Trista Marie Meyer

Trista Meyer

Gillette, Wyoming

Trista Marie Meyer, 34, went to her Heavenly home with her daughter Shyann, on December 2, 2012 as the result of a tragic airplane crash in Sevier County, Utah. Trista was born on June 28, 1978 in Rapid City, SD to Roger James Meyer and Myra Jean Harmon Meyer. She joined her older sister Meridith at home.

At an early age, her family moved to Randall, MN where three more siblings, Richard, Randy, and Tessa, joined her. Trista attended school in Randall and Little Falls, MN and then Sturgis, SD where she graduated high school in 1997.

Growing up, Trista loved sports, cheerleading, 4-H, horseshows, and especially loved animals of any kind. She also loved being outdoors, going hiking, camping, and biked the entire 109 mile Michelson trail in SD. In the last few years she developed a passion for flying, saying she never felt more free than when she was in the air.

During high school, Trista started working at Elk Creek Steakhouse where she met and married Mark Allan Lenz and to this union was born a beautiful blue eyed baby girl, Shyann Amy Lenz. Trista loved her daughter more than anything else in the world. Trista was not afraid to try anything and as a result, had many adventures and held many different jobs. Aside from Elk Creek, she worked as a corrections officer for Pennington County Jail, Mail carrier for Black Hills Mail Carriers, and most recently a Haul Truck Operator for Alpha Resources at the Bel-Ayre Mine in Gillette, Wyoming.

Trista is survived by her mother, Myra (Bruce) Fees, Rozet, WY; father, Roger (Leslie) Meyer, Bethel, MN; sisters Meridith (Scott) Johnson, Gillette, WY; and Tessa (Chris) Meland Sturgis, SD; brothers, Richard (Sophia) Meyer, Piedmont, SD; and Randy (Lori) Meyer, Oacoma, SD; nephews, Steele Johnson, Blaise Johnson, Ridge Johnson and Korbin Meland; nieces, Laika Johnson, Kerrigan Meland, Kwynnlee Meland, Penelope Meyer and Carmen Pryzbilla; grandmothers, Coleen Short, Piedmont, SD; and Evelyn Meyer, Little Falls, MN.

Trista was joined in death by her daughter and light of her life, Shyann. Also preceding her in death were her grandfathers: Lloyd Short, Edward Meyer and Glen Harmon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Black Hills in Piedmont, SD. Additional services will be held Sunday at 2:30 in St. James Catholic Church in Chamberlain, SD. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Oacoma, SD.