Mabel “Dipper” Gennevieve Brunson, was born on March 24, 1934, to Bob and Gennevieve Brislawn, near Oshoto, Wyoming. As a young girl, Mabel lived in a homestead shack near Oshoto and traveled with her dad all across the western United States while he worked on the U.S. geological survey crew. Her earliest childhood memory was that of riding in a pack, in with the supplies in a pack saddle, on the trail with the survey crew.
As a teenager, Mabel broke horses for her dad and some of the neighboring ranches. She also helped her brother Emmett trail a bucking horse string, owned by Frank Mitchell from his home ranch near Oshoto, Wyoming, to the rodeos around the area, including the Belle Fourche Round Up. During the late 1950’s Mabel was crowned Crook County Rodeo Queen, a title that she remembered fondly for the rest of her life.
Mabel’s mother, Gennevieve, passed away on May 1st, 1943, leaving her as the woman of the house at the age of 9. Mabel attended grade school in Torrington, Wyoming, while staying at the orphanage during a period of time that her dad was traveling with the survey crew. She graduated high school in Casper, Wyoming, after which she went to college at Heimans Business School in Sheridan, Wyoming. She helped her dad found the Spanish Mustang Registry on June 14th, 1957, and worked as the secretary.
On January 1st, 1959, Mabel married Donald Brunson who she met at a dance at the Sunny Divide. After they were married, Don and Mabel lived on the Cayuse Ranch for six years and then worked for a number of ranches in Crook County, Wyoming, until purchasing their own ranch in 1982 north of Aladdin, Wyoming. During this time, she worked as a stenographer and secretary for the Crook County Attorney’s Office, a teachers aid for the Crook County School in Sundance, Wyoming, and worked in the FHA office.
After purchasing their ranch, Mabel enjoyed helping Don with the ranch work as well as cooking the meals and raising their two sons, Daniel and David. She loved her family dearly and was always up for an adventure with them. Later in life Mabel enjoyed being a member of the local homemaker’s club and providing food for community events and the volunteer fire department. Mabel was also blessed with five granddaughters, one grandson and 10 great grandchildren, who she loved spending time with.
Mabel passed away peacefully at her home, at the age of 91 on September 29th, 2025.
Mabel is survived by sons, Dan and David, daughter-in-law Elaine, grandson Garret, granddaughters Catherine, Lindsey, Amanda, Shelby and Renee and great grandchildren; Christianna, Charlie, Colter, Katherine, Rylie, Trevor, Jesse, Heather, Donna and Kylee.
Mabel’s obituary was written from referencing her book, “Mabel Gennevieve Dipper Brislawn Brunson”, written by Mabel and Neil Ui Breaslain.
Funeral services were held Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Burial took place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com