End of the Trail

When he was 15 years old, Jack left home to work in logging camps near Libby, which he did for two years before enlisting to serve in the Korean War. After five promotions in the space of a year, he became a sergeant at age 20. He was tasked with locating North Korean and Chinese troops in their mountain hideouts, a good fit for Jack, as he always had an eye for spotting people and game at a distance.

Upon his return from Korea, Jack married Mary Claire, his Butte sweetheart, and started college. Jack and Mary Claire opened their taxidermy business in 1955 and ran it for nearly three decades. A skilled taxidermist, Jack had an artist’s eye for preparing a beautiful trophy mount. Jack and Mary Claire’s three sons (Jack Jr., Keith and Brian) and daughter (Kristie) grew up with the business: the taxidermy shop was located just off of the house, and as teenagers they pitched in to help run it.

During the course of that business, Jack became well known among western outfitters, and began a booking and travel agency that specialized in matching hunters with high-quality outfitters in the eastern U.S. and Alaska, Canada, Africa, and Central Asia. He was an agent for many founding MOGA members, including Howard Copenhaver, Smoke Elser, Claude Saylor, Jack Wemple, Erv Malnarich, and many others. Jack himself especially loved to hunt elk and sheep, and he eventually started his own outfitting business.

In 1983, Jack sold the taxidermy business and the travel agency to concentrate on serving as a hunting consultant and outfitter around the world. In the course of his career, Jack became well acquainted with many of the prominent outdoor writers in North America. He penned two books of his own, Hunting Adventures Worldwide and Real Hunting & Campfire Humor: Short Stories from a Lifetime of Travel and Adventure. Jack once had a seat with the Dali Llama while hunting in Asia, and hunted with the Shah of Iran.

Jack was an active member of MOGA for many years, and served on the Board of Directors in the 1980s. A gifted public speaker generous with his time and money, Jack was especially proud of his work in promoting public access to 5.3 million acres of Montana State Trust Lands. He was instrumental to the 1984 passage of the Montana Stream Access Law, which opened up river access to millions of people in perpetuity.

In 2000, Jack received the Outdoor Life Conservation Award “in recognition of a lifetime of achievement in the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat, and [his] tireless efforts on behalf of hunting and fishing access for American sportsmen.” His work in conservation has also been honored by the National Wildlife Federation.

Jack passed away in Butte on December 27, 2017 at 85 years old. His sons, Jack Jr. and Keith, keep the Atcheson family legacy going by booking and outfitting hunts around the world.

Born October 27, 1935 in Joliet, Illinois, Bob entered his farming family and grew up with his parents, Helen (Gorenson) and George Henry Bovee and his sister, Nancy. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Patricia Werckle, and his grandson, Dan. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Donia, his children, Deborah Peyer (Ken), Guy Bovee, Glenn Bovee (Patty), Tami Wiltfang (Bruce), John Bovee, Kimberly Hawley (Tim), stepson John Hauser (Mary), and stepdaughter Mona Lovely (Mike), as well as his 23 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, his sister Nancy Johnson and his nephew, Brian.

Bob was involved in 4H and FFA as a youngster. He graduated from high school and took some college classes in Joliet. In 1955, his family bought land and moved to Wilmot, Wisconsin, where they continued to farm and raise cattle. Additionally, Bob became a big rig truck driver while he and Pat raised their family together until the mid 60’s. In 1978, Bob married his wife, Donia. Together, they fulfilled his quest to move West. Big Timber, Montana, became home when they bought an outfitting business from a local, based in the Gravelly Range near Cameron. The highlight of those years included cooking for the cowboys at their cattle roundup in exchange for use of the cow camp for hunters each fall. They had many happy years and clients from all over the world.

Eventually, they bought and ran Spring Creek Campground on the Boulder River where they created many memories for themselves and their guests, especially for children catching their first fish and visiting Reggie, their pet black bear. Following that, they opened Big Timber’s first drive through coffee shop which they ran until they retired. Bob served on the Chamber of Commerce and Yellowstone Country Boards and was involved with MOGA and Big Hearts Under the Big Sky.

For fun, Bob took part in Rendezvous Festivals as well as the Centennial Cattle Drive where he drove his teams of horses and wagons. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, four wheeling, and most outdoor activities. He and Donia traveled, oftentimes with grandkids in tow, and eventually spent some winters in Arizona in their motorhome.

From his first grandchild to his last, Bob was so proud of each of them and was truly enamored by every single one. He tenderly spoiled them with his love. Pops or Poppy, as his grandchildren called him, will be remembered for his sense of humor and jesting, his story telling (often highly embellished), his warm smile and his sparkling blue eyes. A Celebration of Life will be held at St Mark’s Church on Friday, February 18, 2022, at 2 pm.

In the beginning, the business needed serious work. Lee was short on packing experience, but long on enthusiasm for the task before him. He set out learning how to run pack strings through trial and error and ended up operating three backcountry camps in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. His children Josh and Heidi joined him on packing trips when they were 9 and 12 years old, and Josh always grumbled about returning to school in August. He wanted to be back in the woods with his dad. Lee’s legacy lives on in the determined work ethic shared by both Josh and Heidi.

Lee possessed a stubborn optimism that made him a force to be reckoned with. He didn’t like to say no, and he always found a way to get things done. Even the wildfires of ’88 didn’t stop him despite having to close his lodge, café, rental cabins and backcountry camps. He secured a loan through the Small Business Association and pulled through to start another season.

In the summers, he would offer trail rides and guided fishing trips as well as a shuttle service on the Gibson Reservoir. Outfitting and hospitality were Lee’s calling. Whether it was a 6-year-old boy landing his first fish, or a husband and wife team setting out on a remote backcountry adventure, he had a way of making his clients’ dreams his own.

