Elizabeth Cottrell

Elizabeth Ann Bennage, age 89 of Gillette, Wyoming passed away on September 14, 2026 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming. She was born Septermber 2, 1937 at McHenry Hospital in Gillette, Wyoming to Howard and Alberta (Kee) Bennage. She attended grade and high school in Gillette, graduating from high school in 1955.

Elizabeth attended the University of Nebraska for one year before marrying Kerry Czapla on November 20, 1956. They moved to the Czapla Ranch located in the Four Corners area south of Gillette where they raised their family of Dave, Doug, and Kristen. The ranch was sold to the coal company in 1976. Kerry and Elizabeth separated and later divorced. She attended Sheridan College achieving National Honor Society status. Elizabeth and Kristen moved to Laramie where both she and Kristen graduated in 1981, Kristen from Laramie High School and Elizabeth from the University of Wyoming with a BSN degree in Nursing. She returned to Gillette and was employed with CCMH for the next 20 years. She worked in various areas of the hospital including ICU, Surgery Department and was the Manager of the Med Surg Unit. Her favorite position was as a Case Manager for Occupational Health. She retired in 2001.

She married Lyle Cottrell on February 20, 1988 and their life was an adventure with camping, fishing, whitewater rafting and yearly vacations to Mexico. Lyle died suddenly in July of 1991.

Elizabeth traveled extensively, taking her entire family to Ireland in 2012, attending her grandson’s wedding in Alaska and riding the rail system throughout Europe. She was active in the First Baptist Church, Gillette, Wyoming and loved gardening, becoming a Master Gardener. She was civic minded, serving on various boards in the community. She began quilting & won many awards. She was passionate about cooking and baking, collecting and sharing many wonderful recipes.

She spent the past few years enjoying comunity life and her apartment at Primrose and attending church on Sundays at First United Methodist Church in Gillette.

Elizabeth is survived by children Dave (Janet) Czapla of Gillette, Wyoming, Doug (Lisa) Czapla of Clermont, Florida and Kristen Noe of Summersville, Kentucky. Grandchildren; Amanda (Adam) Badertscher of Thornton, Colorado, Ty (Kacie) Czapla of Tyler, Texas, Phil (Anna) Czapla of Wasilla, Alaska, Samantha (fiance’ Kyle) Noe of Greensburg, Kentucky and Jake (Jacqueline) Noe of Summersville, Kentucky. She leaves behind six great-children Ruby and Sadie Badertscher, Ben and Lily Czapla, Kalli and Evelyn Czapla and Meredith and Branson Noe. Her children, grandchildren & great-granchilderen were the most important things in her life. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Funeral service for Elizabeth will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2026 at United Methodist Church with Pastor Patricia Bell officiating; interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, also ao United Methodist Church. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com