Dean Bishop, a lifelong resident of Walsh, Colorado, in Baca County, passed away peacefully at the
age of 79 years on March 8, 2024. He was born on July 5, 1944 in Lamar, Colorado to Edmund
(Short) and Agnes (Findley) Bishop. Dean's journey was deeply intertwined with the fabric of the land
he loved. Throughout his life, Dean, ( Deanie, Dad, Poppi, Pop) roamed many circles, leaving a lasting
mark in Baca County and beyond. From the Bishop, Findley, and Cogburn families to the small town
community of Walsh, the camaraderie of the Little Britches Rodeo Association, and his cherished
hunting excursions, Dean touched the lives of many.

Dean's life truly began when he walked into Linda Beryl's classroom as a teenager. She knew the
minute that she saw his big ornery smile, he was the one for her. They were baptized together on
New Year's Eve 1962 by Brother B. The following spring, Dean proposed on April 2nd and they were
married on June 30, 1963 by Brother B. Their love story, marked by shared dreams and countless
adventures, blossomed into a lifelong partnership.

Their family grew with the arrival of their children: The first girl, a firecracker, Deandra Beryl (aka Sis),
arrived on July 4, 1964. Two years later, his Father's Day gift was Pamela Gayle (aka Punk) arriving
on June 15, 1966 . Finally a son, Brandon Shane (aka …) arrived four and a half years later on
January 25, 1971.

Throughout his life, Dean was deeply rooted in agriculture, embodying the spirit of the land as a
dedicated farmer and rancher. He tended to the earth with unwavering commitment, nurturing crops
and livestock with care and expertise. His earliest memories are of loading box cars with feed bundles
for cattle and going on long cattle drives. Throughout his life, Dean grew many different crops, but his
favorites were Cereal Rye, milo and feed. Nothing made him happier than to have a field full of round
bales. He was still working on getting all of those bales sold even up to his last days. If you came by
the house, he was selling bales.

For fun as a young kid, Dean went to watch his Uncle Bunt and many others race go-karts on Sunday
afternoons. Dean enjoyed football and track in High School. He had many classmates in high school
who turned out to be his lifelong friends. He was voted class favorite his senior year. According to
many of his classmates in his 1962 yearbook, he was a swell pal. Dean's class was the first to
graduate from the gym at the new high school. On a side note, 62 years later his Grandson Axeton
will be in the last class to graduate from this same gym in 2024. Dean played town team basketball
and volleyball for many years after he graduated. He loved the competition.

In the early years, the family enjoyed many trips to Two Buttes Lake where they spent untold hours
skiing with Max and Tara Hardy. Dean also ice fished at Two Buttes Lake with Lloyd Brown and Max
Hardy. He took the family on trips to the mountains for camping and fishing in Creede and Blue Mesa
Colorado. It was his privilege to bring Uncle Bunt's camper home at the end of the summer. Picture
this, a single seat pickup, two adults, three kids, no seat belts, a 28 foot camper pulling a 16 foot
fishing boat and trailer. Dean had the center line but Linda had the cliff side (straight down). He
enjoyed fishing for rainbow trout and Sockeye salmon in the creeks and lakes in the surrounding
area. His love for the mountains also led him on an annual week-long ELK hunting adventure. He
started hunting deer in the canyons of Kim, Colorado. As the young gun in the bunch, he looked to
Johnny Keener for advice, leadership and also cherished their lifelong friendship. Dean's hunting
years span five decades. His last years in the mountains were spent with his son Shane and
grandson Axeton. His favorite locations to hunt were in Summitville, Pagosa Springs, La Garita and
Horseshoe. Dean's big tent was left to Shane, Axeton and Trace in hopes that they will carry on the
tradition for many years to come. Dana Alley, Delly Alley and Ronnie Tate can attest to his numerous
adventures during the hunting trips.

Dean began the rodeo years with gymkhanas in Campo, Springfield, Kim, Pritchett, Two Buttes, and
Lamar. Dean and Linda liked to compete in the rawhide race. Once, Dad hollered whoa, Mom thought
he hollered go and off they went. Let's just say, the rawhide race was not the only thing that was
rawhide that day. Dean spent many hours team roping at Two Buttes and at his house with friends.
When Deandra turned 8 years old, they took her to her first Little Britches Rodeo in Elkhart and soon
the rodeo friendships began. Dean went from being the contestant, to the father and then to the
grandfather. After that, he had so much expertise he became the judge. Throughout the six decades
of the rodeo relationships the generations started to blend together. The rodeo kids who became the
parents and then the grandparents to the contestants became Dean's new kids to watch. At every
level, he was involved with helping produce the rodeo. Dean spent several years helping organize
and run the Springfield Little Britches Rodeo. He worked at the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals
removing ropes and keeping track of the goats. At last count, he went to 32 straight years of the
finals. He spent five years judging contestants at rodeos. Rodeo wasn't just a sport it became a
family. Otis and Ma Jennings along with the rest of the crew accepted Dean as one of their own. He
loved being part of their clan. One of the traditions that he was proud of supporting, was giving all of
the area contestants red roses to place in their hat band for good luck in the short go at finals. He had
several favorites but to this day Emily Miller-Beisel is still carrying on this tradition in the PRCA.