Bungalow Mountain in the Bob Marshall Wildernes was one of Lee’s favorite spots, as it offered an expansive view of the area he ranged on horseback and foot. Another was the North Fork of the Sun River, where Lee liked to stalk elk, deer, and black bears.

A self-sufficient man skilled with his hands, Lee took pride in working for himself and kept many irons in the fire. He was always ready to lend a hand to neighbors who needed help with fix-it projects ranging from wiring to plumbing. He was 5-foot-10, but you’d swear he was 6-foot-6 when he left the room, such was the force of his bombastic personality.

Lee was always at the ready with a story. A salesman and people person at heart, he was known as a man who could sell ice to Eskimos. He was passionate about sharing his way of life with others and if he had his way, he wouldn’t have charged a dime to share his corner of paradise. Everyone was a friend. Sue recalls she couldn’t let him tend bar, or they’d never collect a dollar for a drink he poured.

Lee kept tabs on the Forest Service and was active in MOGA from the mid-80s to mid-90s. He saw MOGA as an organization vital to the success of its members’ businesses. For several years, he served as the Region 4 representative.

When Lee was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, the doctors gave him three months to live. Lee was so stubborn that he lived for another 10 years. In 2007, he lost his battle with cancer. The family outfitting legacy lives on in his son Josh and daughter-in-law Niki, who have taken over the lodge and outfitting business and run it expertly.

Glen attended school whenever it was offered and worked at whatever jobs were available as school allowed. He never knew the words “back up” or “quit.”

In 1937, Glen married Peggy Huston. Glen worked on the Fort Peck Dam construction before he and Peggy moved to the Big Hole Basin, where he spent days with a haying crew from Jordan and nights in a coalmine. Peg cooked for both crews.

In 1939, the Childers moved to the Brusett area in northwestern Garfield County and bought the start of 7-V Ranch for back taxes. Through the years, hard work paid off, enabling them to add to their ranch whenever property became available.

Glen and Peg started outfitting in 1951 to bring additional income to the ranch. They became the first outfitters in eastern Montana and built their first string of cabins in 1957, followed by a lodge and another cabin in 1960. In the following decades, the original cabins were replaced with new ones until Glen figured he had it right. Peg was an integral part of the business, ensuring that everyone was fed and taken care of in camp and making good hearty lunches for the field.

For a time, they also operated a summer business. They took guests fishing and sightseeing, and offered them the opportunity to experience a working ranch.

Glen belonged to the Eastern Montana Outfitters Association and the Montana Outfitters and Dudes Ranchers Association. In 1974, he became a member of the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association following the merging of several regional organizations.

Glen was a longtime Region 7 Director and also served as MOGA President for two years, spending a fair bit of time in Helena persuading legislators to support the outfitting industry’s goals.

In 1983, due to failing health, Glen turned the reins over to his son Ross, who’d been a part of the operation since he was 12, learning to guide under his father’s tutelage. Glen passed away in September of 1983, leaving a legacy that is ongoing with a third generation of Childers ready to take the reins when Ross passes on the torch that inspired Glen.

When Tom, who was the youngest of his family, was 15 years old, they moved to Montana where they homesteaded land near Choteau. Tom worked hard on the new homestead, helping his family “prove up” the land so they could earn ownership from the government.

None of Tom’s siblings had gone to college, so after Tom graduated from high school in Great Falls, it was decided that he should go to college. He attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois and graduated with an emphasis in biology and fine art. Later, he went to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

Tom earned the name Hobnail Tom after he twice climbed to the summit of Grand Teton, the iconic 13,750-foot mountain in Wyoming, using climbing boots with soles covered with hobnails.

After Tom married Eila Conel of Decatur, Illinois, he got a job as Superintendent of Schools in the town of Cerro Gordo, Illinois. He held the position from 1933 to 1944 when he moved to Montana fulltime. He’d gotten a contract to teach art and biology at Helena High School.

Tom started sketching at an early age. After dinner he would take an old wood crate with him, sit down on the ground with the crate as a desk, and practice drawing horses, people and small insects that got in the way. His passion for art and drawing burned strong all his life. Tom wrote many journals, yearly White Tail newsletters, and letters to guests and other friends, all richly illustrated with his sketches. He had a strong formal art and science education and taught both subjects in schools in Illinois and Montana. But mostly he taught hundreds of his guests along wilderness trails.

He was an excellent fly fisherman, as was his father D.C., who would almost rather fly fish than eat. In 1936, when his father was 78, Tom took him on a grand 160-mile pack trip into the best of Montana wilderness fishing. After riding most of the day, D.C. would break out his fishing gear. By the time Tom had set up camp and gotten the fire started, D.C. would return with a mess of trout for supper. If they came upon a tempting creek during their day’s journey, D.C. would cast a few lines from his saddle.

White Tail Ranch

In 1937, Tom bought land next to Moody and Elizabeth (Edwards) Copenhaver in the Blackfoot Valley near Ovando. Thus began the White Tail Ranch. It started with bare ground and an old pioneer cabin that had been dragged in with the Copenhaver steam engine. Later, a log lodge, guest cabins, barns and corrals were constructed. Each summer after school was out, Tom would drive his family (Eila and their son Pen) from Illinois to the ranch in Montana.

Over the years Tom took hundreds of guests from around the world on pack trips into the vast backcountry that extended from the ranch north to Glacier National Park. Summer trips included fishing and sightseeing. In the fall, guests would hunt deer, elk, bear, mountain sheep and mountain goat. The ranch had up to 75 head of riding stock and up to 50 head of packing mules along with all of the required tack.

