in the 1960’s.

As an adult, Lora worked at The Sweet Tooth candy store in Casper, where she met Bob Minnick. After they were married on February 10, 1973, she became a housewife and stay-at-home mom for her children. She and Bob had one child together (RJ). They lived in Dickinson, North Dakota and Linch, WY (twice) before settling in Casper in 1989.

Lora enjoyed cooking and baking, playing cards, putting together puzzles (even if she had to use a sledgehammer to make the pieces go in), garage sales, walking, hanging out with family – especially the grandchildren, singing, and going to church, where you would find her any time the doors were open. She was always part of the church choir and spent many years as one of the church’s flower gurus, alongside Sue Hoffman, creating beautiful flower arrangements to adorn the church sanctuary.

Lora especially loved cooking large feasts for her family and close friends (the more the better) always followed by cards or a friendly game of poker, sometimes ending the evening with a late night drive in the wee hours of the morning from Linch back to Casper. It was always a blast sitting around the dining room table laughing and remembering (or learning for some of us) so many fun quips her dad always said, which we still quote to this day. They will both be remembered for those!

She and her sister Donna were very close, talking multiple times a week on the phone, and Donna coming up from Albuquerque, NM every spring for up to 3 weeks at a time. They loved all the same activities and were sure to play lots of cards, put together impossible puzzles (remember the Elvis one?), and walk the neighborhood for yard sales and cats to love. Lora always had a houseful of cats and dogs and was the very best dog trainer we knew. She was a very patient soul with her animals, her kids, her grandkids, and loved them all with her whole heart.

She was the first to offer her help no matter what the grandkids needed, often picking them up from school (or from home on the weekends to play games or go shopping, when they’d had enough of mom and dad), buying them their favorite and coolest pair of shoes (no matter the cost), learning to love things that they loved, just to spend time with them, such as riding motorcycles, playing endless games, and tolerating heavy metal music.

She did not like going out to eat or traveling, but somehow Bob managed to surprise her with a trip to Hawaii about 3 years ago, and she didn’t hate it too much.

She always got straight to the point, telling you what you needed to hear (whether you wanted to hear it or not) and wasn’t afraid to talk to people about their salvation and where they were going to spend eternity. In her own way, she taught us all so many things.

At the very end, her faith was immensely strong and her peace flowed through to the rest of us. She knew where she was going, often quoting the scripture that says to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. Her peace was extended, knowing that her husband, kids, grandkids, and many extended family members and friends, know their home is in heaven and that she will see them once again. But to see Christ! What a time she’s having!

Lora is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Kenny (Vonnie, also deceased), her sister Donna Nilles, her son Todd Rathbun, and her grandson Patrick Wilson.

She is survived by her husband, her brother Don Bachler (Deanna) of Mills, WY, her daughter Debbie Rathbun of Denver, CO, her son Scott Rathbun of Gillette, WY, her son RJ Minnick (Melanie) of Casper, WY, 7 grandchildren (Amber Quinones, Alexander and Alvie Rathbun, Jake Juarez (Leslie), Kelsey Yrigollen (Tynan), Morganne Harper (Clinton), and Jaeden Minnick) and 11 great-grandchildren (Corrina, Israel, Heaven, and Nevaeh Quinones; Peighton and Landyn Juarez; Tarynn, Oryn, Kyran and baby boy Yrigollen expected in July 2022; and Emry Harper).

A celebration of her home-going will be Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 10 AM at Grace Bible Baptist Church with Pastor Steve Adams officiating, reception to follow in the Grace Bible Baptist Church Grant Adams Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Grace Bible Baptist Church Youth Group.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home , 600 CY Ave. Casper, WY 82601.