Anna Belle Bachelor, 92

Anna Belle Bachelor was born to Perry and Daisy (Potter) Miller at their home in the Simeon area of rural Cherry County on September 25, 1931. She was the first Jobs Daughter Honored Queen when they built the Bethel in Valentine and was elected to attend Girls State, where she made many new friends. Anna Belle was offered two full scholarships and graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1949.

Anna Belle, or as she was often referred to, Annie, married Robert Bachelor December 7, 1949, and moved to the Bachelor Ranch.

Anna Belle was very proud of being the second woman in Cherry County to earn her pilot’s license, and actually had it before she had her driver’s license.

Annie absolutely loved her home and lived in it off and on for decades, bringing her magic decorating skills to every nook and cranny. Thirteen years after marrying, they were blessed with their daughter Cindy. At this time, they lived back and forth at the ranch and town for several years.

Annie purchased Heart City Floral in 1967. She absolutely loved the flower shop, which was more than flowers.

She dated Terry Denny until his passing in 1999. She went out to his place often and cared deeply for his son Terry Dean.

Annie was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family was everything to her. She opened her home to her family and friends, her daughter’s friends, her grandchildren’s friends, and her great-grandchildren’s friends. She helped fill in the pieces and loose ends during hard times, making a peaceful home, and learning all she could about baseball and football so she could discuss it with Billy when he went in to stay with her during high school, and helped find the perfect chair and paint color for Cassie when she went in.

Annie was blessed to find a new soul mate late in life in Roger Penney. She went to stay with him often in Wyoming, and they found great happiness until his passing. She made a very close friend in his daughter, Nancy Brown. Roger said she was a great driver, which made everyone laugh as everyone knew was because he was trying to keep the peace.

She returned to the ranch where she was born, although she was living in the house that had been moved there that she and Bob had lived in while they were married.

Anna Belle loved her family and was very close to all of them. Ali and Bubby stopped in regularly, and the three of them would create elaborative, imaginative games and partake of her famous cowboy coffee cake and cookies. She loved visiting with Billy and Amber when they dropped in, listening to the details of their day, and sharing some of her own great stories. Annie made several trips up to Spearfish to spend time with King, Cassie, Delaney, and Mitzie and always made a special effort to set up festive tea parties when they came to see her. She wrote letters and mailed cards to the girls, making sure to be a part of their lives even though they did not live nearby.

No story about Annie is complete without mentioning her voracious love of reading, her knowledge of local history, and her ability to weave a story that made the listener feel as though they were experiencing it. Her eyes sparkled when she talked and her stories were not only entertaining, but full of rich details and laughter.

Anna Belle was a people person, loving to meet and learn about everyone. She made people comfortable and was truly interested in them and their families. She would help anyone in need, whether offering them a meal, a place to stay, a ride, or just sitting and listening.

Most of the last few weeks, she was able to spend at home, with her daughter caring for her and everyone being able to drop in and out to visit.

Anna Belle was blessed to pass away right at home on July 13, 2024, not far from where she was born. She is dearly missed and our memories of her will be treasured.

In her own words about her imminent passing, “I am going to look at this as my next big adventure.”

Anna Belle was preceded in death by her grandparents, Thomas and Carrie Belle Miller, Lee and Anna Potter; her parents, Perry and Daisy Miller; and her brother Tom Miller.

Survivors include her daughter Cindy; grandson, Billy and his wife Amber, their children, Alison and William; her granddaughter, Cassie and her husband King, and their children, Delaney, and Mitzie; special friends Nancy Brown and Terry Dean Denny; and beloved cousins, family, and friends.

Graveside service was held Friday, July 19, 2024 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Online guest book available at www.HolmesFH.com.