Orris G. Albertson
Marriages
Berta A. Gates Albertson - July 1, 1953
at the home ranch at Burns
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise - October 9, 2003
Orris G. Albertson 1908-2003
Orris G. Albertson, 94, a long time rancher of Burns, died Oct. 3 at his retirement home in Grand Junction with family and friends by his bedside.
Orris was born Oct. 27, 1908 at Burns, Colorado, at the family ranch house on Derby Mesa. His parents were Charles F. and Ella McMillan Albertson, early pioneers in the Burns area. Their first homesteads date to 1894 when Charles Albertson was 21-years-old.
Orris attended school through the eighth grade at a one-room log schoolhouse on Derby Mesa. He went an additional year to study some high school classes. By doing so, he received two 8th grade diplomas. He then left school to work on the family ranch. He spent six years as pool rider on the Burns Pool Association and 17 years as range boss.
Orris married Berta A. Gates on July 1, 1953, at the Gates Ranch on Derby Mesa. The two families lived a mile apart. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Together, Orris and Berta built a registered and commercial herd of Hereford cattle. They worked side by side to build a unique high mountain cattle ranch that is still in operation today. Their granddaughter and her family took over the ranch when Orris and Berta retired to Grand Junction in 1999.
Their son Dale was born on June 8, 1934, at home on Derby Mesa. Dale started riding on the front of his mother's saddle as an infant. He and his parents worked the Burns ranches and continued to expand their land interest by buying a winter range ranch at DeBeque, Colo. in 1966. Orris was 57 years old at that time.
Orris was active in the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, the Eagle County Cattlemen, the Burns School Board, along with other community and church groups.
Orris's life was dominated by his love for God, his wife and family, and his way of life. He lived and loved the cattle business. He was still riding during calving and gathering at the age of 90. He loved being able to drive a bunch of cows up or down a trail where others had decided it couldn't be done. He always said "A good cowboy knows what a cow was thinking just before she thought of it."
Orris is survived by Berta, his beloved wife of 70 years. He is also survived by his son Dale (Donna) Albertson of DeBeque, Colorado; grandchildren Vicki Stout of Clifton, Colorado, Scott (Pilar) Albertson of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Kendra (Keith) Scott of the home ranch at Burns; Aaron (Amy) Largent of DeBeque; and Amy (Paul) Schutter of Alma, Kan.
Great-grandchildren are Michael and Matthew Stout, David, Cherie and Christine Albertson, Kurtis and Kensie Scott, Jentry Largent and Jakob and Lauren Schutter.He is also survived by his sister Carrie Panter of Delta, Colorado, and his sister-in-law, Marie Albertson of Grand Junction. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Joe Albertson and sisters Helen Albertson and Ella Mae Hight.
Services were held Oct. 7 at Martin Mortuary with Pastor Bruce Dunsdon of the Burns Baptist Church officiating. Memorial contributions in memory of Orris may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 60307, Grand Junction, Colo. 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - October 5, 2003
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B - October 7, 2003