Tom operated the ranch during the summer when he was teaching in Illinois and added weekend hunting trips to his plate once he started teaching in Helena. In 1954, he retired from teaching so he could run the ranch fulltime in the summer and fall.

Tom married Helen Fitzgerald in the mid 1950s and together they built the White Tail Ranch into a premier backcountry outfitting operation. Helen was a great cook and organizer both at the ranch and in the backcountry. In hunting camp she would stay in the cook tent and have a hearty meal ready for the hunters when they returned, earning her the name “Bear Bait Helen.” For several years Tom’s cousin Howard Copenhaver and Howard’s wife Margaret were partners in the operation and contributed to the growth and reputation of the ranch.

Tom was very well respected by fellow outfitters, government officials and guests alike for his unbridled love of the wilderness; knowledge of the area’s trails, flora and fauna; and passion for teaching, not to mention his propensity for telling tall tales.

Tom loved music and singing. He regularly took his mandolin on pack trips and there was always singing around the campfire after a long day on the trail. He delighted planeloads of people on long international flights by sitting in the aisle and strumming his mandolin. He would soon have all of the passengers singing.

The Scapegoat Wilderness and Tom’s contribution to MOGA

Tom was a leader in establishing the Scapegoat Wilderness and made several trips to Washington, D.C. to argue in favor of it before the U.S. Congress. It is the first citizen-created federal wilderness. The Forest Service honored his commitment to wild lands by naming the main southern gateway trail in the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wildernesses in Tom’s honor.

Tom was a longtime and very active member of and past president of Montana Outfitters. They were blessed with many individuals who worked at the ranch including MOGA members Jack and Karen Hooker, and Smoke and Thelma Elser.

By the time Tom was 71 years old, the years of wrangling horses at daybreak, making and breaking camp, shoeing stock and cooking camp meals were slowly adding up, so Tom and Helen sold their beloved White Tail to Jack Hooker in 1970 and retired.

What Hobnail never tired of was forking a horse or singing a song. He and Helen bought a little parcel of land on the North Fork and built a retirement home with a pasture for their horses. Tom would regularly ford the North Fork and ride to the top of Ovando Mountain.

Unfortunately, Helen died just as the home was being finished. Later Tom married Judy Nelson who had earlier worked at the White Tail Ranch. Tom and Judy lived on the North Fork until his death in July of 1975.

Starting at 8 years old, Leo spent summers at his grandmother Faber’s place on Box Elder Creek, where he played with his cousins and developed a love of trout fishing passed on by his special Uncle Joe. Down the road at Faber School, Leo attended Catechism classes, a religious education he would later carry on with his own children.

As a boy, Leo and his brother Lawrence often rode horses to class at Dog Creek School. He attended Big Sandy High and stayed in the dormitory. Leo graduated in 1947, the same year he met his future wife, Beverly Bull, at a country dance in Warrick. They started dating in 1948 and married on Sept. 9, 1950. After a short trip to Glacier National Park, they settled into their life together and started a family.

Their first son, Gene, was born in 1951. In 1953, the young family moved off the ranch while Leo worked for various Chevrolet dealerships in Big Sandy, Havre and Great Falls. Three more sons were born and another was on the way when Gene died of Leukemia in 1956.

In 1960, the growing family moved back to the ranch, where Leo worked hard putting up hay, feeding cattle, calving, fencing and building a new barn. Leo instilled in his children an appreciation for self-sufficiency and hard work. He was handy with a tool, raised and butchered beef, filled the woodshed with elk meat, caught many a trout, and tended to a large garden. Community members appreciated his down-to-earth practicality and sense of humor.

By 1966, Leo and Beverly had nine children, plenty to keep them busy, and a big help on the ranch. Leo loved to take all of the kids fishing, a tradition he carried on later with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed the occasional fishing trip alone to catch brook trout for supper.

Two years after his dad, brother and Leatrice moved to a newly purchased ranch near Cleveland, Montana, Leo and Beverly moved out and joined them. They purchased the ranch from the family partnership and put down roots.

Leo belonged to the Big Sandy Fire Department for years and was often the first responder on scene with his State Land fire engine and the last one to leave. For many years, the fire department crew came to the Faber ranch to cut down a large Christmas tree for the community of Big Sandy. “Leo Trees” from the ranch were also provided for all of the schoolrooms and Big Sandy’s Catholic church.

Leo and Bev started an outfitting business in 1988. Leo joined MOGA and served as the Region 4 director in the mid-90s. Hunters came from all over the U.S. for the opportunity to be guided by Leo, and many of them became lifelong friends. Later in life, Leo and Bev were able to travel themselves and took trips all around the U.S. and in Europe.

The Faber outfitting tradition continues with Leo’s son Chris, who hosts guests at Montana Outfitting Company on the same ranch first purchased by his grandfather.

Steve was raised in the Yaak River Valley, and spent his life in northwest Montana. Challenged by severe dyslexia, he became acquainted with his teachers at Libby High School by taking them hunting and fishing on weekends. They discovered a very bright young man behind a shy exterior.

When he graduated from high school in 1972, Steve began working for outfitter Lloyd West. He bought the business when Lloyd retired in the mid-70s, becoming the youngest outfitter in the Bob. Steve continued to expand the operation and was at one time the largest outfitter in the Bob Marshall while also operating Riverstone Lodge outside of the wilderness, and running other hunting operations in the Cabinet Mountains and in British Columbia.

