Dario Soto

Dario Soto, age 89, of Medicine Bow, WY, passed away on July 20, 2024, at the Life Care Center in Cheyenne. Dario was born on October 25, 1934, to Juan and Alejandra Soto in Eaton, CO. He grew up in Pine Bluffs, WY, and graduated from PBHS in 1953.

Dario joined the U.S. Navy in 1954. He served as a radio operator for two years at Sangley Point, Philippines, and for two years on the USS Princeton (CVS-37). He was honorably discharged in 1958. After completion of his service, he attended the University of Wyoming where he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1963. Dario began his teaching and coaching career in Fort Laramie, WY. He moved to Medicine Bow in 1966 for the remainder of his career, teaching elementary physical education and coaching basketball and track and field. Dario retired from full time teaching in 1993 but continued teaching part-time elementary physical education in Medicine Bow and Elk Mountain and coaching junior high basketball in Hanna until 2022.

Dario was an accomplished coach in basketball and track. His basketball teams won seven conference championships, six regional championships, two state runners-up, and were the 1968 State champions. While coaching track, his teams won five regional championships, one state runner-up, and were the 1973 State champions.

Dario was recognized by his peers who selected him as Conference Coach of the Year six times. He was named Wyoming Coach of the Year in 1973 for track and field and the Wyoming 1A Coach of the Year for basketball in 1994. Mr. Soto was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall-of-Fame in 1985 and to the National High School Basketball Coaches Hall-of-Fame in 1998.

In addition to his influence on his profession, Dario had a significant impact and influence on the many lives of the students he touched in athletics and in the classroom, and his friends and family over his lifetime. He will be missed.

Outside of his teaching and coaching, Dario loved to fish. If he was not at home, especially in the nicer months, he was probably in the mountains chasing little Brook trout or at some lake pursuing the larger Rainbow trout. If anybody wanted to go fishing, all they had to do was call. He was always ready to go. He especially enjoyed introducing younger people to this new lifetime activity. He took great pleasure in teaching his nieces and nephews how to fish, and they all loved to fish with him.

Dario is survived by his brother Alex and his wife Max of Mesa, AZ, sister-in-law Boni Soto of Kimball, NE, sister-in-law Connie Soto, thirty-two nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and great-great-great nieces and nephews, his longtime friends Dean Bartow and Douglas Allen, and his students and friends from Medicine Bow, Hanna, and Elk Mountain.

In lieu of flowers, memorials and charitable donations may be made to the Medicine Bow Senior Center, 520 Utah St., Medicine Bow, WY 82329.