Bruce graduated from Laramie High School in 1962 and the University of Wyoming in 1967. He spent two years in the Army before earning his MS in Counseling Psychology at Southern Illinois University September 1972. He then worked for two years in medium and maximum-security prisons of the Ohio Youth Commission. From July of 1974 through November 2002, he was a Child and Family Therapist at Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center. During that time he spent 14 years on the Sheridan county Child Protection Team.

Since February 3, 2004 he has been in private practice providing general practice mental health services as a member of the Cottonwood Clinic Family Medical Practice staff. He is also pursing the development of a private practice in personal and executive coaching.

Bruce is a Licensed Professional Counselor and as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is a certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors and its Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors. His memberships include the American Counseling Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Associations, North American Association of Masters In Psychology, and the Vietnam Veterans of America [Life Members].

He and his wife, Jo Lynn, have two adult children, Amy and Doug.