Maintaining the lodge and outfitting business was a family affair. Steve’s wife, Kathy; brothers Mike and Rick; and children, Matthew, Heather and Megan all pitched in to help keep his large and far-flung operation running like a well-oiled machine. He sold his hunting business in the Bob Marshall in 2001, but continued his summer fishing and floating business on the South Fork for several more years. He also retained his hunting operations in the Cabinet Mountains.

Around the time he sold his Bob Marshall hunting business, Steve was introduced to working clay with his hands as a means of stress relief. He discovered that he could mold very lifelike animals. Thus, his second career was born. He knew nothing about the bronze business, but he had an art collector client who did. He threw himself into the creation and sale of his bronze sculptures. By the time he passed away in March of 2013, Steve had gained national recognition for his art. His works are displayed in public and private collections throughout the country. Kathy markets his work.

As Steve’s art career took off, he decided it was time to write about his outfitting years. The result was “When the West Was Wild,” published in 2011. His spellbinding tales and vivid descriptions are written just as if Steve were spinning a yarn across the kitchen table.

Steve met his final challenge, renal cancer, with his typical take charge attitude. He continued working on his book and his art creations. He sold the final piece of his outfitting business, staying on as an adviser.

Steve was awarded the Pioneer award by MOGA in 2012. He was also recognized by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks for his 17 years of service on the Region 1 Citizen Advisory Committee, and for his involvement with the Mountain Lion Working Group.

Steve passed away March 20, 2013. His obituary sums up his life well: “Life was an adventure for Steve, and he lived it with gusto.”

Jack was born in Hermiston, Oregon on November 19, 1930. At age 6 he worked with his uncle, LaVern learning to ride and break horses for surrounding ranchers. This started his passion for working with horses, which lasted his entire life. He would take a “troubled” horse and turn it into a companion. He was gifted by being a true “horse whisperer”.

On a rainy night, at age 13, Jack took a saddle horse and a pack horse and headed for Nevada, crossing the high desert of Oregon. He found work riding rough stock on the Printey Brothers Ranch. Jack made a name for himself quickly by his strong work ethic and integrity and his ability to ride most any horse. These traits allowed Jack to find work with ease as his reputation went out ahead of him.

In the late 1940s, Jack worked for Frank Morgan, running wild horses by horseback. After he learned to fly, he used an airplane to gather the wild horses off the mountains & desert. After a few wrecks with the airplane, to which he walked away from, Jack ended his short flying career.

In 1951, he joined the U.S. Army, after basic training he volunteered for combat in Korea. Spending 3 years overseas, a small stint driving tanks and then as a lineman on the DMZ and in Seoul keeping the power on for the troops.

In 1954, he came to Montana and started working for Tom and Helen Edwards and the White Tail Ranch. Tom taught him the outfitting business. Outfitting allowed for Jack’s love of horses. He developed his love for people, and his storytelling to flourish.

Jack was also involved in the rodeo circuits riding saddle broncs and when money was tight, riding bulls. In 1956, Jack won saddle bronc competition in Toppenish WA, Nevada State Championship and Calgary Stampede. Jack had multiple winning rides and earned many belt buckles. One which he lost in the desert while running wild horses. It was found and returned to him again 60 years later. One of the many incredible stories Jack was the main character of.

In 1959, he married Marilyn Mercedo who helped him in the running horses and the outfitting business. They bought a small outfit at Wallowa Lake, Joseph, Oregon. After 6 years of traveling in the Eagle Caps and acquiring over 260 head of stock for the Eagle Cap Pack Station, they decided to move back to Montana. In 1969, they bought the White Tail Ranch from Tom and Helen Edwards and were back in the “Bob” once again. Marilyn was in an unfortunate car accident resulting in her death on Jan. 17, 1972, leaving Jack and their three children.

In May 1972, Jack married Karen Geary. Karen was a wife, mother, and a business partner. The White Tail Ranch became the cornerstone of Jack’s family & business. Thousands of guests came from all over the world to enjoy the beauty and magic of the Wilderness under their care, guidance, and spell binding stories. Jack and Karen provided many years of adventures to hunters, campers, and nature lovers. Each guest as well as the many crew members that worked for Jack took some very special memories with them for the rest of their lives. In 1996, the guest ranch portion of White Tail Ranch was sold and WTR Outfitters moved down the road to the horse pasture and they continued Outfitting until 2010 selling the Outfitting portion, and Montana Mountain View Ranch was born. Jack Outfitted for 55 years in the Eagle Cap and Bob Marshall Wildernesses. He was regarded by many as a true Mountain Man. Karen’s love for nature and adventure helped support Jack through all his endeavors for over 50 years.

At age 46 and 47, Jack participated in the Alaskan Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (1049 miles, Anchorage to Nome). Jack came in 19th in 1976 and 9th in 1977. Jack had a magical way with animals, especially ones with four legs. Even in his later years he was able to take in strays and turn them into pets.

Jack will be missed by family, friends, and hundreds of people that were able to share in his love for the wilds of the back country. He will be remembered for his amazing true-life stories, and ability to connect to animals. Jack’s legend will be carried on in the memories of his many friends and the backs of the animals that cut a trail through the wilderness of Montana.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Evertt Lou Hooker and Mary Franklin Hooker, 2 Sisters, Mary Mace and Betty Cohenour

Jack is survived by his wife of 50 years, Karen, 3 children, Bill (Dena) Hooker, Sandra Brown (Leon), Jodie Hooker. Grandchildren, Mat (Sadie) Hooker, Andy Johnson (Cheyenne), Krystal Hooker, Rae Brown, Dale Malloy-Hooker. Great grandchildren Jacob & Macy Hooker, Bella, & Autumn Malloy-Hooker, Erykah & Elie Brown & Jace Keys. Brother Brian Hooker, from Priest Lake Idaho, sister Betty Magnus, Hayden, ID and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to:

Ovando Fire Dept. PO Box 29, Ovando, MT 59854

Ovando School, OSCEC, PO Box 176, Ovando, MT 59854

American Legion, Post 9, PO Box 234, Lincoln MT. 59639

When he was 20 years old, Dick enlisted in the Army and became a tank commander. He came home and packed mules, running several different camps in that wild stretch of country. He took great pride in his horses and mules and it showed through. He traveled the backcountry with a beautiful string of animals. Many men have been mentored with his knowledge of packing and working with a good mule, and much of what the Klicks accomplished on the K Bar L was carried out with the help of Dick’s pack strings. To turn the property into a guest ranch, the Klicks hauled in materials by boat and mule trains. They built a lodge, guest quarters, corrals, outbuildings and even a hot springs swimming pool.

