Roger "Bo" Rathbun died on November 8, 2000 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley of complications resulting from severe burns suffered while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County, October 8, 2000. An investigating team of Crook, Campbell and Wyoming State Forestry firefighters was convened on October 8th and the report will be released in early 2001.
Bo was a rural volunteer firefighter for his entire adult life, and served as zone warden and fire board member for Crook County Firefighters. He took pride in fire-fighting and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire. Bo was on many fires during the 2000 campaign. Crook County was pushed to its breaking point most of the season. Because of people like Bo it bent...but did not break.
Some of the Wyoming Smoke Buster Crews were going to change their address to Crook County. At a county firefighters fund raising event the night before the fatal fire, Bo made the statement that this was his last year to fight fires.
He was born September 5, 1931 on the family ranch on Miller Creek and was laid to rest in the Miller Creek Cemetery within a few miles of Devils Tower. He leaves a wife, Crystal of 45 years and two daughters, their husbands, three sons and wives, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
_________________________
Funeral services for Roger "Bo" Rathbun, age 69, Sundance, Wyo., will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at the Old Sundance High School Gymnasium, with Rev. Doug Wood, First Baptist Church, Hulett, officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Creek Cemetery, with Rev. Tim Berkshire, Assembly of God Church, Hulett, officiating.
There will be a reflections time during the service. Written memories to be shared with family and friends during this time would be greatly appreciated.
A reception for all family and friends will be held after the graveside services.
Memorials have been established for the Miller Creek Cemetery Association and the Sunny Divide Community Hall.
He died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000, at the North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colo., of complications resulting from severe burns that he received while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County.
He was born September 5, 1931, on the family ranch at Miller Creek, to Chesney P. and Sarah Mae (Storts) Rathbun. He attended school in Sundance and graduated in 1951. He spent two years in the US Army, after which he returned to the family ranch.
In 1955, he married Crystal Hutchins, in Sundance and to this, union five children were born. They made their home on Miller Creek, farming and ranching the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1883. He was a logger, a big game outfitter, and for many years on a sheep shearing crew.
He was a lifetime member of National Rifle Association and a long time member of the Sunny Divide Farm Bureau. He was a Volunteer Firefighter in the Crook County Volunteer Fire Department for his entire adult life, and served as the Fire Warden for his local Zone for many years. He took pride in fighting fires and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire.
He enjoyed hunting, especially when he, his sons and grandsons would go elk hunting in the Wyoming Mountains. Even in the midst of the hectic outfitting season, that time was always his special time to take his boys and go be with nature. He played the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and especially enjoyed playing for the old-time dances at the Sunny Divide Community Hall on nearby Sunny Divide. He always loved to host the many family reunions, graduations and wedding receptions for children and grandchildren. Bo was the chef for the many outdoor family barbecues that were held at the family ranch over the years, where he could usually be found manning the outdoor barbecue pit. When he wasn't busy in the outdoors, he enjoyed woodworking. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of them very much.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Crystal Rathbun, Sundance; two daughters, Melody (Mrs. Don) Hamm, Rozet, and Billie Jo (Mrs. Steve) Young, Atkinson, Neb.; three sons, Kenny (Denise) Rathbun, Randy Rathbun, Tony (Tamie) Rathbun all of Sundance; one sister, Jennie L Rathbun, Casper, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Fidler-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Sundance, is entrusted with arrangements.
Bo was a rural volunteer firefighter for his entire adult life, and served as zone warden and fire board member for Crook County Firefighters. He took pride in fire-fighting and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire. Bo was on many fires during the 2000 campaign. Crook County was pushed to its breaking point most of the season. Because of people like Bo it bent...but did not break.
Some of the Wyoming Smoke Buster Crews were going to change their address to Crook County. At a county firefighters fund raising event the night before the fatal fire, Bo made the statement that this was his last year to fight fires.
He was born September 5, 1931 on the family ranch on Miller Creek and was laid to rest in the Miller Creek Cemetery within a few miles of Devils Tower. He leaves a wife, Crystal of 45 years and two daughters, their husbands, three sons and wives, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
_________________________
Funeral services for Roger "Bo" Rathbun, age 69, Sundance, Wyo., will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at the Old Sundance High School Gymnasium, with Rev. Doug Wood, First Baptist Church, Hulett, officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Creek Cemetery, with Rev. Tim Berkshire, Assembly of God Church, Hulett, officiating.
