Lisa Elaine Van Brunt

Lisa Elaine Van Brunt, 63, passed away on July 30, 2026, in her home with her husband by her side, after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, on July 4, 1963, to Jimmy Ray and Cynthia Louise (Factor) Treat.

Lisa was an amazing individual and highly loved and respected by family, friends, colleagues, patients, and those who passed through the course of her life. She grew up in rural Oklahoma as a spirited cowgirl, learning many life lessons in a hostile world, creating the woman who will forever remain close to our hearts. Lisa was an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Indian Nation, "Alligator Clan," whose ancestors were forced to endure the tragic journey of the "Trail of Tears" to Oklahoma. Growing up, Lisa recounted all the fond memories of family outings that included many play days, trail rides, and rodeos, riding on her cherished horse, Trigger. On an annual basis, for many years, her family would ride their horses 84 miles up to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to rodeo, camping alongside the road with their horses to compete in the events, followed by an 84-mile ride back home. In 1977, Lisa was named the Muscogee Creek Nation Rodeo Queen, and in her 20s, would travel the country with the Native American Rodeo Circuit as a barrel racing participant. She also served as secretary for Native American Rodeo. She spoke of spending time with her paternal grandparents picking cotton and pecans, tending crops, and eating potted meat sandwiches enriched with love and work ethic. In adulthood, she faced many life challenges that created the cherished woman we know. She grew up playing several sports, but especially enjoyed playing on a traveling softball team at the catcher's position, deciding to retire in her mid-30s after it took longer to put on joint-supportive equipment than it took to play the game.

In her late 30s, Lisa changed careers from working in the aviation industry to nursing, achieving her Master's in Nursing. This launched her career as a highly trained professional, providing care to her patients at the bedside and working in many specialized units, including Med/Surg, Oncology, ICU, ER, Flight Nursing, OR, and Nursing Administration, eventually becoming Chief Nursing Officer and then Chief Executive Officer for Banner Health Washakie Medical Center. She was held in high regard throughout Banner Health. Her extremely humble nature minimized her exceptional life and career. Lisa was always learning, educating, and growing in her healthcare journey. During her nursing career, she held and taught many nursing certifications, including Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Trauma Nursing Core Course, and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, which included achieving Faculty Status for the American Heart Association and Emergency Nurses Association. Lisa achieved dual Board Certifications in Oncology and Emergency Nursing. Lisa altered the course of many lives and absolutely loved working in healthcare, serving the healthcare needs of her community with integrity and ethical, patient-centered care with intense, selfless focus. She loved all the teams and professionals she worked with throughout her healthcare journey, and everyone adored Lisa for being an amazing human being.

During her healthcare journey, she met the love of her life, which created a romantic journey of love and devotion that many only read about. Together, they enjoyed spending time with their traditional and non-traditional family, friends, colleagues, and all the people they shared time with throughout every life adventure. They both had a tight bond, creating many epic memories on countless ice fishing, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, kayaking, snowshoeing, 4-wheeling, hiking, dancing, horse and Iron Horse riding, sunrise, sunset, Aurora Borealis, stargazing, beach, and snorkeling adventures. Some of these adventures led her to skydiving and trying bungee jumping only once, but she loved to watch her husband's adventurous spirit. She was looking forward to trying a base jump, but her health interfered. Some of her fondest adventures included swimming with sea turtles and humpback whale watching. She desired a hummingbird garden built with devout love and spent many hours watching the returning ancestral spirits in the hummingbirds and dragonflies. The stressors of her professional life required stress-reduction activities, including epic rock painting, beading, quilting, diamond art, watching movies, watching football, sewing ribbon skirts/jackets, and preferred time alone with the love of her life. One of her extreme passions was to ride as many miles as possible on her Iron Horse, with many referring to her as an "American Badass," as she rode effortlessly in extreme environmental elements, as the journey was greater than the risk. In the final moments of life, she was extremely grateful for everything that allowed her to live the best life without regrets, but wished she would have met her soulmate earlier in life. Lisa will be forever remembered in our hearts and souls, and easy to find when seeking guidance in all the elements of the "Medicine Wheel."

Lisa was preceded in death by her ancestors, and her mother, Cynthia.

She is survived by her father, Jimmy (Emma) Treat; husband, Keith Van Brunt of Worland; sons, Billy (Lauryn) Hamilton of Calumet, Oklahoma, and Brodie (Ali) Van Brunt of Columbia, Missouri; daughters, Summer Hamilton of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Jessica Van Brunt (Brandon Elliott) of Keokuk, Iowa; brother, Paul (Angie) Treat of Beggs, Oklahoma; sisters, Cindy (Barry) Branson of Sperry, Oklahoma, and Becky (Will) Bevenue of Beggs, Oklahoma; grandchildren: Lillie, Madison, Westen, Jeter, Cambryn, Brielle, Jameson, Ellie Ray.

A Native American Memorial Service will be held at 9:00 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center Lawn, with Ivan Posey officiating. A Last ride will begin at 10:30 AM from the Museum. All are welcome. At 5:30 PM that evening, there will be a celebration of life at the Elks Lodge to share the Story of Lisa. Memorial donations may be made to the Washakie Hospital Foundation – Cancer Fund. Please send checks to PO Box 524, Worland, Wyoming 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.