Merietta Belle West

Merietta West, 97, of Briggsdale, went to her Heavenly home on March 19 in Greeley. She was born to Elmer and Etta (Wendt) Ball on the Ball Ranch west of Briggsdale, where she grew up with her seven siblings. She graduated from Briggsdale High School and earned a degree in Music Education from the Colorado State College of Education, now UNC. She taught junior high music in Kimball, NE for 2 years. In 1951, she married Andrew West and they built their lives together on their farm southeast of Briggsdale.

Merietta was very active in the Briggsdale community, playing piano for worship at the Briggsdale Congregational Church from 1951 until it closed in 2024, and sang in the Prairie Songbirds choir. She was a longtime member of the Briggsdale Historical Society, serving as president when the town celebrated its centennial in 2010. Her passion was teaching youth. She taught preschool and summer reading programs at the Briggsdale Community Library for 18 years, and was a 25-year 4-H club leader. She loved her immediate and extended family and friends, and was an avid gardener and cook.

She is preceded in death by her husband Andy, her parents, and all her siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Rita Johnston (Donald) of Grover, son Jim (Deb) of Waco, TX, grandchildren Deeona (Bradley) Wernsman of Sidney, NE, Sara Vieyra of Windsor, Lyndee Gurnham (Nikita) of Grover, Jaydee (Morgan) Johnston of Greeley, Anna and Naomi West of Waco, TX, and great-grandchildren Isaiah and Isabella Nunez, Adabelle Wernsman, Xander and Xavier Johnston, and Ezra Gurnham.

Visitation is at Adamson Life Celebration Home in Greeley on Tuesday, March 25, from 5:00 – 7:00pm. Burial service will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Greeley, Wednesday, March 26 at 9:00 am. The Memorial service will be Wednesday, March 26 at 10:30 am at the Evangelical Free Church of Eaton, with lunch reception following.

Memorial donations may be made in Merietta’s name to the Briggsdale Community Library or to the Briggsdale Historical Society, in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631.