There will be a reflections time during the service. Written memories to be shared with family and friends during this time would be greatly appreciated.
A reception for all family and friends will be held after the graveside services.
Memorials have been established for the Miller Creek Cemetery Association and the Sunny Divide Community Hall.
He died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000, at the North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colo., of complications resulting from severe burns that he received while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County.
He was born September 5, 1931, on the family ranch at Miller Creek, to Chesney P. and Sarah Mae (Storts) Rathbun. He attended school in Sundance and graduated in 1951. He spent two years in the US Army, after which he returned to the family ranch.
In 1955, he married Crystal Hutchins, in Sundance and to this, union five children were born. They made their home on Miller Creek, farming and ranching the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1883. He was a logger, a big game outfitter, and for many years on a sheep shearing crew.
He was a lifetime member of National Rifle Association and a long time member of the Sunny Divide Farm Bureau. He was a Volunteer Firefighter in the Crook County Volunteer Fire Department for his entire adult life, and served as the Fire Warden for his local Zone for many years. He took pride in fighting fires and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire.
He enjoyed hunting, especially when he, his sons and grandsons would go elk hunting in the Wyoming Mountains. Even in the midst of the hectic outfitting season, that time was always his special time to take his boys and go be with nature. He played the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and especially enjoyed playing for the old-time dances at the Sunny Divide Community Hall on nearby Sunny Divide. He always loved to host the many family reunions, graduations and wedding receptions for children and grandchildren. Bo was the chef for the many outdoor family barbecues that were held at the family ranch over the years, where he could usually be found manning the outdoor barbecue pit. When he wasn't busy in the outdoors, he enjoyed woodworking. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of them very much.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Crystal Rathbun, Sundance; two daughters, Melody (Mrs. Don) Hamm, Rozet, and Billie Jo (Mrs. Steve) Young, Atkinson, Neb.; three sons, Kenny (Denise) Rathbun, Randy Rathbun, Tony (Tamie) Rathbun all of Sundance; one sister, Jennie L Rathbun, Casper, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Fidler-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Sundance, is entrusted with arrangements.
Roger "Bo" Rathbun died on November 8, 2000 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley of complications resulting from severe burns suffered while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County, October 8, 2000. An investigating team of Crook, Campbell and Wyoming State Forestry firefighters was convened on October 8th and the report will be released in early 2001.
Bo was a rural volunteer firefighter for his entire adult life, and served as zone warden and fire board member for Crook County Firefighters. He took pride in fire-fighting and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire. Bo was on many fires during the 2000 campaign. Crook County was pushed to its breaking point most of the season. Because of people like Bo it bent...but did not break.
Some of the Wyoming Smoke Buster Crews were going to change their address to Crook County. At a county firefighters fund raising event the night before the fatal fire, Bo made the statement that this was his last year to fight fires.
He was born September 5, 1931 on the family ranch on Miller Creek and was laid to rest in the Miller Creek Cemetery within a few miles of Devils Tower. He leaves a wife, Crystal of 45 years and two daughters, their husbands, three sons and wives, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
_________________________
Funeral services for Roger "Bo" Rathbun, age 69, Sundance, Wyo., will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at the Old Sundance High School Gymnasium, with Rev. Doug Wood, First Baptist Church, Hulett, officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Creek Cemetery, with Rev. Tim Berkshire, Assembly of God Church, Hulett, officiating.
There will be a reflections time during the service. Written memories to be shared with family and friends during this time would be greatly appreciated.
A reception for all family and friends will be held after the graveside services.
Memorials have been established for the Miller Creek Cemetery Association and the Sunny Divide Community Hall.
He died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000, at the North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colo., of complications resulting from severe burns that he received while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County.
He was born September 5, 1931, on the family ranch at Miller Creek, to Chesney P. and Sarah Mae (Storts) Rathbun. He attended school in Sundance and graduated in 1951. He spent two years in the US Army, after which he returned to the family ranch.
In 1955, he married Crystal Hutchins, in Sundance and to this, union five children were born. They made their home on Miller Creek, farming and ranching the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1883. He was a logger, a big game outfitter, and for many years on a sheep shearing crew.
He was a lifetime member of National Rifle Association and a long time member of the Sunny Divide Farm Bureau. He was a Volunteer Firefighter in the Crook County Volunteer Fire Department for his entire adult life, and served as the Fire Warden for his local Zone for many years. He took pride in fighting fires and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire.
