To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." – Thomas Campbell
Loren Keith Jost, age 78, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Christus Saint Vincent Medical Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born January 6, 1947, in Hillsboro, Kansas, to Harold B. and Marie Franz Jost, Loren will be remembered as an avid historian, devoted baseball fan, and stalwart patriarch.
Loren graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1965. After attending Tabor College for several years, he earned his degree from Wichita State University. While in Wichita, he worked as a staff photographer for the Wichita Eagle Beacon newspaper. His photography was featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, and media outlets across the country.
While working at the newspaper, Loren met his future wife, Katharine Wise. They were married on February 8, 1969, in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1977, they moved to Riverton, Wyoming, to work for the Riverton Ranger, fulfilling Loren’s childhood dream of living near the Rocky Mountains. After his time at the Ranger, Loren joined Central Wyoming College and later became the curator of the Riverton Museum, where he worked until retirement.
Loren was deeply fascinated by the history of his adopted home and contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of it. He served as editor of The Annals of Wyoming, the state’s history journal, and edited both the Wyoming Blue Book (1991) and Exploring Fremont County History. In 1995, combining his love of history and photography, Loren published Fremont County, Wyoming: A Pictorial History. He also served as president of the Wyoming State Historical Society.
In later years, Loren and Katy made a second home in Pecos, New Mexico. He remained devoted to Wyoming history and spent countless hours creating and maintaining a database of Fremont County births, deaths, and marriages—now containing over 185,000 entries. Another of Loren’s great joys was watching the Colorado Rockies. Despite their often-disappointing record, he rarely missed a game.
Loren is survived by his wife of 56 years, Katy; their son, David Jost; daughter-in-law, Brandi Schmidt; and granddaughter, Victoria Schmidt. He is also survived by his brother, Howard Jost; and sisters, Annette Albrecht and Christine Harms.
On-line condolences for Loren’s family may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Local arrangements are with Davis Funeral Home of Riverton, Wyoming.