LINGLE – Funeral services for William “Bill” Bradley Erskine, 84, will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the North Hills Baptist Church with Pastor David Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Lingle. Visitation will be at the funeral home Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the casket will be closed at the service.
Bill passed away peacefully October 6, 2025, at the Banner Medical Center in Casper. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Lighthouse Ministries, North Hills Baptist, Goshen Cattle Women, Lingle Aggies 4-H Club or Adventurous Pioneers 4-H Club. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Bill was born on July 10, 1941, on the naval base in New London, Connecticut to Dr. Earl Bradley Erskine (commander MC) US Navy and Eleanor Frances (Smith) Erskine. The family lived for a time in Evanston, Illinois and later, in Scottsdale, Arizona. BiIl decided that Arizona was not for him and moved, himself, to Castlerock, Colorado to go to Douglas County High School, where he supported himself by working on the Beaman Polo Ranch and volunteering as a bouncer for his bus driver who he adored and became part of the bus driver’s family. He played football and wrestled for Douglas County High School. In between these years, he would move back and forth to Laramie and work as a ranch hand and on the hay crew on the Miller Ranch west of Laramie. Bound for college, he attended CSU in Ft. Collins.
During those years, he worked at the college stables, shoeing horses, cleaning stables, taking people on horse rides and along with going to college, he tried and succeeded in several rodeo events. It was in Ft. Collins, where he met his future wife, Kaye Hughes, while she was attending CSU. Lamar Junior College was his next education adventure, where he was on the rodeo team and was on the agriculture judging team. He prided the fact that their team beat many four-year college judging teams. Southern Colorado State College (now known as CSU/Pueblo) in Pueblo, Colorado was his next step in education, graduating in 1967 with a BA degree in Physical Education and Agriculture. He also had a minor in science.
The years he was there, he worked on the CF&I Railroad as well as Keller’s Turkey Farm. It was during his college years, that he spent many summers at the Blue Creek Ranch in Kaycee, working on the hay crew. Those summers in Kaycee, held many fond memories for Bill. His first and only teaching position was what brought him to Torrington, Wyoming. Even though he was a creative teacher and mostly enjoyed the students, he did not like the bureaucracy. His first love was always cattle and agriculture.
Bill and his wife purchased a ranch/farm operation between Ft. Laramie and Lingle in 1971 and have enjoyed life there since that time. He did some team roping at rodeo events for several years, but before long, found he didn’t have time for that and focused on ranching and working at Missouri Basin in Wheatland. He also enjoyed working in the sale ring at Torrington Livestock Auctions.
Bill was a man who loved to make conversation with nearly everyone. He knew what he stood for. He was also a man who worked tirelessly. He loved the land, very rarely complained of any aches or pains, would help his neighbors in any way he could, was a supporter of 4-H and supported his children and grandchildren in their many projects. He helped build two churches and was a grateful man, appreciating the many gifts that God had given him. He was a member of the Wyoming Angus Association for several years.
Bill married Kaye (Hughes) Erskine from Wheatland in Ft. Collins on February 13, 1965. To that union, two children were born.
Bill is survived by his wife of over 61 years, daughter, Mindy Jo Clason (Josh) of Buffalo, son, Todd William (Gayle) Erskine of Lingle; grandchildren, Cody (Jessica) Tim, Sarah and Emily Clason and Emma, Briggs and Paislee Erskine and two step sisters-in-law, Linda Hughes and Debbie (Scott) Bancroft.
He is preceded in death by his brother John Erskine, brothers-in-law, Jack and Jim Hughes, and his parents.
As his grandson said, “He always was, and always will be a cowboy. I hope there’s a good horse waiting for him.”
