ProRodeo Sports News - May 12, 2023

Church, Pueblo, Colo. Interment was at Roselawn Cemetery. Online condolences can beoffered at www.MontgomerySteward.com. BENJAMIN “ROOSTER” REYNOLDS Steer wrestler Benjamin “Rooster” Reynolds, who won the average at the 1995 National Finals Rodeo, passed away on April 14. He was 61. Rooster Reynolds was the son of ProRodeo Hall of Famer Benny Reynolds, who passed away in 2014. Rodeo is where Rooster excelled. Reynolds qualified

the NRA and EIRA. He also found success in the Senior Pro Rodeos, earning the title of National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals Average Steer Wrestling Champion in 2007. Rooster never failed to delight everyone with his famous Rooster Shuffle at the end of a good run. Rooster was also very talented with a rope. He was the 1991 Montana Pro Rodeo Finals Average Champion Header in team roping and won many other Wrangler Team Roping Championships. Cowboys from all over attended ropings held at the Reynolds Ranch arena in Twin Bridges. His talents went beyond the rodeo arena. Rooster was a true cowboy poet and is well known for his poems and songs. He was requested to perform these at many functions. He is quoted as saying, ‘I don’t know if the path through life I have chosen is the right one, but it is certainly the most scenic.’ He is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin “Benny” Frank and Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, and uncles John and Louis Reynolds. Rooster is survived by his wife Valerie Davids Reynolds; sister Jenny (Jesse) Peterson, Dillon; brothers Skip (Aprille) Jordan, Missoula and Louis John (Jamie) Reynolds; children Jessica Lewis (Rob Argyle), Spanish Fork and Montana Ty Reynolds, Dillon; grandchildren Alex Lewis, Kai and Benjamin Argyle, Spanish Fork; uncles/aunts Donna (Pierce) Rouse, Dillon, DJ (Mary) Smith, Melrose, and Joyce Lee Phelan, Twin Bridges; nieces Kirstin Thomas (Aldo Romero), Britta Thomas and Millie Reynolds; nephews Justus and Jace Peterson and Max Reynolds. Donations may be made to the Rooster Reynolds Memorial Fund that has been created to help others in need: The Bank of Commerce, PO Box 1257 or 110 S. Idaho St., Dillon, Mont., 59725.

PASSAGES

JEFF DORENKAMP

Jeff Dorenkamp, a former PRCA judge, steer wrestler, team roper, bareback rider, and bull rider, passed away May 3. He was 71. Dorenkamp, was born March 14, 1952, in Lamar,

Colo. He was a PRCA judge for years before stopping in 2019. He also worked for his family’s stock contracting company – Dorenkamp Rodeo

for his lone NFR in 1995 and came in 13th in the world standings. Competing out of Twin Bridges, he won the average with a 64.3-second time on 10 head and finished third in

Dorenkamp

Co. The company was run by Fred and Norma, Jeff’s parents, and he and his brothers, Joe, John, Jerry, Ben, Casey, and Scott, as well as other family members worked with the company. Jeff and Joe were pickup men and flank men. Jeff also served as a pickup man with his dad at the Command Performance Rodeo put on by the PRCA on Sept. 24, 1983, at Landover, Maryland’s Capital Centre. The White House invitation-only rodeo event, included special guests President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan and there were 10,249 government dignitaries, including Ambassadors from 46 foreign countries. “I would want Jeff to be remembered as a man who loved God, loved his family and loved rodeo,” said his wife Jackie of 49 years. Jeff rodeoed at Colorado State University Fort Collins for one year and then he rodeoed at Lamar Community College for two years. Dorenkamp also worked for Hoss

Reynolds

the world standings with $99,382. He earned $54,850 at the NFR alone in Las Vegas, thanks to winning Round 2 (4.8 seconds) and Round 8 (4.5 seconds). Rooster was born on Dec. 25, 1961, in Brownwood, Texas forever being the best Christmas present Benny and Mary could ask for. He left this world after a courageous battle with cancer. Rooster had a heart of gold, and everyone who knew him instantly felt they were his best friend. To say Rooster was an outstanding brother is an understatement. He made everything an adventure. From making commercials with his siblings to adding a fun and competitive element to tasks and chores. As a Falcon at TBHS, he enjoyed competing and excelled in football, basketball, track and field, and speech and drama. Another bond he shared different paths after the birth of their now adult daughter, Jessica. However, their paths recently re-converged and the couple was married in March 2022. Rooster’s title of husband was only surpassed by that of proud father to Jessica and Montana. Jessica brought delight and the title, grandfather, to Rooster with the births of her three sons, Alex, Kai and Benjamin. Rooster was successful in high school and college rodeos. In 1987, Rooster earned the titles of Steer Wrestling Champion in both

PRCA NOTES Inman’s Flying I, Mike Cervi, Harry Vold, and Bennie Beutler as a pickup man and a flankman. Jackie also served as a secretary and timer. Jeff was preceded in death by his father; brother, Joe; nephew, Wyatt Dorenkamp; and father and mother-in-law, Gus, and Jean Webb. Jeff is survived by Jackie; children, with his brothers was the passion of sports betting. They thoroughly enjoyed placing bets with each other every day. The lives of Rooster and Val followed

ARRIVALS

TRU LEIANN SAULSBERRY

A girl, born April 19 to former PRCA

Alexa (Mark) Medrano and Jim (Renate) Dorenkamp; grandchildren, Kain Medrano, Harlie Medrano and Paysen Cutler; mother, Norma Dorenkamp; sister-in-law, Debra Dorenkamp; siblings, Sheryl (David) Vagher, John (Janell) Dorenkamp, Jerry (Nancy) Dorenkamp, Ben Dorenkamp, Casey (Jo) Dorenkamp, Scott (Nicole) Dorenkamp and Mary Lou (Sam) George; and numerous nieces and nephews. Jeff was a member of St. Therese Catholic

tie-down roper Ty Saulsberry and wife Rhonda of Belen N.M. Tru weighed 8.1 pounds and was 21½ inches long. She was welcomed home by sister Rhaeley, 27, and brothers Ryder, 19, and Trye, 2.

Saulsberry

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ProRodeo Sports News 5/12/2023

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