Lavern "Jay" Michael Broncho, Jr.

Lavern “Jay” Michael Broncho, Jr. was born on May 21, 1974 in Pocatello, Idaho to Lavern Broncho, Sr. and Theresa LaVatta Appeney. Theresa married Arnold Appeney and with their combined families they had 6 boys. Jay was the oldest of the 6 brothers: Raymond Broncho, Warrior Appeney, Douglas Broncho, Lamar Broncho, and Jesse Bruce.

Jay grew up in Fort Hall and went to school in both Blackfoot and Pocatello. He graduated from Highland High School in 1992.

Jay always wanted to be a cowboy and rope, and he was well-known for his exceptional roping skills. He started roping at 7 years old and spent many hours with his Uncle Ron roping. Krissy recalls as young kids they would help out and watch the older guys rope at the arena behind Ron and Thea’s house and the indoor arena. Pace shared memories of them roping together in Junior rodeos in the 9-15 age category and being hauled to the rodeos by Ron and Lyle. Jay enjoyed helping Lyle move cows, brand, ride the mountain and rodeoing together. Eventually Jay moved in with Lyle and family: Denell, Krissy, Pace and Bodie. He loved living the cowboy life.

After high school, Jay moved to Owyhee and lived with Spider and Laura Teller. During his time there, he spent many hours in the saddle cowboying with Steve Harney, Ira Walker, Clint Walker, Dirk Jim, Wally Blossom and Rudy Blossom, to name a few.

Jay was “the Cow Boss” when gathering cows on the range or working cows on the bottoms. Jay always knew the best way to maneuver and work cows without a lot of pressure, and he took pride in being able to read a cow. He could be a bit gruff and short tempered with others when working cows, but he always had your back, and you became a better cowboy because of him.

Jay worked as the range rider for Unit 3 and knew all the areas on the range. He was his cousin Clinton Houtz’s right-hand man. Jay enjoyed cowboying with his cousin/brothers Moose, Tigerman, Jake M, and Snake. Moose’s kids, Jesse and Stone, have 4 girls and Jay considered them his own grandkids. He treasured the time spent with all of them to gather, trail and work cows together.

When Krissy had her three boys Trevin, Hollin and Zane - Uncle Jay was thrilled. He spent many hours, days, and years with these boys throughout their lives. He could always be found at any arena or rodeo roping with them, gathering or working cows or fishing with them. He loved these boys like his own and all the skills, knowledge, serious times, goofy times will remain forever in their hearts.

Through the years, Jay traveled all over the United States team roping. He was talented in both heading and heeling, and wherever he went there were always people wanting to rope with him. During his Junior year in high school, Jay and Pace qualified for State High School Rodeo Finals where they won the first round. He still has the plaque at Theresa’s house. They made it to State again the next year. In 1993, they won the IMPRA team roping finals. Gifford shared stories about roping in the USTRC. Jay and DJ Ball went to Mesquite and won a saddle where Jay was heeling. That same year, Jay also roped at a USTRC roping in Eagle where he won a saddle as a header. We should mention, Jay was only age 16 at this time. Winning 2 USTRC saddles in the same year, one for each end, is a huge accomplishment. Gifford shared that he and Jay won the festival rodeo, and he remembers himself, Gene Edmo and Jay roping in Jackson Hole and placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Gifford also shared how he, DJ and Jay went to jackpots, and Jay was roping feet on the 1st and 2nd hop. After the roping, they were told “that was some good roping, but don’t come back.” They were “too good” and out roped everyone. That is how Jay went through life. Everything he did was for first place.

In 2008, Jay married Connie Laird. Connie shared his love of rodeo and the cowboy life and enjoyed traveling the rodeo trail with him. They spent several summers at the Yellowstone rodeos, where he won several buckles, and helped his daughters, Alyson and Bree, grow their rodeo talents. We could go on and on about his roping accomplishments, which were many, but there was more to Jay than roping.

Family was very important to Jay. He had 4 children: Lane Broncho, Alyson (Dazshun) Smith, Bree Houtz and Colton Whitehead. A treasured family memory was a trip to San Diego to watch Lane graduate from military school in 2012.

Jay also loved Salmon fishing, camping, and hunting. It is no surprise that he was great at these also. Camping and fishing in Stanley was a family tradition. He took pride in teaching his son, Lane, and nephews Lumen, Terrance, Thomas, Kenai, and Tyrion, and great nephew, Anthony to become great hunters and fisherman. He also taught the boys to take care of their elders and make sure they had meat and enough firewood. Terrance always liked to wear Uncle Jay’s hats around, no matter if he was in shorts or jeans. Jay also had nicknames for all the boys. Lumen was Roo, Thomas was Beans, Kenai was "Yagise" and Tyrion was "Mowgli."

