Laila Eleanor Pixley, 89, Sheridan, Wyo., died Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Funeral services will be at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood with Pastor David Baer officiating. Burial follows at the Whitewood Cemetery.

Laila was born in rural South Dakota near St Onge, in a Finish speaking community. Her first language was Finish; English was learned later in grade school. Laila was one of Oscar and Selma Balo's 14 children.

She was raised in rural South Dakota and attended college at Black Hills State Teachers College in Spearfish. She married Hugh Pixley on Dec. 7, 1952. During her working life she did many different things including owning and operating restaurants in South Dakota, Wyoming and Washington and tourist resorts in South Dakota. The family also had a business transporting train crews for Burlington Northern as well owning a potato chip factory in Belle Fourche and a taxi cab business in Sheridan.

Laila loved fishing, painting, cooking, and helping anyone who asked. She was fond of saying: "There are no strangers only friends I haven't met." She will be missed by all that knew her.

Laila was preceded in death by her oldest son Monte Evans.

Laila is survived by five sons Milo Evans of Penrose, Colo., Merle Evans of Warrenton, Va., Mike Pixley of Upton, Wyo., Marty Pixley of Sheridan and Mark Pixley of Sheridan; brother Guy Balo of Whitewood; sisters Edna Baker of Belle Fourche, Hilma Saari of Basin, Wyo., Etta Gaylord of Portland Ore., Hazel Kessler, Sheridan & Wilma Reynolds of Shreveport, LA; 14 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.

Lawrence County Journal April 29, 2006