Myrla Rae Bisbee, 59, of Sheridan, WY, beloved wife of Rodney Bisbee, died peacefully in her home on June 3, 2002.

Myrla was born April 14, 1943, in Butte, Montana. She was the second of three children of John & Ruth (Franks) Hexem. Myrla taught German, Spanish and English in Sheridan High School for 22 years and Spanish for 4 years in J.B. Young Junior High in Davenport, Iowa. She retired in June, 1990.

She married Rodney Bisbee on June 20, 1964, in First Baptist Church in Sheridan.

Myrla's early education was received in Powell, Cody and Worland. She attended high school in Worland and Sheridan and finished her high school career as an exchange student in Mullacker, West Germany.

Myrla attended Sheridan College where she was accepted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honorary and the University of Wyoming where she graduated with a BA in Education with Honors. Her major was German and minors in Spanish and English. She became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary while a student at the University of Wyoming. Myrla attended church for years at Grace Chapel Church in Story, WY, and at the Salvation Army in Sheridan.

Myrla's foreign exchange daughters are: Anna Lonegren, Sweden; Eli Mette Brattset Lefstad, Norway; Araceli Ramos Slay, Mexico; Susanna Ehrnrooth Gronblom, Finland; and Andrea Weih, Germany.

Myrla was a life member of the National Education Assoc. and a member of the Wyoming Education Assoc. She was Delta Kappa Gamma president 1982-1984. Myrla was the Sheridan County Education Assoc. president in 1978-1979. Myrla served as the Wyoming Foreign Language Teachers Assoc. president in 1975-1977. Myrla was an expert marksman and shot competitively in NRA sanctioned rifle matches for 25 years. Myrla received recognition for being chosen Educator of the Year in 1967 for Scott County, Iowa. She was chosen Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1984 by the Professional Business Women of Sheridan County. Kiwanis International awarded Myrla the prestigious Tablet of Honor in 1996 and also named her a 21st Century Heritage Society Honoree. Delta Kappa Gamma named her a Woman Educator of Distinction in 2000.

Myrla is survived by her husband Rodney; sister Susi Griffing of Scottsdale, AZ; nephews Jason & Michael Griffing of Scottsdale, AZ, Kevin Hexem of Mesa, AZ, David Bisbee of Gillette, WY, Tim Bisbee of Broomfield, CO; nieces Kirsten Griffing Bacani of Omaha, NE, Fay Bisbee of Colorado Springs, CO, Debbi Dixon of Cheyenne, WY, Barb Hexem of Mesa, Nan Wallach of Sheridan and Amy Susanne Bisbee of Sheridan; brothers-in-law Dr. Leroy Griffing of Scottsdale, AZ and Bruce Bisbee of Sheridan; sisters-in-law Elsbeth Bisbee of Sheridan, Carol Bisbee of Sheridan and Charlene Hexem Lewis of Mesa.

Myrla's parents and her brother John preceded her in death.

Memorials may benefit the Huntington's Disease Society of America

% Barbara Boyle

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