Norman "Norm" T. Brillhart

Norman T. Brillhart

Mass of Resurrection was held November 30, 1987 for Norman T. Brillhart at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Rosary was prayed November 29 at Peet Mortuary Chapel. Rev. Bernard Bianco and Rev. August Koenue officiated. Interment was in the Lusk Cemetery. Brillhart, 58, died at his home in Lusk, November 26, 1987. He was born May 4, 1929 at Bancroft, ID to William Earl and Tressie (Davis) Brillhart. In his younger years, Brillhart spent time in Kansas and Colorado. He also enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Korean Conflict.

He married Rosie Bradbury in 1952. They were the parents of four children. He was employed as a truck driver until 1961 when he moved to Lusk and began working for the Town of Lusk. He married Catherine Rapp in 1962 in Hot Springs, SD and to this union a daughter was born.

On September 15, 1962, they went into business at the Southside Cafe which they operated until 1979 when the business was destroyed by fire. They then moved to what is now the Fireside Inn.

Brillhart, helpful to many, would get up early on snowy days to plow snow for his church, his family and his employees. For the past two years he was the driver for the School District Activity bus, becoming a second father and grandfather to most of the kids. Since his first bout with cancer, the bus and kids were his life and his love. He took great pride in being the one to drag main with a full bus after a game or a championship.

This dedication appeared in the 1987-1988 Niobrara County Yearbook.

He was a member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, past president of the Parish Council, member of the finance committee, a Eucharistic Minister, and a Trustee of the church. He was also a member of the Lion's Club, the V.F.W., and the American Legion and served on the board of the Lusk Housing Authority.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, one brother, and one daughter.

He is survived by his wife Cathy and daughters, Diane Dockery and Lori Chant, all of Lusk; Tonya Sauppe of Bremerton, WA; Roxanne Bayless of Owasso, OK; sons, Ed Rapp of Lusk and Alan Brillhart of Port Orchard, WA; sisters, Retha Overman of Cheopta, KS; Leta Davie of Red Vale, CO; and Erdis Maston of Denver, CO; two half-brothers, Bucky and Buddy Wilford both of Anchorage, AK; nine grandsons, five granddaughters, and numerous nieces and nephews who loved Norm dearly.

Memorials to St. Leo's Catholic Church would be greatly appreciated.

Peet Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

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