Park Elementary teacher’s death ruled a suicide

Park Elementary school teacher Beth Brunso’s Dec. 26 death has been ruled a suicide, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith confirmed.

Brunso, 48, reportedly ingested psychoactive drugs on Dec. 25, and she was pronounced dead the next day. She was from Albuquerque, and had been a Durango resident since 1992.

She is survived by her husband, Sven; son, Stowe and daughter, Aspen. She also is survived by her parents, David and Janice Munger, and her siblings, Brad Munger, Molly Harris, Mindy Harper, Max Munger as well as 11 nieces and nephews, all of Arizona.

A celebration of Brunso’s life will be held in Durango in the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Donor Alliance in Brunso’s name. Brunso was an organ donor.