Bruce William Gose

Retired Crook County rancher, Bruce William Gose, 90, Upton, Wyoming, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at Long Term Care in Sundance, Wyoming.

He was born Sunday, November 18, 1928, at Hot Springs, South Dakota, the sixth of seven children born to Vernie O. and Mame K. (Thompson) Gose. They lived on the family ranch south of Upton.

He attended country school and Upton schools. Bruce lettered in basketball and football, graduating in 1946. He also always claimed to graduate from the school of hard knocks.

He was a Keeline cowboy for a season after high school. He would tell about trailing cattle from Sheridan to Keeline Ranch west of Lusk.

Bruce married Marilyn "Maggie" Mangus on December 3, 1950. They had three children, Mary Anita, David William and Judith Kirstine.

Bruce worked for several ranches before working for True Oil Company near Clareton and then in Moorcroft where he was the field foreman at Donkey Creek. After Vernie and Mame passed away, Bruce and Marilyn moved to the family ranch north of Upton where he ranched the remainder of his working years.

In the 1950s, Bruce was quite active in the Upton Gun Club. Bruce was also an Endowment Life Member of NRA.

He was a Boy Scout Troop Master in Moorcroft. When they moved to the ranch, he was a 4-H leader.

Bruce was Associate Guardian of Job's Daughters in Upton. He was Worthy Patron of Upton Chapter #28 of Eastern Star with Marilyn as Worthy Matron. In 1970, Bruce was Master of the Upton Masonic Lodge #38. He was a member of the Kalif Shrine Temple and Blue Shrine for several years.

He served on the Upton Co-op Board for a few years. Bruce was President of the Crook County Weed & Pest Control Board. Governor Herschler appointed him to the Department of Agriculture where his constituents made him the President. He also served as a Herschler appointment to a Blue Ribbon Committee. He was President of Farm Bureau for a time.

After Marilyn passed away in 1988, he pretty much backed out of most public involvements. Most recently, he was appointed President of the Residents' Council at Long Term Care in Sundance.

Bruce tremendously enjoyed dancing, playing cribbage, hunting and fishing. 

Bruce is survived by his children, Mary (Norm) Townley, David Gose and Judith (Chuck) Sumner; grandchildren, Genell Hodges, Jennifer (Jason) Jones, Carl (Carrie) Gose, Elizabeth (Jay) Moore, Justin Sumner, Laura (Jason) Reiter, Alyssa (Jeff) Jaeger; great-grandchildren, Latham, Easton and McKenna Hodges, Cadence and Clover Gose, Lucas and Macey Moore, Virginia and Elmer Reiter, Alyvia and Ryker Jones and two great-grandchildren on the way; and 17 nieces and nephews. He is also survived by close friends, Lee Loberg, John Lassegard and Dave Banister. Bruce was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn; parents, Vernie and Mame Gose, two brothers and a sister.

Services will be held April 6, 2019, at Goose Landing in Upton. Time pending. Memorials will be established to the Upton United church, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and Crook County Medical Services District Long Term Care.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com.