Obituary

Alex “Buster” Dufurrena, 1931-2016

Alex “Buster” Dufurrena, 84, died at his home on the family ranch near Denio, Nev., on May 28, 2016.

Buster was born July 12, 1931, to Alec and Julia Dufurrena in Room 11 of the Winnemucca Hotel. He grew up in the hills and valleys around Wilder Ranch east of Denio, branding calves, cutting hay and tending sheep camps. He graduated from Humboldt County High School in 1949, where he rodeoed, played basketball, football and tuba. He attended Cal Poly University, where he majored in pre-veterinary medicine and was a member of the Cal Poly Rodeo team. Buster won the College National Finals Rodeo bareback riding championship in 1951.

In 1952, during the Korean War, Buster enlisted in the army. In November of that year he was assigned to the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps in Panama. Upon returning home after his service, he met Linda Donahue. They were married at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Winnemucca on Feb. 11, 1956. Buster cowboyed for and later managed Quinn River Ranch until 1978. He and Linda started the Dufurrena Sheep Company in 1974. They raised three sons, Tim, Dan and Hank, at Quinn River.

Buster was a hardworking gentleman who made his mark on the community, serving as president of the Nevada Woolgrower’s Association, as well as working with a number of associations and volunteer boards. Buster would make the trip from the dusty hay fields he’d spent the morning working in to his afternoon meetings in town, dressed in his best button-up shirt and suspenders.

Buster is survived by his wife, Linda; his brother, John (Joan) Dufurrena; his children, Tim (Carolyn), Dan (Maryjo) Hank (Ginny) Dufurrena; his grandchildren Sam, Zack (Amy), Magen, Ryan, Julia and Josh Dufurrena; his great-grandchildren Katie, Quincy Jo and Buster Roan Dufurrena, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Buster was preceded in death by his parents Alexander ‘Alec’ Dufurrena and Julia Eguiara Dufurrena, and his sister Clarice Sizemore.