Donald "Don" Rutherford Barnes

Donald Rutherford Barnes

Donald Rutherford Barnes, 67, died June 5, 1997, at his ranch north of Lusk.

A family service was at St. George's Episcopal Church June 9, with the Rev. Delia Fay officiating.

The funeral for the general public was June 9 at St. Leo's Catholic Church with Mark Lohr officiating. Memorials are to an engineering scholarship in his memory.

He was born in Chicago March 13, 1930, to John and Marjorie Barnes. He attended Arvada High School in Arvada, Colo., and the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, Colo. From 1948 to 1952 he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and from 1952 to 1955 he served in the U. S. Army, with one year dedicated in Korea to the Korean conflict.

He married Annette Copley March 24, 1950. They moved to Lusk with their three children in 1964, where he owned and operated the Ford Dealership. He was an active civic leader in Lusk. He served as Justice of the Peace and was a member and president of the chamber of commerce. He also sat on the Stockman's Bank Board of Directors and in 1968, served as baseball commissioner.

In 1978 he went to work for Rocky Mountain Machinery out of Gillette as a sales engineer. He was awarded salesman of the year by the Wyoming Mining Association in 1983 to 1984 and in 1989 to 1990. He was also awarded salesman of the year by Dresser/Kamatsu. As a co-founder of the Powder River Basin local chapter of the American Institute on Mining and Metallurgical Engineers (AIME), he was granted a lifetime membership.

He loved Wyoming and was able, after his retirement, to fulfill his lifelong goal of becoming a full-time rancher. He was an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. His family says, "He was a hero to us and many other people. We respect and admire the way he has lived his life and how he has touched the lives of others."

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of Lusk; son John Barnes of Palmdale, Calif., daughters Jill Bramlet of Wheatland and Jennifer Amend of Riverton; seven grandchildren; brother Bob Barnes of Lakewood, Colo.; and many special friends.

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