He enjoyed hunting, especially when he, his sons and grandsons would go elk hunting in the Wyoming Mountains. Even in the midst of the hectic outfitting season, that time was always his special time to take his boys and go be with nature. He played the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and especially enjoyed playing for the old-time dances at the Sunny Divide Community Hall on nearby Sunny Divide. He always loved to host the many family reunions, graduations and wedding receptions for children and grandchildren. Bo was the chef for the many outdoor family barbecues that were held at the family ranch over the years, where he could usually be found manning the outdoor barbecue pit. When he wasn't busy in the outdoors, he enjoyed woodworking. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of them very much.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Crystal Rathbun, Sundance; two daughters, Melody (Mrs. Don) Hamm, Rozet, and Billie Jo (Mrs. Steve) Young, Atkinson, Neb.; three sons, Kenny (Denise) Rathbun, Randy Rathbun, Tony (Tamie) Rathbun all of Sundance; one sister, Jennie L Rathbun, Casper, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Fidler-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Sundance, is entrusted with arrangements.
Bo was a rural volunteer firefighter for his entire adult life, and served as zone warden and fire board member for Crook County Firefighters. He took pride in fire-fighting and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire. Bo was on many fires during the 2000 campaign. Crook County was pushed to its breaking point most of the season. Because of people like Bo it bent...but did not break.
Some of the Wyoming Smoke Buster Crews were going to change their address to Crook County. At a county firefighters fund raising event the night before the fatal fire, Bo made the statement that this was his last year to fight fires.
He was born September 5, 1931 on the family ranch on Miller Creek and was laid to rest in the Miller Creek Cemetery within a few miles of Devils Tower. He leaves a wife, Crystal of 45 years and two daughters, their husbands, three sons and wives, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
_________________________
Funeral services for Roger "Bo" Rathbun, age 69, Sundance, Wyo., will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at the Old Sundance High School Gymnasium, with Rev. Doug Wood, First Baptist Church, Hulett, officiating. Burial will follow at Miller Creek Cemetery, with Rev. Tim Berkshire, Assembly of God Church, Hulett, officiating.
There will be a reflections time during the service. Written memories to be shared with family and friends during this time would be greatly appreciated.
A reception for all family and friends will be held after the graveside services.
Memorials have been established for the Miller Creek Cemetery Association and the Sunny Divide Community Hall.
He died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000, at the North Colorado Medical Center, Greeley, Colo., of complications resulting from severe burns that he received while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County.
He was born September 5, 1931, on the family ranch at Miller Creek, to Chesney P. and Sarah Mae (Storts) Rathbun. He attended school in Sundance and graduated in 1951. He spent two years in the US Army, after which he returned to the family ranch.
In 1955, he married Crystal Hutchins, in Sundance and to this, union five children were born. They made their home on Miller Creek, farming and ranching the land that his grandfather homesteaded in 1883. He was a logger, a big game outfitter, and for many years on a sheep shearing crew.
He was a lifetime member of National Rifle Association and a long time member of the Sunny Divide Farm Bureau. He was a Volunteer Firefighter in the Crook County Volunteer Fire Department for his entire adult life, and served as the Fire Warden for his local Zone for many years. He took pride in fighting fires and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire.
He enjoyed hunting, especially when he, his sons and grandsons would go elk hunting in the Wyoming Mountains. Even in the midst of the hectic outfitting season, that time was always his special time to take his boys and go be with nature. He played the fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, and especially enjoyed playing for the old-time dances at the Sunny Divide Community Hall on nearby Sunny Divide. He always loved to host the many family reunions, graduations and wedding receptions for children and grandchildren. Bo was the chef for the many outdoor family barbecues that were held at the family ranch over the years, where he could usually be found manning the outdoor barbecue pit. When he wasn't busy in the outdoors, he enjoyed woodworking. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of them very much.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Crystal Rathbun, Sundance; two daughters, Melody (Mrs. Don) Hamm, Rozet, and Billie Jo (Mrs. Steve) Young, Atkinson, Neb.; three sons, Kenny (Denise) Rathbun, Randy Rathbun, Tony (Tamie) Rathbun all of Sundance; one sister, Jennie L Rathbun, Casper, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Fidler-Roberts Funeral Chapel, Sundance, is entrusted with arrangements.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
