Taresa Kay Brunken, 81, of Broken Bow, Nebraska, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, August 3, 2026.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Broken Bow. Burial will follow in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Custer County Foundation c/o Taresa Brunken. A visitation and time to greet the family will be held on Thursday, August 6th from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online words of remembrance or condolences may be left at govierbrothers.com
Taresa Kay Eldred was born October 5th, 1944, in Broken Bow, NE, the middle of three children raised by Bill Janda and Darlene (Ballard) Janda. Older brother Richard and her younger sister Cathy all grew up in Broken Bow during their childhood. Taresa and Cathy were very close and remained close throughout their adulthood. Taresa worked a variety of jobs as a teenager, from receptionist to florist to beautician, before devoting her life to her family and community.
She married the love of her life, Walter “Butch” Brunken, at age 19 in 1964. Together, they built a wonderful life in Broken Bow, NE—where they lived most of their 62 years of marriage. Together, they raised two active and athletic children, daughter Holly and son Brett. Taresa stayed involved in the school as a cheerleading coach at Broken Bow High, giving back to the school and cheer squad she had enjoyed as a student. As her children began to build families of their own, Taresa and Butch enjoyed attending many of their grandchildren’s fine arts, sports, 4-H and academic events. She enjoyed weekends of fishing and camping at Calamus Lake with Brett’s family as well as trips south exploring St. Louis and watching sports tournaments with Holly’s family. Butch and Taresa were both very active in Nebraska One Box, serving on the board of directors and hosting and attending the many One Box events. Taresa Kay appreciated the finer things in life with a glass of white wine. She was very proud of their gorgeous home, decorated with her eye for interior design and her beautiful floral gardens and displays. She loved spending time with her friends playing bridge, drinking coffee, sharing stories, and laughing at jokes. Her Westies, Bella and Pippen, held special places in her heart.
Taresa is preceded in death by her father, Bill Janda, her mother, Darlene Janda, and her sister, Cathy Province.
She is survived by her brother Richard Eldred; her husband, Butch Brunken; her children, Brett & Amy Brunken, Holly & Dan Buck; her grandchildren; Makenna & Seth Cooksley, Jessica & Jacob Bertschinger, Tina & Mike Harth, Katie Buck, and Quinn & Lily Buck. She also leaves behind seven incredible great-grandchildren—Everleigh, Emersyn, Isabella, Berkeley, Bryson, McCoy, and Sutton along with two more great-grandchildren on the way.
