MEEKER I Business owners and philanthropists Bud and June Striegel are fixtures in the Rangely community. June moved to Rangely in 1945 with her family. She finished school in Rangely in 1960 and she married Bud that October. Bud moved to Rangely when he was a kid. His father started the business Bud 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. They have employed many of Rangely’s young people 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.
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. 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.
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 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.
Married for 52 years, the duo has gone above and beyond for the betterment of society. Rangely (and all of Rio Blanco County) is fortunate to have such fine citizens.