After a two-year battle with brain cancer, Bobbi Barrasso, wife of Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, died Wednesday night at her home in Casper.
Barrasso said he and his family will miss her dearly and appreciate the public’s support through this trying time.
“After a courageous battle with cancer, Bobbi is now at peace and at home with the Lord,” Barrasso said in a Thursday morning press release. “In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Bobbi was a leader, fierce advocate for Wyoming and friend to everyone she met.”
‘Fierce Advocate’
Bobbi Barrasso, a Thermopolis native, was well-known throughout Wyoming for her acts of public service, working for U.S. Sens. Malcolm Wallop and Craig Thomas and State Treasuer Stan Smith. She also was active on various boards, including the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Natrona County, Raising Readers in Wyoming, University of Wyoming Art Museum, Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and Louisa Swain Foundation.
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She founded Congressional Spouses for Suicide Prevention and Education, a group dedicated to raising awareness for suicide risks in Wyoming and across the United States. She was recognized for that work as the 2015 National Alliance on Mental Illness Wyoming Champion for Suicide Prevention.
Gov. Mark Gordon said Barrasso “has left an indelible legacy.”
Bobbi Barrasso also defeated breast cancer and was actively involved in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and Komen Wyoming events, which her husband routinely attended. She also was a founding member of the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative.
She married John Barrasso in 2008 after they first met at a Republican convention in 1983.
Bobbi Barrasso with her husband, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, and Elton John before an event for John’s AIDS foundation. (Getty Images)
Daughter Of Thermopolis
Fellow Wyoming U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis offered her condolences to Barrasso on Thursday.
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“The people of Wyoming and her beloved hometown of Thermopolis will always count her among its greatest blessings,” Lummis said.
Lummis said she first met Bobbi Barrasso when the two were teenagers attending the University of Wyoming. What Lummis said she noticed about her then, which continued throughout her life, was her infectious smile and generous spirit.
“She had a fierce love for her family and her beloved Wyoming, both of which she gave to tirelessly her entire life,” Lummis said.
At UW, she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority where she served as the vice-president for moral advancement and later as sorority president, according to Bobbi Barrasso’s obituary. She was crowned UW Homecoming Queen her senior year and graduated with a degree in speech pathology.
She later returned to earn a law degree from the school.
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It was then Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman said she first met her.
“Bobbi was always warm to everyone, welcoming them with a big smile and a kind word,” Hageman said. “She served our state both in her career and alongside her husband.”
Bobbi Barrasso leaves behind one daughter and three children from her husband’s previous marriage.
Funeral service details have not yet been finalized.
Arrangements are being handled by Bustard’s Funeral Home in Casper. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bobbi Barrasso’s honor to the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative and the Hospice of Central Wyoming.
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John Barrasso had his own recent bout with health illness, hospitalized for an unexpected stomach obstruction.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at Leo@CowboyStateDaily.com.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Wyoming man died Dec. 22 in a motorcycle-versus-truck collision in Laramie County.
According to a recently released incident report from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, 24-year-old Wyoming man Kyle Pandullo was headed west on a motorcycle as a van approached from the opposite direction. The WHP reports that the van attempted to turn left into a business entrance, forcing Pandullo to brake in an effort to avoid a crash. His bike tipped over onto its side, sliding into the van.
The WHP lists driver inattention as a possible contributing factor in the wreck.
This story contains preliminary information as provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The agency advises that information may be subject to change.
A newsletter for local events, community happenings, and more…
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JACKSON, Wyo. — Everyone’s favorite grizzly will grace the big screen this month.
Documentary 399 Forever will make its Wyoming premiere at The Center on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13.
The film follows passionate wildlife guides and photographers who dedicated their lives to tracking, teaching, and protecting Grizzly 399, the world’s most famous bear. As they capture her story, they also confront the growing impact of social media on wildlife, work to educate the public, and fight for practical solutions like bear-proof trash cans to keep both bears and people safe.
With mounting pressure to remove grizzlies from the endangered species list, the film explores the heart of a complex and emotional debate: What does it really mean to protect a wild animal?
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Learn more and buy tickets on The Center’s website.
Editor’s note: This episode was originally published on Oct. 12, 2025.
Two cabins in Jackson, Wyoming are what’s left of a set for a Hollywood western filmed in the area during the 1950s. One of them is five miles north of Jackson in Kelly and the other is under the ownership of History Jackson Hole, a museum in town.
This week on “It’s Worth Mentioning,” Rett Nelson speaks with local researcher Samantha Ford and dives into the history of these cabins, the film in which they were featured and why Jackson was selected as the production site.
If you’re a cinephile or a fan of old movies, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
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Previous episodes are available in the audio player below. Watch previous episodes here.
Season two is coming in 2026. If you have a topic or guest idea for an upcoming episode, email rett@eastidahonews.com.
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