Final Salute

Richard “Rick” John Bretton, 80, of Rolling Hills, Wyoming, passed away on August 18, 2026. Born March 3, 1946, in El Paso, Texas, Rick was the son of Army 2nd Lieutenant William Joseph Bretton and Mary Helen (Haley) Bretton.

Rick graduated from Ysleta High School in 1965 and went on to serve his country for two years with the United States Navy Seabees, MCB 58, in Vietnam. He later made Wyoming his home, building a life defined by hard work, service, family, and the open country he loved.

For 20 years, Rick worked as a welder for Glenrock Coal Company before retiring. He also helped shape the community of Rolling Hills as a founding councilmember and later as its mayor. Whether he was working, serving his town, or spending time outdoors, Rick approached life with a steady hand, a wry sense of humor, and a cowboy’s spirit.

Rick loved being outside. He enjoyed horseback riding, camping, diving, and hunting. He hunted pronghorn, deer, moose, and elk. For several decades, he enjoyed an annual two-week elk-hunting trip with his brother-in-law, Ray Herrera. He participated in the annual Pony Express Re-Ride for 25 years, serving as the Glenrock Ride Captain for many of those years. The ride represented much of what Rick loved: horses, history, hard country, good people, and a life lived under the open sky.

Above all, Rick loved his family. He cherished camping trips several times each year with those closest to him and loved his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family—and, true to his generous nature, even his in-laws—with his whole heart. In recent years, he shared a loving and lasting companionship with his soulmate, Kimberly Cain.

Rick is survived by his son, Travis (Kathleen) Bretton; grandchildren, Elise and Ian Bretton; grandchildren, Katelyn and Patrick Carpenter; son-in-law, John Carpenter; brother, William Bretton; longtime soulmate, Kimberly Cain; Kimberly’s son, Justin (Kirsten); and Justin’s children: Rylie, Eli, and Paisley; and Kimberly’s daughter, Trinity VanNornam.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Madean (Herrera) Bretton; daughter, Rebecca Carpenter; brother, Larry Bretton; sister, Antoinette “Toni” Larsen; and his horse, Bronco.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on August 27, 2026, at Bustard’s Funeral Home in Casper. Military honors will follow at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery.

Rick loved his life and cowboy’d hard. He will be greatly missed.