Despite a heap of work, Dick found time to court Nancy McLean and they were married in Augusta in 1956. Three children were born: Kathy, Todd and Kelly.

Dick and Nancy raised black cattle in Simms while the kids went through school. They wore out the highway between Simms and the K Bar L keeping both places going. Dick and Nancy worked tirelessly, and with the help of their kids, nephews, and niece Jody, the K Bar L has become a legacy unequaled. Their son Todd is continuing the ranch in Simms.

In 1989, with all the kids married off, Dick and Nancy moved up to Castle Reef, west of Augusta. This was the perfect place: close to the K Bar L and close to the mountains. Dick had promised Nancy a beautiful log home and he delivered. At Castle Reef, they raised a beautiful elk herd and many good horses. They also kept yak, highlander cattle, miniature donkeys, and a buffalo or two.

Dick was a member of the Montana Outfitters & Guides Association, Montana Cowboys Association, Dude Rancher’s Association, Montana Angus Association, and American Quarter Horse Association.

He was a conservationist and spearheaded the continued preservation of the Sun River Game Preserve, a vast and rugged 200,000-acre piece of land northwest of Augusta. “I know we are famous for breaking treaties, but let’s keep the one we made in 1913 with the wildlife,” he told the Senate Fish and Game Committee in the early 1970s while arguing for the area’s protection.

If you were looking to visit with Dick, you could find him at rodeos, ranch rodeos, a good horse sale, watching his family at volleyball and basketball games, or at the bar having a glass of “Jack.” Most of the time, though, you would have to jump on your horse and you would find him at the ranch. He enjoyed a good visit, he loved a good joke, and he always had a nice shirt and a good-looking hat. He was very proud of his family and most of all, he loved his wife Nancy.

Working at the K Bar L with his parents, uncle, and older brother Ted was all Dick had ever known as a way to make a living. He accumulated 80 years of stories many only dream about and outfitted right up to the time of his death.

Dick passed away at his home on Castle Reef on September 20, 2014 and was buried on September 25, 2014 at the Augusta Cemetery.

The family sold the ranch in December of 2014, two months after Dick’s death. He had been at the forefront of selling the business and property previous to his accident.

His leadership, sense of humor and advice are greatly missed.

Michael graduated from the University of Minnesota-Crookston with a Wildlife Management degree. He returned to the family farm in Tracy and formed a partnership with his father and brother. He married his first wife Jean Olson on November 15th, 1975 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota and was blessed with the birth of Catherine (78) and Matthew (81). He married his second wife Julia Schmidt on July 31st, 2004 in Corvallis, Montana and loved her until his death.

Michael’s love for the great outdoors and the mountains was ignited by two trips he took as a young adult with high school friends. The first trip was a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness canoe portaging camping trip in Minnesota and the second was a trip to the western United States in the Rocky Mountains. His love for the mountains guided his path in life with Montana always having a strong hold on where he found his peace. The lure of the west brought his family to Montana, first to White Sulphur Springs, Bozeman, Corvallis, and finally to Stevensville, Montana where he was a sawyer, youth coach, hunting guide, owner of an outfitters guide school, and a ranch hand at Bitterroot Spring ranch for 18 years.

After attending Elm Outfitters and Guides Training Program he went on to become a guide for White Cloud Outfitters in Challis, Idaho. He spent 11 years in his element guiding hunters in Idaho and later became the owner/director of Elm Outfitters and Guides Training Program. He enjoyed assisting students with finding hunting guide jobs all over the Rockies. He always said, “if you do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life”. Michael was a very giving man, especially within his church, serving on the Living Savior Church council as an elder to the congregation, loving his church family, and planning and setting up retreats in nature.

The morning of January 21st, 2024, Michael settled into the saddle and began his final journey, that evening he dropped his reins to the ground, stepped out the stirrups, and into the arms of his savior. Michael leaves behind his wife Julia of Stevensville, Montana, daughter Catherine Talks of Waconia, Minnesota, son Matthew and grandson Callan of Salmon, Idaho, his brothers Steven (JoAnne) of Tracy, Minnesota, Charles (Paula) of Howard Lake, Minnesota, and David (Kristen) of Tracy, Minnesota. Michael was proceeded in death by his father Robert, mother Viola, grandparents Earl and Ruth Knott and John and Elma Johnson, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

FUNERAL SERVICE

Saturday February 17, 2024 11:00 AM Living Savior Lutheran Church 4616 Gharrett Ave. Missoula, MT

The younger Joe, who was the eldest of his siblings, possessed fortitude and a particular strength of will from a young age. When he was just 14 years old, he loaded up his parents, three sisters and baby brother, and relocated them to the west side of the Continental Divide with the help of a wagon and team. Family lore goes that Joe was concerned the family would starve if they didn’t move, so they made their way over the Mission Mountains to start a life in the Blackfoot Valley.

