Obituary for Richard "Bruce" Bruce Wright
Richard “Bruce” Wright
Richard Bruce Wright, age 74, died August 14, 2020 at the VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, WY.
A private military graveside service will be held.
Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Thursday afternoon to sign Bruce’s register book and leave condolences for the family. The casket will be closed.
Direct memorials to David Butler, PO Box 8 Philip SD. A memorial will be made in Bruce’s memory to the CLC Volunteer Program in Cheyenne, Wyoming. You may view Bruce’s Book of Memories, leave condolences and memories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Bruce’s care and funeral arrangements.
Richard Bruce Wright was born July 19, 1946 in the McPherson County Hospital in McPherson, KS to Jack and Ruth (Castetter) Wright. He joined a sister Jacqueline “JK”. The family made their home in the Sandhills of Nebraska, a place that always held a special place in Bruce’s heart. As a young lad, Bruce knew he loved the outdoors and aspired to be a cowboy. The family moved to Sidney NE, where Bruce attended school and graduated from Sidney High School in June 1964. His dreams of being a cowboy were put on hold when he volunteered to serve his country. Bruce joined the United States Marine Corp and attended basic training at MCRD San Diego. A scrawny kid from Western Nebraska, he was put on double rations to put some weight on his bones. He learned how to tie his combat boots as the boots he was used to wearing didn’t need tied. This young soldier got on a ship to train in Hawaii and ended up in Vietnam, honorably serving his country from 1964-1968. Bruce was honorably discharged March 16, 1970 and returned to Western Nebraska and attended college at Chadron State. He lived his dream of being a cowboy and was a bareback and bull rider, competing in such places as Texas and Oklahoma.
Bruce returned to Sidney and continued to serve his country. He got his law enforcement certification in December 1974 and worked for the Sidney, Nebraska Police Department for several years. Bruce also worked at Foster Lumber for many years, until joining the crew at Sidney Glass. Kurt & Judy Adden kept him busy with glass work until the effects from Vietnam rendered his hands and arms not as strong as they once were.
Bruce spent countless hours being a servant in his community. He was an active member of the Sidney American Legion, Post #610, where he served at the commander for several years. He spent many hours helping his mother Ruth and her dear friend Maxine with the bean feeds and other American Legion Auxiliary events. He was also an active member of the VFW and DAV and Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. Bruce was also an EMT. Bruce prepared and conducted funeral services for more Veterans than one could count.
Bruce was a quiet and humble man, always helping others and expecting nothing in return. Shortly before his health made it impossible to live at home anymore, Bruce was awarded a pin and certificate for over 100,000 volunteer miles driven for the Sidney DAV van. He drove Veterans back and forth from Sidney to Cheyenne for appointments.
Bruce’s pride and joy was his only nephew, David. Bruce was a very integral part of David’s life as he helped raise him. David spent many hours as a child following in Bruce’s shadow. Bruce loved to fish and enjoyed taking David on little fishing trips. Bruce was an avid gun collector and passed that love on to David. Bruce spent many hours teaching David the art of gun reloading and shooting
Years later, Bruce grew quite fond of David’s little people, Kelcey, Katie & Lukas Butler. He loved to spoil them with a Coke Zero when they stopped to visit. He would always have a bag of fun size candy bars or a package of sandwich cookies and the kids knew where to find them. Bruce had a chili recipe with a secret ingredient, a can of beer. He always joked that when I made it for the kids, I better leave that out. Bruce passed on his love for his country to his nephew and his family. Bruce would be proud of the way they love their country and help others.
Grateful for sharing his life are his nephew David and his wife Michelle and their three children Kelcey, Katie and Lukas Butler, all of Philip SD.
Bruce was preceded in death by a brother Stephen in infancy, his parents Jack & Ruth Wright, and a sister Jacqueline.
Rest easy on the hill, Soldier, your work here is done.
Richard Bruce Wright, age 74, died August 14, 2020 at the VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, WY.
A private military graveside service will be held.
Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Thursday afternoon to sign Bruce’s register book and leave condolences for the family. The casket will be closed.
Direct memorials to David Butler, PO Box 8 Philip SD. A memorial will be made in Bruce’s memory to the CLC Volunteer Program in Cheyenne, Wyoming. You may view Bruce’s Book of Memories, leave condolences and memories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Bruce’s care and funeral arrangements.
Richard Bruce Wright was born July 19, 1946 in the McPherson County Hospital in McPherson, KS to Jack and Ruth (Castetter) Wright. He joined a sister Jacqueline “JK”. The family made their home in the Sandhills of Nebraska, a place that always held a special place in Bruce’s heart. As a young lad, Bruce knew he loved the outdoors and aspired to be a cowboy. The family moved to Sidney NE, where Bruce attended school and graduated from Sidney High School in June 1964. His dreams of being a cowboy were put on hold when he volunteered to serve his country. Bruce joined the United States Marine Corp and attended basic training at MCRD San Diego. A scrawny kid from Western Nebraska, he was put on double rations to put some weight on his bones. He learned how to tie his combat boots as the boots he was used to wearing didn’t need tied. This young soldier got on a ship to train in Hawaii and ended up in Vietnam, honorably serving his country from 1964-1968. Bruce was honorably discharged March 16, 1970 and returned to Western Nebraska and attended college at Chadron State. He lived his dream of being a cowboy and was a bareback and bull rider, competing in such places as Texas and Oklahoma.
Bruce returned to Sidney and continued to serve his country. He got his law enforcement certification in December 1974 and worked for the Sidney, Nebraska Police Department for several years. Bruce also worked at Foster Lumber for many years, until joining the crew at Sidney Glass. Kurt & Judy Adden kept him busy with glass work until the effects from Vietnam rendered his hands and arms not as strong as they once were.
Bruce spent countless hours being a servant in his community. He was an active member of the Sidney American Legion, Post #610, where he served at the commander for several years. He spent many hours helping his mother Ruth and her dear friend Maxine with the bean feeds and other American Legion Auxiliary events. He was also an active member of the VFW and DAV and Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. Bruce was also an EMT. Bruce prepared and conducted funeral services for more Veterans than one could count.
Bruce was a quiet and humble man, always helping others and expecting nothing in return. Shortly before his health made it impossible to live at home anymore, Bruce was awarded a pin and certificate for over 100,000 volunteer miles driven for the Sidney DAV van. He drove Veterans back and forth from Sidney to Cheyenne for appointments.
Bruce’s pride and joy was his only nephew, David. Bruce was a very integral part of David’s life as he helped raise him. David spent many hours as a child following in Bruce’s shadow. Bruce loved to fish and enjoyed taking David on little fishing trips. Bruce was an avid gun collector and passed that love on to David. Bruce spent many hours teaching David the art of gun reloading and shooting
Years later, Bruce grew quite fond of David’s little people, Kelcey, Katie & Lukas Butler. He loved to spoil them with a Coke Zero when they stopped to visit. He would always have a bag of fun size candy bars or a package of sandwich cookies and the kids knew where to find them. Bruce had a chili recipe with a secret ingredient, a can of beer. He always joked that when I made it for the kids, I better leave that out. Bruce passed on his love for his country to his nephew and his family. Bruce would be proud of the way they love their country and help others.
Grateful for sharing his life are his nephew David and his wife Michelle and their three children Kelcey, Katie and Lukas Butler, all of Philip SD.
Bruce was preceded in death by a brother Stephen in infancy, his parents Jack & Ruth Wright, and a sister Jacqueline.
Rest easy on the hill, Soldier, your work here is done.