With the death of country singer Dottie West, Utahns recalled her performances during the Days of '47 rodeo seven years ago and twice at the Utah State Fair during the 1970s.
West died Wednesday after surgery failed to stop internal bleeding as a result of an auto accident Friday Aug. 30. She suffered a ruptured liver and spleen when the car in which she was a passenger crashed on the way to a Grand Ole Opry performance.Eugene Jelesnik, local talent entrepreneur, said West performed during the Days of `47 rodeo in 1984 and recalled that "she was an excellent performer and very popular with the audience."
During her 10-day rodeo engagement, West also took time out to visit young patients at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and the Primary Children's Medical Center.
The tour, arranged by the Deseret News, consisted of songs and autograph time for the youngsters.
Keith West, Deseret News promotion manager and a member of the Days of `47 committee, recalls escorting the country singer on the two-day hospital tour and was mistakenly introduced more than once as "Dottie West's husband."