Benjamin Robert Reynolds, better
known as Rooster, was born on December 25, 1961 in Brownwood, Texas
forever being the best Christmas present Benny and Mary could ask for.
He left this world on April 14, 2023, after a courageous battle with
cancer. Rooster had a heart of gold, and everyone who knew him instantly
felt they were his best friend.
To say Rooster was an outstanding
brother is an understatement. He made everything an adventure. From
making commercials with his siblings to adding a fun and competitive
element to tasks and chores nothing was off the table with Rooster. As a
Falcon at TBHS, he enjoyed competing and excelled in football,
basketball, track and field, and speech and drama. Keeping that love of
sports, he attended many sporting events always remaining a huge Falcon,
Beaver, Bulldog, and (later in life) a Digger football fan. You knew
when Rooster was in the stands! Another bond he shared with his brothers
was the passion of sports betting. They thoroughly enjoyed placing bets
with each other every day.
The lives of Rooster and Val followed
different paths after the birth of their now adult daughter, Jessica.
However, their paths recently re-converged and the couple was married in
March 2022. Rooster's title of husband was only surpassed by that of
proud father to Jessica and Montana. Jessica brought delight and the
title, grandfather, to Rooster with the births of her three sons, Alex,
Kai and Benjamin.
Rooster was destined to be a cowboy! He was
successful in high school and college rodeos. In 1987 Rooster earned the
titles of Steer Wrestling Champion in both the NRA and EIRA. In 1995,
he took the National Finals Rodeo at Las Vegas, Nevada by storm and was
named the Wrangler National Finals Average Champion, ending up third in
the world. He also found success in the Senior Pro Rodeos, earning the
title of National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals Average Steer Wrestling
Champion in 2007.
Rooster never failed to delight everyone with his famous Rooster Shuffle at the end of a good run.
Rooster
was also very talented with a rope. He was the 1991 Montana Pro Rodeo
Finals Average Champion Header in team roping and won many other
Wrangler Team Roping Championships. Cowboys from all over attended
ropings held at the Reynolds Ranch arena in Twin Bridges.
His talents
went beyond the rodeo arena. Rooster was a true cowboy poet and is well
known for his poems and songs. He was requested to perform these at
many functions.
He is quoted as saying, "I don't know if the path
through life I have chosen is the right one, but it is certainly the
most scenic." Even in the hospital room, he was full of his usual wit
and humor. We will miss Rooster dearly the man, the myth, the legend!
He is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin "Benny" Frank and Mary Elizabeth Reynolds, and uncles John and Louis Reynolds.
Rooster
is survived by his wife Valerie Davids Reynolds, Pocatello; sister
Jenny (Jesse) Peterson, Dillon; brothers Skip (Aprille) Jordan, Missoula
and Louis John (Jamie) Reynolds, Missoula; children Jessica Lewis (Rob
Argyle), Spanish Fork and Montana Ty Reynolds, Dillon; grandchildren
Alex Lewis, Kai and Benjamin Argyle, Spanish Fork; uncles/aunts Donna
(Pierce) Rouse, Dillon, DJ (Mary) Smith, Melrose, and Joyce Lee Phelan,
Twin Bridges; nieces Kirstin Thomas (Aldo Romero), Britta Thomas and
Millie Reynolds; nephews Justus and Jace Peterson and Max Reynolds; and
numerous cousins he loved dearly.
A memorial service will be
conducted at 1pm Saturday, May 6, in the Twin Bridges High School old
gym, followed by a potluck reception at the Twin Bridges fairgrounds
Pavilion.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rooster
Reynolds Memorial Fund that has been created to help others in need: The
Bank of Commerce, PO Box 1257 or 110 S. Idaho St., Dillon, MT 59725.
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