PINEDALE — The Sublette County Health Foundation is thrilled to announce that our community’s dream of having a state-of-the-art MRI machine has become a reality, thanks to the incredible generosity of many individuals and a monumental final gift from Dianna Archuleta in memory of her wonderful husband George.

In a remarkable display of community spirit and support, numerous residents came together, contributing smaller donations that collectively built the foundation for this vital project. The final push came from a transformative $1 million donation from Dianna Archuleta, which fully funded the acquisition and installation of the MRI machine. 

“We are overjoyed and deeply grateful for the support we’ve received,” said SCHD Medical Director Dr. Burnett. “This MRI machine will have a profound impact on our community, providing essential diagnostic services that are crucial for patient care. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been one of George Archuleta’s physicians. George was a highly intelligent individual and an amazing analytical thinker. He was a visionary leader. George and Dianna‘s caring, compassion and generosity for the people in Wyoming are notable in many arenas. The Archuleta family’s generosity in making this MRI project achievable is exceptional.”

The new MRI machine will eliminate the need for residents to travel long distances for diagnostic imaging, ensuring timely and accessible medical care within Sublette County and La Barge. This advancement will significantly enhance the quality of health care available to the community, improving patient outcomes and overall well-being.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dianna Archuleta for her extraordinary generosity and vision. It’s heartwarming to see how everyone’s contributions, big and small, have come together to make this possible. It’s a true testament to the power of community and what we can achieve together.” added SC Health Foundation Executive Director Kari DeWitt.

George Archuleta was a resident of La Barge for over 25 years. He came from humble beginnings, born in 1933 in the small town of Las Animas, Colo., to parents of Spanish, Basque and Apache descent. He and his three brothers grew up in an adobe block home built by their father. Growing up, he faced discrimination in his hometown. But, despite any setbacks, he finished high school courses early and joined the Navy at age 17. He was part of the first group that went on to become the Navy Seals. He helped develop sonar in the military before returning to the U.S. to attend Notre Dame on the GI Bill. He then transferred to Michigan State. He had four children, Terence, Lisa, David and Shelly with his first wife Marilyn. From there, George went on to work for various companies in the aerospace industry where he met his lifelong, devoted partner and wife, Dianna in 1973. They were married for 46 years. Their journey led them to Silicon Valley in California where he was heralded by Forbes and Inc magazines as a “Turnaround King” of a then slumping business sector and two failing companies, Vitalink and Alantec. At Vitalink, he developed the hardware and software for the Wide Area Network (WAN) and made the first internet connection ever between Boeing, Seattle and Boeing, Wichita. At Alantec, he developed the hardware and software for fiber optics switching. He took both companies public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. He was integral to the technology and connectivity we all depend on and experience today through the internet. He was the right person at the right place and time to benefit us all.

With Dianna by his side in retirement, George bought and built a ranch in Wyoming where he continued his passion for aviation, fly-fishing and golf. George excelled at recreation. He shared his homes and passions with many friends and family throughout his years, even when facing his final challenge of Parkinson’s diagnosis. Like all things in life, George faced it with an incredibly optimistic attitude, strength and determination. He always led and lived by example of how to handle challenges with a positive attitude. He died how he lived, with ease and strength and his family by his side.

Dianna Archuleta shared her heartfelt motivation for the generous donation, “This donation to honor George’s memory is important to me because of the struggles we had trying to get regular MRIs for him during the last few years. This service is highly needed in our area. George gave so much to people during his lifetime, and it’s an honor that with this donation he will continue to give to the community for decades to come by providing this essential access to healthcare.”

The Sublette County Health Foundation looks forward to unveiling the new MRI machine and celebrating this milestone with the community in the first half of 2025.

The new MRI machine will eliminate the need for residents to travel long distances for diagnostic imaging, ensuring timely and accessible medical …