Nyla Newbrough

Longtime Durango resident, Nyla Dee Newbrough, died at Berthoud Living Center in Berthoud, CO on June 21, 2011. Due to her failing health, Nyla had resided with her daughter,Karla, and family for the past 2 years. She was 89.

Nyla was born to Jerry and Hazel (Boal) Anderson on November 8, 1921, in Salina, KS. She was raised on a farm in northeastern Kansas with her parents and one brother, Dean, who preceded her in death. Nyla graduated from Agenda Rural High School in Agenda, KS and Brown Mackie School of Business in Salina.

She then worked for the Agricultural Adjustment Adminis tration in Manhattan, KS and School Specialty Supply in Salina. Nyla met Ron Newbrough, of Polk City, IA, in Salina where he was stationed for training as an Army Air Corps flight engineer on the B-29 Super-fortress during WWII. They were married on October 15, 1943.

Married life for Nyla included her continuing her accounting career through ownership of several family businesses. This began when Ron and Nyla owned Newbrough Truck Lines in Iowa. They moved to Durango in 1961, where they created and operated the helicopter company known as Sky Hook, Inc. Sky Hook, Inc. eventually became Sky Choppers, Inc. and, in later years, merged with Rocky Mountain Helicopters. They spent 25 years working in the helicopter industry.

Nyla was an inseparable partner to Ron. She logged innumerable hours traveling with him in his various airplanes culminating with his beloved Piper Comanche 400. Nyla never took a single flying lesson, but was a loyal and trusting companion and fellow flying enthusiast. She and Ron were founding members of Animas Air Park.

Active involvement with her family brought Nyla much enjoyment. Music was dear to her and she was an accomplished pianist. She was an avid reader and fond of card games and crossword puzzles. She was a prolific seamstress, sewing, crocheting, and knitting for her family. Sunday and holiday dinners for the en- tire family and friends were a specialty of hers. "Gramma”, as she was known to her four grandchildren and their friends, was a lively participant in all her grandchildren’s endeavors and adventures.

Nyla was preceded in death by her husband, Ron Newbrough and her daughter, Diane Edison. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Sanders, of Durango; her daughter and son-in-law, Karla and Joe Moss, of Berthoud; her granddaughter, Kasey Moss, and great- grandchildren, Hannah, Kade, and Indira, of Berthoud; her granddaughter and husband, Brook and Ezra Lee and great-grandson, Vaughn, of Ignacio; her grandson and wife, Cassidy and Jayme Moss, and great-granddaughter, Ronnie, of Berthoud; her grandson and wife, Captain and Mrs.(Leann) Tyler Sanders USMC (Kandahar, Afghanistan), and great-granddaughter, Anderson, of Yuma, AZ; and eight nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 3 P.M. on Monday, June 27, 2011, at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango with a memorial gathering at the DoubleTree Hotel’s Edgewater Lounge immediately following. Condolences may be sent to 4 La Plata Place #4, Durango, CO 81301.