Ernie O'Brien, 87

Funeral services for Ernie O’Brien, 87, of Buffalo, Wyoming, who passed away Wednesday morning, April 1, 2015, at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Harness Funeral Home in Buffalo with the Rev. Tom Saur officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. today, April 3, at the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with the American Legion and VFW in charge of military graveside rites.

Donations in Mr. O’Brien’s memory may be made to the Buffalo Senior Center in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo.

Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Ernest O’Brien was born on Feb. 19, 1928, in Tucson, Arizona, to Everett and Frankie O’Brien. He moved with his family as a child to California where they lived for a short time before moving to Nisland, South Dakota where he attended country school. After school he worked at various jobs and at the age of 17 he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for 19 years all over the world. He was married to his first wife Laurel and they had three boys, Ricky, Randy and Terry. He was divorced and married two more times while in the Air Force. He received an honorable discharge on June 26, 1959. He was married on February 20, 1965 to Annabel Gordon in Belle Fourche, South Dakota where they made their home. In 1966 they moved to Whitefish, Montana where Ernie worked for Atlantic Richfield. They retired in 1995 and moved to Buffalo, Wyoming. Annabel passed away in June of 2010 and Ernie continued living in Buffalo until his death. He most recently had been a resident at the Amie Holt Care Center.

He was an avid gardener and loved working in his garden. He enjoyed snow machining when they lived in Montana and was into genealogy.

He is survived by three sons, Rick O’Brien of Florida, Randy O’Brien of Montana and Terry O’Brien now living in Germany; one daughter Darlene Smith of El Cajon, California; one step-son J.B. Gordon of Montana; two step-daughters, Barb Bircher of Whitefish, Montana and Robin Richards of Belle Fourche, South Dakota; one brother Forest “Frosty” O’Brien of Custer, South Dakota; two sisters Eula Irish of Buffalo, Wyoming and Viola Sonne of Belle Fourche, South Dakota; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and two brothers.