Jay also had two nieces, Serena and Cecilia (Sam), and a great niece, Lilyauna Tinno. A favorite memory was when Jay took Sam to Jim Bob Cutler’s to pick out a horse. She chose a black and white one, Cookies and Cream, who became the best horse around. Jay's nieces and nephews called him "Uncle Busch", and if you ever looked in his fridge, you knew why. It was always full of Busch beer.

Being friends with Jay was an adventure. Pace said “us boys were always in trouble.” Connie shared a story of when the boys were younger and the dads were rodeoing, they wanted more time together when the rodeo was over. So, they “switched kids”. They traded Pace for Brogan. Pace went home with Brogan’s dad, and Brogan went home with Jay and family. The grand idea ended up with them in big trouble when they all got home and the dads realized they had to get back on the road to switch the boys back.

Jay had a love for wild horse races and wild cow milking. You definitely wanted Jay to be on your team because he was strong, tough and not afraid to dive in. Connie said he shared a story of getting mucked out by a cow and just laying there. When his buddy came to help him, Jay just said “is she gone yet?”

Pace shared a story of when they roped a wild mini-donkey on the bottoms. Jay was on Tiny. They herded the horses and donkey to a creek crossing. Jay took the first throw and missed. When other horses cleared the donkey, Tiny got spooked and Jay about fell off. Pace got the donkey roped and the donkey came up the rope striking at them. They got him to the stripping chute and got a halter on him. Aly showed us a picture of the mini donkey.

The adventures included many road trips. They used to drive to Rupert to ropings in the winter to Lam’s indoor. Lyle didn’t like them driving in the winter time, but they had to go roping. Pace shared they were at a rodeo in Logan coming back over the mountain to a high school rodeo in Montpelier. They were in the old red Chevy with a camper and 4 horses. As they were coming over Logan pass, there was a deer in the road. Pace locked the brakes up, and Jay Bird was in the passenger seat screaming and hit the floor boards. Pace hit the deer (brakes weren’t good) and Jay was on the floor in the fetal position. The deer hit the horse trailer and was still alive. They put the deer down, and went on their way, probably winning the next roping they were going to.

Pace also shared another story when they had gone Salmon fishing. They were coming home and there was a hippie van on the gravel road. It was really dusty. A tree had fallen and they didn’t see the tree. They hit the tree and Jay bounced off the cab of the truck and broke the steering wheel. That morning Jay had made a red beer with rotten tomato juice and was feeling sick, so hitting the tree definitely did not improve his day.

Gifford shared memories of them spear fishing together. He shared that Jay loved to brand, hunting in the mountains and bottoms, rodeo and roping. Gifford shared that Jay’s dad gave him a nickname of Boner. That would be something only his oldest friends would know. Gifford shared they were branding at Jim Cutler’s. Taya’s horse bucked and she came off and she was crying. Jay talked to her, said it was ok, and put her right back on. That was Jay. He never stayed down when life bucked him off. He got up and climbed right back on. The cowboy way.

As great of a cowboy and roper Jay was, his Indian heritage was the core of everything he was and did. Gifford shared how Jay would go sweat with him and his dad. It was common for Jay to share his hunting and fishing meat with tribal members in need. Jay always welcomed a friend “come on in, get something to eat.” He was funny, a good friend, and lived life to the fullest. He did what he wanted to do and lived life with no regrets. May his passion and zest for life be carried on with those that knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Jay was preceded in death by his Father Lavern Broncho, son Lane Broncho, brother Vito Appeney, paternal grandparents Lee Broncho and Lilly Provost, Aunt Flo, maternal grandparents Cecelia Osborne LaVatta and grandfather Harry “Hiboy” LaVatta, Aunt/Uncle Ron and Thea Marsh, and Aunt/Uncle Saundra and Kenneth Todd.

Funeral arrangements for brother, Lavern “Jay” Broncho. He will be brought out to the Lodge in Ross Fork on Saturday 2-22-25 at 10 am and will remain there until his services at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road in Chubbuck, Idaho on Sunday 2-23-25 at 7 pm. He then will be returned to Ross Fork until his burial at the Ross Fork Cemetery on Monday 2-24-25 at 1 pm. 

 “Long live Cowboys”

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