A celebration of Buds life will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, November 21, 2003 at the Prince of Peace Church with Pastor Martin Crump of the Family Life Church officiating. Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home of Gillette, Wyoming is entrusted with the arrangements.
Bud Gleason, age 72, died Sunday, November 16, 2003 at his home in Weston, Wyoming of natural causes.
Bud was born January 16, 1931 to Ada (Ellis) and Bill Gleason in Sterling County. At eight years old, he moved to his Uncle John Gleasons ranch, also in Weston, Wyoming. When his father passed away, he attended school at Soda Wells through the eighth grade. His first teacher was Viola Wilson-Warlow. At the age of thirteen, he left home to work on a seismograph crew and spent time with his aunt Esther and Uncle Hank Brandt in Sterling, Colorado. At the age of fifteen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan during the occupation. He received his high school diploma while in the service. Upon his discharge of the service, the winter of 1949, he went to work in Montana for Glen Russell. He worked on the Kenneth Riesland Ranch, Dick Moores ranch, Bob Wrights ranch, south of Gillette, and rough- necked in between jobs. In 1953, he married Gail Butler. He worked for Bill Moore. They returned to the family ranch in April of 1955, leasing it from his Aunt Eleanor Gleason and paid for it sixteen years later. Bud served on many boards including Tri-County Electric, Spring Creek Grazing Association as Range Manager for several years, and the Campbell County School Board.
He was an avid rodeo fan, attending the National Finals Rodeo since 1985 with friends Dave and Norma Force. Bud loved to rope and competed in calf and team roping in his younger years.
Buds business adventures included a partnership with several people in the building of the Towers West Lodge in 1983, the buying of the Holiday Plaza in 1985, and remodeling and buying the Holiday Inn franchise. These were sold in 2002. During this time, Bud also bought cattle for a buyer out of South Dakota to supplement the ranch income. At the same time, he also reseeded oil well locations for KG Construction. Also, Bud Contract pumped wells since the late 1960s.
His main love was his family celebrating 50 years of marriage to his wife, Gail, on April 11, 2003. Spending most of his time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved the ranch and the cattle he and Gail strived to improve.
He is survived by his wife, Gail of Weston, Wyoming, two sons: Bill of Gillette, and Burt and his wife Jody of Weston, Wyoming; two daughters: Denise Bradford and her husband Rick, and Wendy Bethea and her husband Bruce, both of Weston, Wyoming; grandchildren: Trina and Melvin Arneson, Shelby and Paul Wandler, Chad and Becky Bradford, Jake and Treasure Boller, Jack and Robin Boller, Cy and Sydnee Gleason, and Shawn Bethea; and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial to a charity of one's choice in Buds name is suggested and may be sent in care of Stevenson Funeral Home 210 W. 5th Street Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may be sent via the internet at www.stevensonandsons.com
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