Dennis Shute
September 08, 1948 - April 13, 2018
Obituary
Dennis passed away unexpectedly at his home in Billings on April 13, 2018. He was born on September 8, 1948 in Powell, WY and moved to Laramie, WY while in elementary school. He was a multi-talented athlete while in Laramie where he graduated high school in 1967. He joined the military shortly after high school and served in Korea for 18 months. Upon his return from Korea in 1969, he married his elementary school sweetheart and loved her deeply throughout their 49 years of marriage. He and his wife, Cindy, lived in Laramie, Rock Springs and the last 39 years in Riverton. Dennis retired in 2014 from the telephone company after 44 years as a central office technician. They had most recently moved to Billings and were looking forward to spending retirement and a new chapter of their lives together being near their children and grandchildren. There were two constants in Dennis' life: his love of family and friends and his love of sports. He lived both of those things to the fullest extent possible. Dennis was well known around the state of Wyoming through his years of fastpitch softball and racquetball. He played softball for 32 years, and helped build strong fastpitch programs in both Rock Springs and Riverton. He was inducted into the Wyoming Fastpitch Softball Hall of Fame in 1999. Dennis was also inducted into the Wyoming Racquetball Hall of Fame. Although sports provided an avenue to build enduring friendships throughout the State of Wyoming, more importantly, it provided an opportunity for him to spend time with his children, Matt and Marni. With the support of Cindy, he continued to compete and share his love of sports as their two children grew. Dennis had a large circle of friends - many who respected him as a dear friend and father figure. Everyone who knew him found his laugh and love of life infectious. Dennis never met a stranger and the Shute home was always a place where everyone felt welcomed and loved. He found the greatest joy being with his wife and children. They were the loves of his life and he found great happiness as his family expanded and his heart continued to grow younger as he played with his 4 grandchildren. All children held a special place for Dennis, he was known as the neighborhood grandpa. Dennis will be missed greatly by his wife Cindy, their son Matt, their daughter Marni, Matt's wife, Leah, their children Anisten and Avery, Marni's husband Brian Marso and their children Maiya and MaKenna. He is also survived by a brother, Ric (Sharyn) Shute of Colorado, a sister, Kim (Drew) Boronda of Colorado and father-in-law, Kenton Collins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Esther Hamby, father Elias Shute, uncle Bayard Nearpass and mother-in-law, Violet Collins. Dennis was the model of a good husband and father. He was a champion in all ways and his wife of 49 years was always his number one supporter and fan. He was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed. Dad, your love runs through our veins and you will forever be with us. A memorial service will be held 11:00 am on Monday, April 23, 2018 at Dahl Funeral Chapel with inurnment at 2 pm in Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, MT. A live stream of the service may viewed at https://www.facebook.com/dahlfunralchapel/
Events
There are no events for Dennis yet.
Photos
No photos of Dennis have been shared yet.
Memories
BN
Brian Nearpass
Other •
So sorry for you loss. What a wonderful man, husband and father. I will always remember his kind and gentle way. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Words are not enough sometimes. RIP my dear cousin and friend. " Lets have one more and never have another one".
KB
Kim Boronda
Other •
When I think of memories of Dennis I have to consider those we missed, that saddens me greatly. When I think of our childhood it is difficult to know whether they are memories or stories I heard growing up, pictures I have seen over the years or the scrapbook of our written notes our Mother kept. Living in Powell my memories are few, what comes to mind is a picture of Dennis in one of Ric’s long white T-shirts, the love was clear even then. Moving to Laramie my first memory is of him spending hours throwing the baseball against our front porch. I wonder how many times he broke the window of the front door. Dennis loved both basketball and baseball. My love for baseball grew from hours of watching my brother play and my Mother explaining the rules of the game. In high school Dennis wallpapered his wall with baseball cards. He did not know his Hank Aaron rookie card would some day be worth something. In that same bedroom our dog Benji gave birth to a litter of pups in his closet. He did not tell anyone because he wanted her to have her privacy. From that same room he pounded on the wall and yelled at me do you not have a different song to play when “Downtown” by Petula Clark started for the umpteenth time. I remember the pride I felt so much so that I thought my heart would burst watching him play basketball at the regional tournament in Rawlins when he was a senior. I remember the birth of my daughter when the nurse came in and said only my husband could be in the room and he said “she’s Morman”,he stayed. The look on the nurses face was priceless. I remember being at a Nuggets game years after he had played high school baseball and he saw, remembered and called by name a young man he played in a tournament against in Boulder. I remember the tears I shed at my Mother’s funeral when he stood up in front of all those people, my brother Dennis read the words to “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” Those same words could be said of him too. I love you Brother!!
CH
Cathy Hatle
Other •
Cindy and family, very sorry to hear of Dennis’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are With you Randy and Cathy Hatle
PJ
Polly Johnson
Other •
So sorry for your loss, we were blessed to have known Dennis. The Johnson family. Eric, Polly, Tom and Holly .
CS
Cathy Sears
Other •
Cindy and family, I am so sorry to hear of Dennis' passing. Please know that I am thinking of you. My sympathy to all of you in this sad time. Cathy Sears
KS
Kathy Schilling
Other •
Cindy, Matt and Marni, Our hearts break for you and the loss of Dennis. I remember Dennis as always smiling and having a good time. He truly loved his life and all of you. Please know that all of your Riverton friends are thinking of you and praying for all of you during this sad time.