Tom Rule

Funeral services for Tom Rule, 77-year-old Buffalo resident, who passed away Tuesday, May 28th, at the Johnson County Health Care Center, in Buffalo will be held Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo with Pastor Stephen Martin officiating.  A visitation will be held on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside services to immediately follow the funeral service. Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Johnson County Search and Rescue at P.O. Box 205 in Buffalo.  Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.

Tommy Douglas Rule was born on October 22, 1946, in Temple, Texas to Daniel and Coleen Rule where his father was stationed during WWII.   He grew up and went to school in Eagle, Colorado, and graduated from Eagle Valley High School with the class of 1964.  He attended Colorado Mesa University in Grande Junction, Colorado for two years and transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After college, he joined the Air National Guard and was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. He received an honorable discharge in 1968 and returned to Brighton, Colorado to work for his uncle Larry Rule, at the Rule Feed Lot. He was married on June 7, 1969, in Brighton, to Barbara Getz, and they made their home in Brighton.  That same year Tom and Barb moved to Greeley, Colorado where he was a supervisor at the Monfort Meat Packing plant.  In 1971 Tom started Rule Dry Wall and continued working in various towns in Colorado.  He later became the ranch manager for Catamount Ranch in Burns, Colorado.  In 1974 they moved to Big Horn, Wyoming where he managed the Malcom Wallop Ranch. In 1979 Tom and Barb went into partnership with Tom’s family in the Wagon Hammer Ranch north of Gillette, Wyoming.  In 1988 they moved to Buffalo, Wyoming, and purchased their current ranch East of Buffalo.  Tom continued ranching in Buffalo until his death.

Tom was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Eagle, Colorado.  He was a member of the Wyoming Cattleman’s Association and the American Cattleman’s; he was on the Johnson County Coop Board, and a member of the Lake DeSmet Conservation District. Tom was a pilot and had a passion for flying.  He enjoyed fishing in Canada and got the most enjoyment in life from his grandkids and following their activities. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Barb Rule of Buffalo; one son, Travis Rule, and his wife Chanda of Buffalo; one daughter, Tiffany Rives, and her husband Miles also of Buffalo and five grandkids, Lauren, Taylor, Calvin, Lexi and Tess.  He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.