The Murphys settled southeast of Ovando near Brown’s Lake. They remained there for a number of years and lived east of the epicenter of the Great Fire of 1910. Joe worked for the Forest Service that summer, fighting the immense collection of blazes that burned an estimated 3 million acres in western Montana and Idaho. The story goes that the sky was so dark with smoke in the middle of the day that the cows would come into the barn to be milked at noon, thinking it was evening.

Joe was known for being his own man and an independent thinker. In 1911 he became a packer and guide in the Bob Marshall, one of its very first. The name of his outfitting business was “Joseph B. Murphy”; later it would become “Joseph B. Murphy & Sons.”

In March of 1918, Joe married Mattie, a 19-year-old woman who was born in Ovando. Between 1919 and 1935, the couple had three boys (Harold, Thomas and Robert) and two girls (Mary and Janie). Having left the Brown’s Lake Homestead, Joe and Mattie were living in a remote and forested area between Lincoln and Ovando they called “The Timbers.”

In the mid 1920s, Joe decided it was time to leave their tucked-away home. As his youngest daughter Janie recalls, he wanted his children to have more interaction with others. “He said, ‘These children will know nothing but trees! They’ve never seen any other children. They need to spend time with something other than wild animals.’”

The Murphys relocated to Ovando, to what would become the family’s home base, Murphy Ranch. During the summer and fall, Mattie would oversee the ranch operation while Joe led pack trips into the Bob Marshall. Murphy Flats, located at the confluence of the White River and the South Fork of the Flathead River, is named after Joe. Starting from a very young age, Joe’s sons would accompany him on these trips, and they all had a hand in the family business. Joe’s great-nephew Ted Murphy believes Joe dearly loved Murphy Flats and thought of it as his wilderness home.

Dating back to pre-WWII, Joe led large groups of people from all over the U.S. into the Bob Marshall. These groups of up to 40 people would sometimes cover two dozen miles in a day and were booked through the American Forestry Association, an organization that made arrangements for “those who would scorn the beaten path for the adventure of exploring little known trails on horse and foot.” The idea was that any man or woman with an average amount of outdoor experience could affordably tour different National Forests and National Parks around the West.

A 1956 Trail Riders of the Wilderness brochure describes the setting of these trips led by Murphy & Sons as a “domain of lofty mountains, dramatic in their boldness … softened by green, virgin forests and luxuriant flowered valleys.” During their trip, they would visit places like the Camp Creek Fire Lookout and the China Wall as they completed a loop that included Holland Lake, Monture, Ovando and of course, Murphy Flats.

Starting in her late teens and for a period of about 12 years, Janie spent three months of every summer cooking for these groups. A common meal might include a buffalo roast and potatoes for supper followed by a homemade pie for dessert. Janie recalls being impressed by the area’s variety of geology and abundance of wildlife; they would see 200 head of elk on any given day. Growing up, she enjoyed sharing meals with interesting people from all over the country. Well-traveled business executives like the vice president of Caterpillar became longtime family friends.

While Joe was leading summer pack trips and fall hunting trips, his wife Mattie oversaw the ranch operation, which included bison as well as cattle. At one time the Murphys had about three dozen head of bison, but they tended to pose problems when they wandered away during calving season, sometimes interfering with traffic on Highway 200. In the late 1950s, after a call from a distraught trucker waylaid by the massive animals, Joe sold the whole herd to a restaurant in Minneapolis.

Joe had a humble homestead in North Fork of the Flathead River before parts of the Bob Marshall were designated National Forest Primitive Areas in the 1930s, a precursor to its 1940 designation as the Bob Marshall Wilderness by Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace.

A 1967 document titled “The Flathead Story” that was completed under the direction of the Forest Supervisor of the Flathead National Forest noted that “Murphy’s outfit is perhaps the largest and best that has used the Bob Marshall Wilderness for any length of time,” high praise for an area so rich with outfitting history. It goes on to note that at that time Joe had personally used that area for 45 continuous years. He would have been 77 years old.

Joe passed away in 1972. His sons continued running the outfitting operation until 1985. Joe’s grandson, Ted Murphy, has carried on the tradition. In 2014, he purchased the White Tail Ranch from Tom and Melanie Parker. He keeps the area’s history, and his own family’s history, alive with an annual pack trip he calls the “Murphy History Trip.” The White Tail Ranch’s history is deep as well: it includes 40 years of ownership by MOGA members Jack and Karen Hooker, as well as Bob Marshall Wilderness legend “Hobnail Tom” Edwards before them.

Duane was elected president of MOGA early and remained a member of its Board of Directors for many years. His deep, melodious voice and slowly spoken, and often humorous, words guided many a contentious discussion to a positive and sensible resolution.

After serving in the Air Force during the late 1950s, Duane and the love of his life, Ruth (Hyatt) Neal moved to Montana in 1962. They first landed in White Sulphur Springs and worked on a ranch there until they bought their own ranch in Paradise Valley, where they ran cattle, danced, played cards, and raised a family.

In 1968, Duane and Ruth bought Black Otter Guide Service. As they developed that business, they downsized their ranching interests. They guided summer trips and fall hunts up Grizzly Creek in the backcountry of the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains and in the Gallatin Range’s Big Creek drainage. They also operated summer trips out of Cooke City for several years, as well as in Lake Plateau country and Yellowstone National Park.

Daughters Shelly, Shawna, and Sonya were raised to work at their parents’ side. Duane once commented that the best guides he could hire would be his own daughters. When grandchildren came along, they became part of the outfit as well.

