Remembering Roger "Bo" Rathbun
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Roger "Bo" Rathbun
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Roger "Bo" Rathbun died on November 8, 2000 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley of complications resulting from severe burns suffered while fighting a forest fire in rural Crook County, October 8, 2000. An investigating team of Crook, Campbell and Wyoming State Forestry firefighters was convened on October 8th and the report will be released in early 2001.
Bo was a rural volunteer firefighter for his entire adult life, and served as zone warden and fire board member for Crook County Firefighters. He took pride in fire-fighting and never failed to drop his own work to help a neighbor put out a fire. Bo was on many fires during the 2000 campaign. Crook County was pushed to its breaking point most of the season. Because of people like Bo it bent...but did not break. Some of the Wyoming Smoke Buster Crews were going to change their address to Crook County. At a county firefighters fund raising event the night before the fatal fire, Bo made the statement that this was his last year to fight fires. He was born September 5, 1931 on the family ranch on Miller Creek and was laid to rest in the Miller Creek Cemetery within a few miles of Devils Tower. He leaves a wife, Crystal of 45 years and two daughters, their husbands, three sons and wives, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. |
A FIREFIGHTERS PRAYER
When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,
give me the strength to save some lives, whatever be their age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is too late,
to save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout,
and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and give the best in me,
to guard my every neighbor and protect their property.
And if I am to lose my life according to my fate,
please bless with your protecting hand,
my children and my mate.