Dan Denson

Daniel “Dan” Alex Denson, a long-time resident of Powder River County, passed away at Powder River Manor on June 24, 2024 with his loving wife, Barbara at his side. Dan was born on June 29, 1929, in Deadwood, South Dakota to Susie and Akex Denson. He joined his older brother Ross, who was 15 months his senior. In 1933, the youngest brother, Lex joined the family. The family lived on ranches in Ranch Creek and Ridge area, where they raised their three boys. They attended schools in that area until Ross and an entered high school in Broadus. That was when Alex and Susie bought the ranch seven miles north of Broadus which had several buildings on the property, two of them becoming homes that Alex and Susie, Dan and Barbara, then later Lex and Pearl would live in. Dan was a very good student and even though he excelled in every one of his subjects, music was definitely not one of them, especially when he decided to try his hand at playing the tuba in his senior year. He decided to give up after a practice session in the bunkhouse attracted every cow that Alex owned on the ranch.

After his senior year in 1946, Dan attended Montana State University in Bozeman. He decided that college life was not for him. He then enlisted in the United States Airforce and received his training at Randolph Airforce Base in the early 1950’s. It was then when he met Barabara Jean Schmidt on a blind date. It was love at first sight. On March 31, 1952, Dan and his lovely bride were married in Kerrville, Texas. Dan, then finished his basic training in 1952 and was deployed to Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War. He became a tail gunner on a B-29 bomber. While Dan was deployed, Barbara continued to live with her parents in Texas.

In October 1952, their first child and oldest daughter, Debra Kay was born at Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Dan then finished his deployment and was back in the United States where he joined his wife and daughter. Like many military families, Dan, Barbara and Debby did move around, one of the most notable places being Tucson, Arizona. After Dan was discharged the young family moved to Montana, which was quite a change for Barbara, being a native Texan. The family then moved onto the ranch that Alex and Susie owned. Where they renovated the bunkhouse and moved in. By this time, their second child, a son, Mike was born in 1954.

In 1956, they bought the Pliney S. Richardson place, a stage stop, which was seventeen miles north of the ranch Susie and Alex originally bought. It was on this ranch in 1956 that their youngest child, Judy, was born. This was the ranch that Dan and Barbara would one day build from a bunch of old, tumble-down buildings to the beautiful, successful place to raise their three children. During those many years, Dan and Barbara not only ran cattle and sheep, but they were also able to farm and raise many successful crops. When it came to ranch work, Dan was a “natural” at it. He was always up at “the crack of dawn” and always in bed when the sun went down or “with the chickens” as Barbara would always say. This was a habit that he carried to the day he passed away.

Dan had a rock-solid work ethic. He was never afraid of hard work, which was a key to his success. Dan was always willing to lend a helping hand to many of his neighbors, always thinking of others before himself. He was a proud member of the Master Masons.

One of Dan’s proudest accomplishments came true when he became a grandparent to his beloved grandchildren, Belinda, Dawn, and Devin. Another proud accomplishment w when he walked his oldest grandchild, Belinda down the aisle on her wedding day. Grandpa is the name he loved to be called. In 2017, he became “Great Grandpa” to Oliver Forman.

Dan’s love for all his children and grandchildren was “unconditional”. In 1999, Dan and Barbara “retired”, sold their ranch and moved to Sheridan, Wyoming. They lived in Sheridan for 22 years where they forged many friendships. Later, as Dan and Barbara’s health declined, they moved into assisted living, then in 2021 decided to move back to Powder River County. Where they moved into the Powder River Manor, which they have resided in since. We could write a book on all of Dan’s accomplishments and stories, both extremely humorous and serious.

Dan was preceded in death by his daughter Debra, his parents, his in-laws, grandson Devin, and brothers Lex and Ross.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, son Mike (Lynell), daughter Judy Denson-Keller, granddaughters Belinda (Luke) Forman, Dawn Keller, great grandson Oliver Forman and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on which would have been Dan’s 95th birthday. A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Following the funeral service, a graveside service with full military honors will be held at Valle View Cemetery.

The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to all of the dedicated staff at Powder River Manor who made Dan’s last few years so memorable. All of Dan’s friends are considered honorary pallbearers.