Annie Eva (Drobish) Belish, a lifelong resident of Sheridan County, passed away peacefully on Labor Day, September 1, 2025, at Sheridan Greenhouse Living. She was 101. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Historic Sheridan Inn.

Born June 4, 1924, in Monarch, Wyoming, Annie’s life mirrored the story of Sheridan County’s long-gone coal towns—tight-knit, multi-ethnic communities full of grit, race, and celebration. Her parents, John and Eva (Buyok) Drobish, immigrated from Wisla, Cieszyn Silesia, Bielitz District, Austria. John arrived July 5, 1910, and Eva on May 3, 1916, bringing with them the traditions that shaped Annie’s deep love of family, food, and community.

Annie grew up in Monarch and Dietz, where her father served as postmaster. After the Dietz post office closed, he worked the Monarch mine until an accident claimed his life in 1934. Annie was just 13. She, her mother Eva, and five siblings continued to live in Monarch, where Annie completed elementary school. She graduated from Sheridan High School in 1942. The family moved to Sheridan after Eva married Anthony Seligo in 1944. Eva later married Cecil Parsons.

Despite hardship, Annie cherished her small-town memories of close friends, childhood games, community dances, and swimming in the Tongue River. She often said she was lucky to grow up in a time of simple pleasures—even as she mastered Facebook, email, and Google searches well into her nineties.

Annie married Walter Belish in September 1942 at the stone Catholic church in Monarch. They raised three children—El, Pennie, and Pam—on the Belish Ranch north of Ranchester. Annie, ever the social spirit, found ranch life isolating, so the family’s move to the Hauf Place near Ranchester in 1958 brought welcome amenities such as a telephone, plumbing, and close neighbors. Annie and Walt later split time between the ranch and a small Sheridan home, eventually replaced by a lovely log home built by grandsons Trent and Zach.

In 1960 Annie began a 27-year career at the Sheridan Woolworth Department Store, starting in the fabric department and finishing as a bookkeeper. She enjoyed her job and cherished her lifelong co-worker friendships.

Annie’s Polish heritage shone through in her excellent cooking—pork feet in sauerkraut gravy, kolache coffee cake, her special recipe for vajunka (a Polish whiskey cordial)—and in her love of polka dances.

She and Walt traveled to many polka parties, and Annie served both as Big Horn Polka Club president and as secretary of the yearly Miner’s Picnic reunion.

A gifted artist, Annie began with pencil sketches and grew into a prolific painter of acrylic and oil landscapes. She took classes, held showings, and generously shared her work with others.

Above all, Annie treasured her family. With five siblings of her own and eleven on Walter’s side, “Auntie Annie” had a life filled with connection, stories, and generations of joy that extended to countless nieces and nephews.

Annie was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Belish; parents, Eva and John Drobish; stepfather, Cecil Parsons; Aunt Mary Buyok and partner, John “Bula” entock; sisters Mary (John Kuzma), Martha (Frank Kobielusz), and Delores (Walter Wagner); half-sister Mary Ann King Elliott; brothers John Drobish (Belva Tole) and Bob Drobish (Millie Tolbert); daughter-in-law, Dixie Cosby Belish; grandson, Bret Vance; grandson, Baby Boy Roadifer; and great-grandson, Tony Vance.

She is survived by her son El Belish, wife Sue, and grandson Zach Belish; granddaughter Rachael Belish and great-grandchildren Mason and Maren Mercier; daughter Pennie Belish Vance and grandson Trent Vance, wife Susan, and great-grandsons Zach and Cody Vance; granddaughter Chelsey Vance Clark and great-grandson Wes Beadle; great-grandson Sean Vance (son of deceased grandson Bret Vance) and great-great-granddaughter Aspen Russell; daughter Pam Belish Roadifer, husband Wayne, and grandson Greg Roadifer, wife Tracy, and great-grandson Ty Roadifer; great-grandson Trey Roadifer, wife Ashley, and great-great-grandchildren Rhet, Lola, Penn, and Birk Roadifer; grandson Bryan Roadifer, wife Megan, great-grandson Taun Roadifer, and great-granddaughter Tori Roadifer; and granddaughter Julie Ann Elliott.

Annie’s children, El, Sue, Pam, Wayne, and Pennie, warmly invite all family and friends to a celebration of Annie’s long and abundant life on Saturday, September 20, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Historic Sheridan Inn, with a showing of Annie’s artwork.

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Condolences may be made online at www.kanefuneral.com/obituaries/annie-eva-belish or sent to El Belish, P.O. Box 422, Ranchester, WY 82839. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sheridan Artists Guild, Et al. (SAGE), 21 W. Brundage, Sheridan, WY 82801.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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