Winifred Darlene Bush

Winnifred Darlene Bush, age 90 years young and a life long resident of Wyoming, passed away peacefully in her sleep, and went to see her Lord on the morning of January 16, 2024. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

Winifred, or Winnie as people called her, was born in a small cabin up Whitetail Creek to George Malvin and Edith Lorene (Williams) Watts on June 13, 1933. She grew up with one brother George Jr. and three sisters, Nellie, Mae and Linda.

Winnie was enrolled at the Russell School up Whitetail Creek for her first eight years of schooling. She took her first year of high school in Sundance, then took correspondence courses the next year. In 1949, Winnie started school in Hulett as a junior, then graduated in 1951 from Hulett High School.

In 1950, while a senior in high school, she married her lifelong companion, Glen Gary Bush. Winnie and Gary were married for 56 years until the time of Gary's passing in 2006.

From the union between Winnie and Gary came a huge Bush branch, five kids, 18 grandkids, 40 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Winnie and Gary's home was a sanctuary for anyone who needed a hot meal, a place to stay, encouragement or just a hug. Winnie treated everyone like they were a member of her family, and before long they would be calling her mom.

Winnie was a great cook. She cooked at the University of Wyoming in the cafeteria while Gary went to school, the Ponderosa Café & Bar in Hulett and everywhere in between.

Starting in the 1950's, the family moved and lived in many places, including Buffalo, Sheridan, Laramie, Gillette and finally back to Hulett in 1975.

Through the years, Winnie received many certificates of appreciation and accomplishments. She enjoyed years of service with social services, service clubs, substitute teaching and nursing assistant.

She was on the Hulett Civic Center Board, the Hulett Senior Citizen Board and a member of the Hulett Town Council, where she was named to the National Register's Who's Who in Executive's and Professionals. Her name appeared in the 2002 edition.

Winnie was Mayor of Hulett from 1996-2000. During her time as Mayor, she was instrumental in helping develop and write the plan and the building of the Hulett Airport.

Winnie very much enjoyed the time she spent with the native Americans, helping write the climbing plan. For this accomplishment, she received a beautiful Pendleton blanket with the Wind Circle design on it, which she was recognized for at the unveiling of the sculpture at Devils Tower on Sept 6, 2008.

Winnie took a strong stand and was totally against the name change of Devils Tower, and was always there to argue against it from day one in the early 1980s, to the day of her passing.

Winnie volunteered for many years. She loved volunteering and passed this love down to her children and grandchildren.

Winnie's hobbies included sewing, quilting, yard selling and collecting. She also loved to do crafts, write and paint.

Winnie was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Glen Gary Bush; her mother, Edith Lorene Watts and father, George Malvin Watts, both of Sundance; brothers, Charles who died at birth, George M Watts Jr.; two sisters, Nellie Pummell and Lorene Mae Neiman; son-in-law, David Reeder; former daughter-in-law, Marda Nogle; one granddaughter, Tara Rae McNeff; one great-great granddaughter, Nora Grace Jones; two great-great grandsons, Kaid Thomas Nuzum and Taylor Frost Nuzum.

Winnie is survived by one sister, Linda Carol Hyatt (Steve), San Antonio, Texas; her five children, Sue (Bob) Lathrop of Gillette, Wyoming, Cindy (Tony) Johnson, Troy, Montana, Bob (Jan) Bush, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Judy (Paul) Carswell, Thermopolis, Wyoming and Roy (Deb) Bush of Hulett; 18 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Winnie was a kind and loving person who would make room at the table for anyone who would show up. She was loved by everyone around her.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She will be the first one to meet us at the gates of Heaven when it's our time to go through them. The many people she met and worked with will be Winnie's (Mom's) legacy.

We would like to thank Garden Hills Assisted Living in Spearfish, South Dakota for taking such good care of her, and Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel for assisting us through her passing.

Memorials can be made to the Hulett Senior Citizens Center, PO Box 274 in Hulett WY 82720.

Please join the family for Winnie's celebration of life on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at the Hulett Civic Center.