A dynamic duo: Bud and June Striegel

RANGELY I There has been a great deal written about Bud Striegel and rightfully so. He has done so much for the community of Rangely that words are not enough to express the appreciation for his giving. His wife June has also served unselfishly through the years and has an inner drive only equaled by her husband’s.
June moved to Rangely in 1945 with her family and lived in Rangely until she was in the third grade. Her father worked for an oil company and the family moved to Wyoming and Utah until returning to Rangely for June’s fifth grade year. She finished school in Rangely, graduating in 1960. Along the way she worked for her father at the Standard Station located where the Subway is now. She learned early the importance of hard work and the ability to stay busy in a small town. She and Bud were married in October of 1960.
Bud moved to Rangely when he was a young kid. His father started the business Bud now runs and is in the process of handing down to his children. The W.C. Striegel Company was started in 1945 and Bud took it over in 1976. The business has installed pipelines, built roads to well pads and provided maintenance for those projects through the years.
Bud’s father said, “every 20 years there is a boom,” but he managed—as Bud has— to maintain a consistent business for nearly 70 years. The business under Bud’s father employed 50-60 people year round and now has approximately 135 on the payroll. They have employed many of Rangely’s young men and have always believed in giving back to the community.
They helped construct the bike path to the Kenney Reservoir Dam, built a shooting range for CNCC, helped build Columbine Park, constructed the Rock Park on the east end of town, helped with the construction of Eagle Crest, built the carport at Radino, worked on Cedar Ridges Golf Course, helped support the Rangely Museum, helped with the Field of Dreams baseball field, the softball fields at CNCC, supplied dirt work for the new hospital project and made a tremendous donation to the engineering department at CNCC. They are very active in so many aspects of the community and Bud enjoys Christmas giving above all.
June worked in a doctor’s office for nearly 15 years after her children started school and had J and J Embroidery for about five years. She has served on the Rangely Chamber of Commerce, been a girl scout and boy scout leader, was an EMT and drove the ambulance over Douglas Pass on several occasions. She drove the senior bus, has helped with Septemberfest and other community activities, and was in Epsilon Sigma Alpha. It is safe to say that whatever came along, she was eager to help and gave freely of her time and effort.
In 1993 the couple bought Campbell Creek Ranch on County Road 8. They allow people the opportunity to get married in a beautiful environment for the cost of a 3×5 photo, an invitation to the wedding and a bag of fish food or a tree. This is a service that evolved after the first couple got married on the ranch, Ken and Janine Myers. Word spread about the picture-perfect location and today the ranch is booked at least a year in advance, accommodating more then 100 weddings since 1993. The family enjoys the ranch and sharing it with others. Bud and his grandson Kellen built a thriving fish pond complete with a man-made waterfall, along with engineering the rest of the property.
Through the years their tremendous giving has not gone unnoticed. Most recently, Bud was honored in Washington D.C. at the Council for Resource Development Benefactors awards banquet for his contributions to Colorado Northwestern Community College. His most recent and substantial contribution was $1 million for the renovation of the W.C. Striegel Engineering Center. The Striegels have established the W.C. Striegel scholarship foundation, the Striegel Book Scholarship fund and other scholarships for students who plan to attend CNCC after graduation.
Bud and June have helped facilitate nearly every facet of the community of Rangely and do so because they want to give back to the town that they feel has been so good to them.
“He can’t say no to anyone,” Bud’s daughter Teri said. Bud has a vision of what needs to be done and simply does it. The key is that he gives unconditionally to the community he loves.
Bud and June have three children: Teri (Vance) Wilczek, Deven, and Eric. They have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. June takes care of her great-grandson Colton on Tuesdays and does her best to “wear him out.”
They live next door to their business and Bud says, “I still walk to work everyday.” Claims have been made that he is trying to retire but his work ethic suggests otherwise.
June is also a quilter. She drives to Grand Junction from time to time to complete her projects and has a house there to avoid late night travel. She won the county fair with one of her quilts.
They take many opportunities to get their family together, whether to attend the local Crab Crack or CNCC Foundation dinners or other community events.
The total sum of their monetary, labor, time, equipment and heartfelt contributions have helped make Rangely what it is today. They have seen many changes over the years, but they are proud to call Rangely their home.
“We like being here, and the people,” June said. They like coming over the hill from either direction and knowing they are home.
Married for 52 years, the duo has gone above and beyond for the betterment of society. Rangely is fortunate to have such fine citizens.