Maria Elsa Baum

Elsa Bocanegra Baum 83, passed away on September 16th, 2026, at her home in Lyman, Wyoming. Elsa was born January 24th, 1943, in Jimenez Mexico to Amada Hernandez Bocanegra and Jose Bocanegra. Elsa is the 3rd oldest of 12 children. She moved to Brownsville, Texas at a young age. Her family were migrant workers for many years traveling to California, Utah, Idaho and Texas. Later Elsa moved to Lyman, Wyoming in 1971, where she made it her permanent home.

On February 22, 1994, she married the love of her life, Jerry E. Baum in Elko, Nevada. Elsa was known for her cooking in the Bridger Valley. Together Elsa and Jerry opened and operated the Longhorn Restaurant in Lyman for several years. It served as a gathering place for the family and many regulars who felt like family.

Elsa enjoyed fishing, gardening, gambling, cooking, sewing, spending time with her grandchildren, and watching her favorite football team (the Denver Broncos)...and not necessarily in that order. Jerry and Elsa would go fishing together, which Elsa enjoyed, except for putting the worm on the hook, which Jerry so kindly would do for her. Elsa had an amazing green thumb, and it showed in her gardening and house plants. Her last trip gambling was for her 80th birthday when her grandchildren took her to Wendover. She won a jackpot and had so many memories to share of spending this time with her grandchildren.

There have been many memories shared with family of how caring and helpful she was to her boss and coworkers. Elsa was an amazing true friend and hard worker. She helped co-workers learn English and taught them how to be independent.

Elsa is survived by two of her three children; Flora "Shelley" Lopez of Lyman, Wyoming and Steven C (Lorely) Lopez Jr. of Hollister California; her brother Rodolfo "Rudy" (Gail) Hernandez; her sister Diana Bocanegra Derichsweiler; grandchildren, Bryant Lopez, Tyson Lopez, Felicia (Mark) Kampman, Stormie (Dan) Pena, Shianne Shepherd, Tracy (Chris) Culley, Tricia Schear and 5 great grandchildren, sister in laws Rosa Maria Bocanegra, and Baudelia Bocanegra.

Elsa is preceded in death by her husband of 19 years Jerry E Baum; her son John L Lopez; her mother Amada Hernandez Bocanegra; her father Jose Bocanegra; her brothers Manuel, Ramon, Reynaoldo and Jose Bocanegra Jr.; her sisters Delfina Bocanegra Penman and Rosa Bocanegra Gonzales and a granddaughter Stacie Rene, brother-in-law Bob Derchswiler, and 3 younger siblings.

There will be a viewing for family, on Wednesday September 23, 2026, from 6-8pm at Crandall Funeral Home in Evanston Wyoming.

A graveside funeral will be held at the Fort Bridger Cemetery at 1pm on Thursday September 24, 2026.