Duane was an excellent horseman and really loved his mules. It was said that “he could pack anything with hair on it.” He decided to dictate his memoirs on tape while he was alone leading pack strings in the hills, and he’d frequently punctuate these recordings with “Whoa, dammit!” as he tended to the real work at hand. Guests and crew alike benefited from Duane’s exceptional knowledge about the plants, birds and wildlife in his world.

A high point of Duane’s involvement with MOGA was a 1981 trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby against the “bid prospectus” proposed by the Forest Service. This effort was successful. Duane and Ruth hardly ever missed a MOGA convention, and Duane received the Pioneer Award from MOGA in 2006.

Duane is succeeded as “Head Gahoona” at Black Otter Guide Service by Gary Francis. Ruth and Duane’s daughters and grandchildren are still very much a part of the business, as is Ruth herself. Duane passed away peacefully at home September 20, 2016.

Gwen Petersen was born Gwendolyn Alice Norton, a lovely British girl, in Decatur, Illinois February 21, 1928. Her parents were Joseph Ingram Lyle Norton, and Mildred Mills Norton. She had four siblings: Dorothy (Jean), Tom, Harry and Janet; she and her younger brother Tom would keep in close contact her entire life.

Gwen always loved the idea of ranching and boarded the train to Montana as a young woman. When she arrived in Livingston, she knew she was home. She worked there as a telephone operator, and then went on to graduate as an occupational therapist at college in Puget Sound. Moving back to Montana, she worked with the patients at Warm Springs and wrote plays for them.

Gwen came to Big Timber and met Martin Petersen, a local ranch hand. She said it was love at first sight, on his part! They were married in 1970. Gwen was always joking and making people laugh. She and Martin raised pigs, sheep, cattle, dogs, and cats. Gwen loved her horses, and rode in the Montana Cattle Drive. After Martin died, she stayed in her country home with her cats, dog Bailout, and miniature horses. Gwen thrived on writing and producing, and her first book The Ranch Women’s Manual, copyrighted 1976, has been reprinted several times. From The Greenhorn’s Guide to the Woolly West to Everything I Know about Life I Learned from my Horse, to How to Shovel Manure, A Tall Bush, Gwen has been the leading voice on life lessons for country women. She is known for her hilarious viewpoints and was featured in the very first National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko Nevada, followed by an appearance on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.

Gwen join the MOGA Big Hearts Family in 2013 when she hosted the first Whoop up Fundraiser to benefit service men and women in Montana. The first of four events to follow, featured Baxter Black Wylie Gustafson and a host of other artists from around the area. Her dear friend and fellow poet and song writer, Sandy Sallee was always there to support Gwen’s vision and generosity. Gwen led multiple fundraising events that supported the Big Hearts under the Big Sky mission and proceeds allowed several military families to enjoy the benefits of a Big Hearts trip experience. Big Hearts and Gwen Petersen will forever fit in the same thought and her role in the MOGA/Big Hearts program will never be forgotten.

Gwen was always a force of nature. She said it wasn’t that she was a leader it’s just that you can’t stop her! She enjoyed hilarious fiascos and was always a dauntless advocate of Women of the West. Gwen loved horses and her Cowgal Pals and celebrated the trials and tribulations of living in Montana. Though she spent the last couple years at Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber, her mind was always working, and she wrote limericks for the nurses every day. Gwen often said, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” Her last book was going to be “Closing the Gate”.

Gwen Petersen got pneumonia and closed the gate February 16, 2022, with several friends by her side. Gwen will have a small service of remembrance on her birthday Monday, February 21, at Stenberg Funeral Home from 11:30-12:30. This will be followed by a procession to graveside at Mountain View Cemetery. Please come join her Celebration of Life at 2:00 at her favorite watering hole, the Grand Hotel in Big Timber. Bring a story or read a poem from one of Gwen’s many books. Celebrate Gwen’s life in Rhyme and Meter and Rollicking Fun. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Big Timber Carnegie Library in Gwen’s name. Her pallbearers are her long-time friends Elaine and Lawrence Allestad, Sandy and Scott Sallee, Jimmy Conley, and Cathy Henry. Gwen will be laid to rest next to Martin.

A fourth-generation Montanan, C.B. demonstrated a love of horses and the heritage they represent from an early age. He learned to drive team and ride horses as soon as he could walk. He even broke his pet dog and sheep to drive as a team on a little buckboard wagon his Grandpa Frank built.

His parents Clarence Gallatin Rich and Anna Margaurite Barron Rich called him “Bud” and knew him as a man with a strong shoulder and tender heart who often surprised those he loved with a bouquet of “wild flowers.”

Helen Betty, a third-generation Montanan, was born in Columbus to Gertrude Harris Calhoun and John Clarence Calhoun on June 3, 1921. As a freshman at Columbus High School, Helen met and started dating a handsome senior “country boy,” C.B., who became her partner and soul mate for the next 60 years.

C.B. pursued a degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University in Bozeman while Helen finished high school. He spent summers packing into the Beartooth Mountains for the Bureau of Mines and taught dance for spare money during the school year. In later years, he would pass on those skills to the small feet of his children and grandchildren. Watching C.B. and Helen dance was truly something to behold. They found true joy and love in one another’s arms.

After graduating from Columbus High School, Helen went on to pursue further education in Billings, where she became a registered nurse. Throughout her life, she gave healing of the heart as well as the body to anyone who came to her in need of it.

C.B. and Helen married at the Rich Ranch homestead on September 3, 1942. Shortly thereafter C.B. was deployed to Europe to serve in World War II with the Army Air Corps; what followed is a lesson in faith and love.

As an Air Observer Navigator First Lieutenant, C.B. led 12 successful bombing raids over France and Germany, including the D-Day Invasion. On his 13th raid, C.B.’s B-24 bomber was shot down over enemy-occupied territory. He was reported missing in action on June 23, 1944.

