William "Bill" H. Kruse

Funeral for Bill Kruse Held Fri.

Funeral services for William H. (Bill) Kruse, 73, were held from the Peet Chapel at 2:00 p.m. with burial in the Lusk Cemetery.

The Rev. James Davis, minister of the Congregational Church, officiated. Mrs. Dale M. Bardo was organist. Mrs. A. F. DeCastro and Mrs. Emerson Bonner sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "We Are Going Down."

Pallbearers were Bob Dixon, Otto Vondra, A. F. DeCastro, John Sturman, Harry Baker and Charles Vaughn.

Honorary pallbearers were Ray DeGering, Valdy Wingren, Edwin Pfister, Eddie Plumb, Henry Wasserburger Sr., Roscoe Ross, Dave Wilson, Norris Hartwell, Rod Thompson, William (Scotty) Jack, C. W. Erwin and Joe Traphagan.

William H. Kruse was born August 27, 1891, in Philadelphia and died March 9 in Lusk of a heart attack. He was the eldest of three children, his brother and sister died previously.

Mr. Kruse moved to Ardmore, S. Dak. with his parents when he was a child. When 16 he left home to go into northern Wyoming to work as a cowboy. He joined the roundup crews, working through northeastern Wyoming and southern Montana, on the ranches of that area. In 1910 he homesteaded on Big Lightning Creek, 16 miles north of Lance Creek. While proving up on his homestead, he continued to work for the cattle ranches in the summer, spending the winter on the homestead. In 1915 he started his herd of cattle and horses. On July 25, 1917 he and Jennie Flores were married in Thermopolis. They returned to Lusk and from there journeyed by lumber wagon to their new home.

Mr. Kruse continued to ranch until 1948, at which time, he and Mrs. Kruse purchased a home in Lusk. However, Mr. Kruse continued to be active in the ranching business with his only son, A. D. Flores Kruse.

Survivors include his widow and son and three grandchildren.

Out-of-town relatives attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Boney, Gruver, Tex.; Mrs. William B. Collins, Mr. William G. Collins, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Parker of Winner, S. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe I. Flores and Mrs. Delbert Flores of Torrington.

The Lusk Herald
March 7, 1985
Looking Back - 20 Years Ago
March 11, 1965

William H. (Bill) Kruse, 74, was found dead in the front seat of his car about 8:20 Tuesday night. Apparently he was the victim of a heart attack. The car was parked in the alley behind the Merit Cleaners and he was found by Eddie Plumb.

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