Introducing The Class of 2018: Don Jording & The Jording Family

Don Jording has spent the last 48 years of his life in Newcastle, Wyo. He became vice president at First State Bank Newcastle April 1, 1970, and retired at age 77 from banking in 2005. From his family there have been five Newcastle High School graduates and two Weston County School District #1 teachers.  Six members of Don’s family graduated from the University of Wyoming, leading to his and Betty’s participation in attending UW sporting events, starting from the time their children were in college until the present. Both Don and Betty had a strong commitment to the community through banking, education, and their family.
Don was born June 7, 1928, in Chapin, Ill. After graduating in 1950 with an agriculture degree from the University of Illinois, he married Betty Young in 1951. Their daughter, Beth, was born July 1952, and the family moved to Riverton, Wyo., in December 1952. Their son, Mike, was born in 1953, and the family moved to Wheatland, Wyo., in November of 1954 where Don worked for Farmers Home Administration and Betty taught at Wheatland High School. Don became vice president of Stock Growers Bank of Wheatland in 1966. Beth graduated from Wheatland High School in the spring of 1970 and attended the University of Wyoming. Following a 16-year career teaching in Wheatland, Betty started teaching at Newcastle High School in the fall of 1971. Mike graduated from Newcastle High School in 1972 and attended the University of Wyoming. 
Mike Jording and family moved to Newcastle in the spring of 1989. Don and Betty enjoyed following their grandsons, Joe and Alex, through their NHS sporting and academic achievements. Joe graduated in 2002, his wife Larissa (Cooper) in 2003, Alex in 2005, and his wife Hanna (Jennings) in 2006. Don and Betty helped with their grandson’s high school education, while Mike’s wife, Peggy, attained her teaching degree from Black Hills State University in Spearfish.
Don and Betty enjoyed traveling, and their highlights were entertaining each of their five grandchildren (Christy, Jami, Emily, Joe, and Alex) with cruises or special trips for high school graduation gifts. Don continues to love traveling with Beth and her husband Jim Meteer, as well as across Wyoming with Mike and Peggy.
After 46 years, Betty retired from teaching high school business classes and began a career of educating adults through Eastern Wyoming College. During her years in education, she established FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) in Wheatland and the state of Wyoming. Don supported her teaching career without question and continues to support Newcastle school groups in memory of Betty after she passed away in 2014.
Don enjoys time with his friends, having coffee, walking, golfing, playing bridge and tending his garden and sharing its produce.
Recently Don celebrated his 90th birthday, spending a week with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Keystone, Colo.