Sheridan High School graduate Betty Lou Branscom, 74, of Osage died Saturday, March 21, 2009, in Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Services were Saturday with interment in Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle. Arrangements were with Worden Funeral Directors.

Born Dec. 26, 1934, at the family ranch near Sayle, Mont., to Chalmers Frank and Katie Eglontine (Avery) McKenzie, she attended country school through the eighth grade at Billup School. During high school, she lived with her older sister, Darlene Griffin, and Griffin’s family in Sheridan, graduating from Sheridan High in 1952.

After graduation, she moved to Osage to live with another sister.

She married Ned E. Branscom of Osage on June 23, 1956, in Rapid City. They resided briefly in Oregon and worked as ranch hands. They also lived southeast of Upton, then moved to the Butte Pipeline Station at Osage, where Mr. Branscom worked for True for many years.

In 1972, the couple purchased the Butcher ranch southwest of Osage. In 1983 they bought a place on Fiddler Creek.

Mr. Branscom enjoyed team roping and Mrs. Branscom spent a lot of time working the chute in the arena at home for practice and traveling around the area with him to ropings.

Mr. Branscom died in 1988.

She continued to ranch and later purchased another ranch, also on Fiddler Creek, allowing her to increase the cattle herd she and her husband had started.

She enjoyed doing “grandma things” with her grandchildren including attending school concerts and basketball games.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Darlene Griffin and Helen Long; and two brothers, Lloyd and James.

Survivors include two sisters, Marion “Dolly” Sept and Bonnie McKenzie; three brothers, C.F. “Chub” Jr., Raynard and Wayne; one daughter, Fonda McFarlin of Fort Lupton, Colo.; and one son, Clay Branscom of the ranch at Osage; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may benefit Osage Volunteer Ambulance Service.

The Sheridan Press - March 31, 2009