ProRodeo Sports News - July 7, 2023

Draper was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Jerry, sister Peggy (Fred) Davis; sons, Wade (Jan) Draper; and Chad (Christy) Draper and five grandchildren who were the light of his life – Lexi, Mason, Trey, Chisum and Avery Draper, nieces and nephews and numerous friends. Draper loved his family, good horses, ranching, roping, rodeos, and dear friends he met along the rodeo trail. He always wore a huge smile and loved to share a story or two. Services will be held at Pathfinder Events Center in Florence, Colo., on July 12 at 1:30 pm (MT). The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to a scholarship fund for the Colorado Junior Rodeo Association. Those contributions can be made to the Buddy Draper memorial account at First National Bank – 300 N. Main, Rocky Ford, Colo., 81067.

On Nov. 21, 1950, she married the love of her life, Bat Ridley. They met in a bar where she was having dinner with her folks, and three months later they were married. Bat and Rosie were blessed with two children, Andy, and Wanda; they were the light of her life. Together, Bat and Rosie devoted many years of their lives to giving to the rodeo community. They helped many young people with the horses that Bat raised and trained. Bat and Rosie brought the first registered cattle to the St Onge Valley. They were in the angus business for 56 years and sold registered bulls across the Midwest. Ridley was a lifelong Gold Card Member of the PRCA. She was a secretary for rodeos for 50 years, traveling near and far where contestants were met by her smiling face. Rosie was a one-of-a-kind lady, her class and beauty shined through in all things she did. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Bat; son, Andy; daughter in law, Kimmie; her parents; her brother, Jimmy; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Wanda; her grandchildren, Tee, and Clint (Lexi); and her great-grandchildren, Cooper, and Levi, who lovingly referred to her as “Dumdee”. She loved to dance and sing with them. Dumdee lit up daily when the boys would come to see her. Ridley devoted her life to the preservation 1800s. Memorials in honor of Rosie’s life can be made to the Little Dane Church, 11426 Ridley Rd, St Onge, S.D., 57779. A private service has been held for Rosie. Rosie and Bat are together again. Blessed be her memory! A celebration of life will be held on July 29 during the Days of 76 Rodeo in Deadwood. Arrangements are under the care of Fidler Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com. of the Little Dane Church, the church her grandfather helped to build in the

PASSAGES

WALTER (BUDDY) DRAPER

Walter “Buddy” Draper of Wetmore, Colo., a PRCA Gold Card Member, passed away on June 25. He was 75. Draper was born in Canon City, Colo., on Dec. 30, 1947, to George and Leona Draper. He was raised in

Wetmore and lived on the Draper Land & Cattle Company Ranch his entire life. As a third generation rancher,

Draper

Draper was integral in keeping the family ranching legacy going. He was a rancher full time and a rodeo cowboy on the weekends. Draper graduated from Florence (Colo.) High School in 1965, and earned a BA in Education from Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo. He met the love of his life, Jerry, in college and they married Oct. 9, 1971. He and Jerry continued to rodeo, rope, and ranch their 51 years of marriage. They had two children, Wade and Chad, who continue to carry on the rodeo and ranching tradition. In the middle of college, Buddy served in the National Guard for four years. When he returned, he graduated in 1972. Buddy was on the college rodeo team, a Gold Card Member of the PRCA, and president for the Colorado Professional Rodeo Association for five years. He earned many

ROSELYN (ROSIE) RIDLEY

Roselyn “Rosie” Ridley, 93, A PRCA Gold Card Member, passed away on June 11. Ridley was born to Frank and Vivian (Rainville)

Anderson on July 29, 1929, in Deadwood,

S.D. She spent her entire life in the St. Onge Valley. Rosie attended False Bottom Country School and

Ridley

graduated from Spearfish High School. She attended Black Hills State College and achieved her teaching certificate. She worked as a dental assistant, helping many children with their dental care. In 1947, she was crowned the first Miss

PRCA NOTES accolades during his rodeo career and continued team roping competitively until recently. He was a board member for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, served on the Wetmore Volunteer Fire Department, and was a past board member of the Fremont County 4-H. He also worked on western movies filmed in the area for many years. South Dakota. A young 18-year-old girl who had never been on a plane, she left with her mother for Atlantic City, N.J., to the Miss America Pageant. Ridley attended the Miss South Dakota Pageant for many years after and was very honored to be a part of it.

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ProRodeo Sports News 7/7/2023

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