Steamboat Pilot & Today

Virginia Sweetser Elarton passed away Nov. 14, 2004, at the Doak Walker Care Center in Steamboat Springs after a brief illness. She was 87.

Virginia Ruby Mengers was born Sept. 24, 1917, in Colorado Springs to Charles and Ruby Mengers. She was raised in the Black Forest area and graduated from Monument High School.

Virginia and Glenwood J. Sweetser were married in 1932 near Peyton. They lived in Colorado Springs until moving to Long Beach, Calif., where they lived during World War II. They later returned to Colorado Springs, where they raised their family.

Virginia worked in the Corset Shop as a seamstress for 25 years. During that time, she also made many wedding dresses for the young brides of the Colorado Springs area. Virginia was active in the Pejn Indian Club and First Presbyterian Church during her time in Colorado Springs.

Glenwood died in 1972, and in 1976, Virginia married Earl Elarton in Twin Lakes. The couple eventually moved to Missouri, where they lived until moving to Craig in 1993. Earl died in 2001.

Virginia enjoyed crocheting, knitting and sewing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Dean Mengers; two husbands, Glenwood Sweetser and Earl Elarton; a daughter, Dolores Wirkes; and a son, John Sweetser, who died in September.

Virginia is survived by a son, Wayne Sweetser and his wife, Deanna, of Hayden; a daughter-in-law, Mary Sweetser of Gilmer, Texas; four grandchildren, Kellie Taylor and Robin Brown of Tahlequah, Okla., Cody Sweetser and his wife, Rhonda, of Hayden and Carrie Sweetser of Craig; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothea Jones, of Brush.

A graveside service was held Nov. 20, 2004, at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

Donations in Virginia's memory may be made to Hayden Congregational Church in care of Grant Mortuary, 621 Yampa Ave., Craig, CO 81625.