WLM | history
Sharing the Storm –
THE BLIZZARD
on Tour
By James Fuller
Image courtesy James Fuller
T
he Blizzard of 1949 is a meteorological event that
for nearly two of the first months of that year
bound the region with persistent storms. Since
writing The Blizzard of 1949: Surviving the Storm I have
realized capturing every story regarding the blizzard is
nearly impossible. As I have traveled across Wyoming
during the last few months, I continue to hear accounts
of those caught in the blizzard and I am continually
amazed at the stories of heroism and resilience. Please
let me share a few of those stories with you as we reflect
on the 70 th anniversary of this event.
After each of my presentations I typically see if there
are questions or comments from the audience. However,
before each Q&A, I always ask if anyone has any
stories they would like to add to the presentation. At
an event at the Goshen County Library in Torrington
I was taken aback as I was giving my presentation. I
was telling the story of Merl Peters, a gentleman who,
like many others, was stranded on a Wyoming highway
during the storm. Merl was instrumental in saving the
lives of Wayne Yohe’s family, however Wayne himself
had tragically died in the blizzard when he left the
safety of Merl’s truck in search of help. Merl struggled
to convince Wayne that his truck was the safest place
to wait out the storm, yet Wayne defiantly pushed back
as he felt finding help was the only way in which he and
his family would survive. As I spoke, I noticed a lady in
the audience wiping her eyes as though she was crying.
I continued, but it became apparent that she was indeed
crying. Stopping the presentation, I asked if she would
like for me to move on to another story. She apologized
for crying but said there was no need to stop -- she was
thinking of her brother, Merl Peters.
20
Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Summer 2019
Shocked to have a family member of Merl’s in the
audience, I asked if she would mind telling us about her
brother and any memories he may have shared with her
regarding the storm. She said her brother spoke very
little about the storm, but when he did there was always
the regret that he had not been able to save Wayne
Yohe. He was reminded of the storm each and every