Ronald Virgil Garretson passed away peacefully at his home in Saratoga on May 16, 2026, with his family by his side. He was an active member of the Saratoga and Encampment communities, and his cowboy spirit, sense of humor and patriotism will be missed.

Ron was born on Nov. 4, 1942 to Virgil Richard and Elinor Louise (Meyer) Garretson. He had four older sisters. He was raised in Elk Mountain on the family ranch, where he helped with all ranch duties and was particularly fond of the cowboy aspects of ranching. Even as a boy, he often rode his horse to school because he loved being horseback and disliked walking anywhere he didn’t have to.

He graduated from Elk Mountain High School in 1960 and in 1964, married his high school sweetheart, Joyce (Buckendorf) of Elk Mountain. They were married 62 years and they had two girls: Cynthia (Cindy) Rae and Shawn Renae.

Ron continued to work for the Garretson Ranch a few years after high school and spent most of his cowboy career in Carbon County. Early in his career, Ron broke horses for Phil Freese, a horse trader in Rawlins. He also trained horses at the Polo Ranch in Cheyenne and cowboyed for the Eureka Pool near Baggs.

When he married Joyce Buckendorf in 1964, he worked for John Orton near Elk Mountain, then he had jobs with Millie Sanger near Encampment and Elmer Peterson at Walcott. In 1967, he went to work for the One Bar Eleven Ranch between Saratoga and Encampment. He was in charge of the Angus cattle herd and remained there for the next 10 years, where he and Joyce raised their two daughters. Several nephews also found their way to the ranch, where Ron shared with them the cowboy way of life.

In 1977, Ron went to work for the Carbon County Road and Bridge Department and he and Joyce purchased a small place of their own, where Ron still trained, traded and raised horses. In addition, Ron continued to “day ride” for numerous local ranches, including the Nixon Ranch, Jack Creek Ranch, McIlvaines, and others. In 2008, after more than 31 years, Ron retired from the county as Road and Bridge Supevisor.

Ron was a founder of the Donald Erickson Memorial Chariot Races in Saratoga, and he ran his own teams for many years, ultimately serving on the Interstate Chariot Racing board of directors. He was recognized for his cowboying when he was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2014. Ron often said, “If I can’t get there horseback, I don’t need to go.”

Ron was also an avid antique tractor collector and an early member of the Chug-N-Tug Old Time Tractor Club in Encampment, participating in the annual tractor pull. Ron deeply valued his community and the people in it. He was involved in the Search and Rescue in Encampment for many years and the Encampment Riverside Lions Club. He attended every parade and local rodeo he could, and enjoyed visiting with friends and family.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Virgil and Elinor Garretson; sisters Rose Arlene Sikes and Esther Louise Fossett; and his youngest daughter, Shawn Renae Janson.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, of Saratoga; daughter, Cindy (Clay) Weibel of Cheyenne; grandsons, Eric Duncan of Casper and Dylan Janson (Tiffany Prejean) of Leesville, Louisiana; granddaughters, Brook Weibel and Cassidy Weibel, both of Cheyenne; great-grandchildren, Marshal Duncan, Breanna Janson, David Wyatt Janson, and Kutter Janson; sisters, Virginia Jackson of Douglas and June Haynes of Torrington; along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Donations received will be given to local community organizations that Ron loved.

Cremation has taken place with Casada Funeral Home in Rawlins. A memorial service will be held on June 20, 2026, in Saratoga at the Sale Barn at River Meadows (6711 Hwy 130 ) at 4:00 PM. The turnoff is located 1 mile East of the Snowy Range Junction.