Beyond his agricultural pursuits and hobbies, Dean contributed to the Walsh community, serving on
the school board and boosting local sports teams. He touched the lives of many with his involvement
in the school board. An accomplishment Dean was extremely proud of was he was able to hand each
of his own children their diploma. He left a lasting impact on the football field by his leadership in the
booster club. When he was president of the booster club, he was tasked with leading the group in
building new bleachers. They were struggling to settle on a suitable time. Bill Mundell said you are the
president, tell us when and where and we will build the bleachers. Dean proposed Saturday, and with
everyone in agreement, they rallied together and completed the bleachers, which are still standing
today. Dean and Linda were honored as the parade marshals in the Walsh homecoming parade in
2014. He was a lifelong supporter of the Walsh Eagles. He made a point to be at every game from the
60's through 2020's that he could. Dean was very proud that he watched all but one of the state
playoff games. He had to miss one game so that his dad could go watch Terry Howard (Uncle Pud's)
playoff game, but Dean listened to it on the radio. Dean worked the chain gang on the football field,
but gave it up when Walsh changed to six-man football.

In yet another community project, Dean helped with Project C.A.R.E. He helped build the fence, plant
trees, and pour the concrete liner at the Walsh Cemetery. Dean was an honorary member of the
Jaycees of Walsh. He was honorary because he was exceptionally good at catching rattlesnakes. He
participated in and actually enjoyed the rattlesnake roundups. It wasn't unusual for Dean to house
four city dumpsters of live rattlesnakes. Hundreds of pounds of live snakes were stored in his barn for
the round up. Dean helped the Jaycees win the award for the most pounds, the biggest snake and
the longest snake. But they were never able to win the shortest snake. The people who hosted the
roundup took the snakes to Salt Lake City where they milked, preserved and sold them.

Dean's journey as a grandfather began with Amanda in 1987. She was the one who named him Pop
because he always had a Pepsi and it stuck. He helped her with roping and riding. He supported all of
the grandkids in their sporting adventures; rodeo, football, basketball and he even learned to like golf.
He said if could have done it again he would have watched more track meets. He pretended to like
the music programs. Once he was tricked into watching a concert involving Denver and Quentin. He
knew he had to be quiet, he couldn't say a word. Finally he leaned over and whispered I can't
understand anything they are saying. When he was told it was in Latin, he didn't care to attend any
more musical events.

Dean's youngest great granddaughter was his special nurse. She made sure that when Poppi
hollered, Grandma came running. Dean loved to tease everyone, especially the little ones and make
them laugh.

Dean had a few other things he loved on top of family, friends and hunting: Pepsi and Snickers, Old
country music, Beryl's cooking, Grandma Beatrice's Thanksgiving dressing, college basketball, March
madness, the old westerns, and the rodeo channel.

Dad loved picking on someone. If he picked on you, just know that it was because you were special
to him although he wasn't always so great at being teased himself. When I gave him his last haircut, I
asked him if he wanted an army haircut, which did not go over very well. As I talked to a lot of people
about Dad over the last few days, I heard a lot of stories about him teasing them.

He is survived by his loving wife Linda Beryl, daughter Deandra Fankhouser (Ray), Pam Nicodemus
(Zane) and Shane Bishop (Linsey). Grandchildren Amanda Schrepel (Jacob), Trey Fankhouser
(Jena), Genna Bishop, Quentin Dean Fankhouser, Denver Fankhouser, Axeton D. Bishop, and Trace
Bishop. His six great grandchildren Wyatt, Wade, Waycee, Lillian, Ari, and Rayna Beryl. A very
special aunt, Myrtle Walker and numerous other family members. All will continue to cherish his
memory and carry forward his legacy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Kale Nicodemus and niece Darla Cogburn,
numerous Aunts and Uncles, and recently several cousins.

Through the trials and triumphs of life, Dean was a legend and will be remembered forever. He
remained a steadfast pillar of strength, guiding us with his wisdom, and unconditional support. His
story serves as a testimony of resilience and dedication to family, community and friendships. His
family was of the utmost importance to him. In his death, he was surrounded by those he loved. We
were blessed with the privilege of granting him his final wish of staying at home until the end. He said
that if he could do everything over again, he would.