Of the 11 soldiers on the plane, five were killed and five were captured. C.B. evaded capture by wading into a muddy swamp. German dogs could smell him in the swamp but didn’t follow after him. Thus began his journey to American lines and back home, to Helen.

Though no one had received word of C.B.’s fate, when there was a knock on the door on September 3, 1944, Helen swore it was from him. She said he wouldn’t forget their special day, their second wedding anniversary. At the door was a telegram telling her that C.B. was alive after spending 60 days hiding and traveling through the French Underground.

C.B. was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal and Walking Boot for his service, and is a member of the Caterpillar Club, meaning he successfully used a parachute to bail out of a disabled aircraft. He finished out his military duty in Great Falls, where Marry Anna, the first of the Rich’s five children, was born.

In 1945, C.B. and Helen returned to the Stillwater Valley and purchased the original Rich Family Ranch. They settled in to raise a family, crops and cattle. Mary Anna was joined by siblings Betty, Peggy, Sharon and Jack. Helen always said spring was her favorite time of year on the ranch, as it was the best time to witness the rebirth of animals, crops, faith and the human spirit.

Back in the mountains he loved, cattle and roping became C.B.’s life. He also broke and shoed horses and ran a fine pack string, skills he’d learned earlier in life. Along with raising a family and all that ranch life entailed, Helen was Dean’s postmistress and enjoyed frequent visits from her extended family in Columbus.

Following the growth of their family, C.B. and Helen decided to buy a guest ranch. In 1958, they purchased the Double Arrow in Seeley Lake, where they began sharing the beauty of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Leota Park.

Helen put her nursing skills to work at the Well Child clinics and started a volunteer ambulance service to Missoula. She and C.B. also spent many days lobbying state and local governments to allow a high school to be built in Seeley Lake, further deepening their shared commitment to education. They were so proud when the school doors finally opened in 1964. That same year, Helen began her tenure as a substitute teacher, a role she took on with enthusiasm through the remainder of her life. She was not only a teacher, but a counselor, mother, grandmother and “Nonie” who offered guidance and inspiration to countless students and others who passed through the halls of Seeley-Swan.

In 1964, C.B. was a proud member of the Montana Centennial Train. He pulled his stagecoach with a four-horse hitch of matched pintos. He hauled the Governor and Miss Montana on the parade routes and even delivered the pitcher to the pitcher’s mound in New York’s Yankee Stadium.

Although they remained involved for another 28 years, the sale of the Double Arrow in 1966 left C.B. to concentrate on outfitting and later, real estate. He earned people’s trust with his honesty and his philosophy that a man’s handshake is his word.

C.B. served as the president for the Montana Outfitter and Guide’s Association, and even travelled to Washington D.C., to meet with the Forest Service representatives about the fate of outfitting and wilderness.

Whether at home, at the lodge, or on a pack trip in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Helen developed a reputation as a talented cook who could fix a meal for many out of what seemed to be nothing at all. She never turned anyone away from a seat at the table, and her recipes were always asked for but hard to repeat.

C.B. had a gift for poetry and a talent for illuminating his experiences through prose. He shared it in two published books, something his family is forever grateful for.

C.B. slowed down some in his final years, but he was happy to be back in the saddle again when he took his black and white paint “Teton” on a pack trip at age 77. He stopped once more in Leota Park with his family and lifelong friend Milt, who’d been with him on that B-52 as his bombardier so many decades before.

On Oct. 12, 1996, God called home one of his best. A memorial service for C.B. Rich was held in Seeley Lake on Oct. 19 and he was buried alongside his parents at the Mountain View Cemetery in Columbus on Oct. 21.

After waiting patiently for her since that time, C.B. was reunited with Helen on June 16, 2005.

Jim was born May 11th, 1955 in Quincy, Illinois to Mark and Leanne Schell. He moved west at the age of 17 where he drove stage coaches for the Rosevelt and worked at cattle ranches like the Matador, Snowcrest, and Padlock to name a few. He partnered on his first outfitting business in 1980, taking big game hunters in southwest Montana. In 1986, he started his own outfitting business “Lone Willow Creek Guide Service”. He facilitated and guided the hunting of elk, deer, antelope and black bear in the Castle Mountains and the Gallatin Range. Jim also took fisherman on guided drift boat trips down the Yellowstone, Gallatin and Madison rivers to name a few. He outfitted big game hunters up until 2020 and continued to take fisherman down the river through 2024.

Jim was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend who embodied the very essence of love, kindness, unwavering support and humor. He was dedicated to spending time with loved ones no matter the distance. He had a knack at recounting his past years of ranching, outfitting and a wide range of adventures he had through his enthusiasm of the outdoors.

He leaves behind cherished memories and a profound impact on the lives of all who know him. He was always young at heart and most children were drawn to his fun-loving personality. He was a loyal comrade and mentor.

Jim passed away peacefully in his home. He loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and looked forward to eternity with Him.

Jim is survived by his brothers Jeff (Missy) of Branford, CT; Scott (Debbie) of Quincy, IL; Chris of Liberty, IL, nieces and nephews; Megan (Jeromy) Hudson of Bremerton, WA; Jake (Gina) Schell of Branford, CT; Matt (Miranda) Schell of Branford, CT; Eric Schell of Quincy, IL; David Schell of Quincy, IL; Stacy of Indianapolis, IN; Dustin (Holly) Schell of Liberty, IL; Andrea (Andrew) Bardwell of Augusta, MT; Mark (Sky Rose) Schell of Clyde Park, MT; 11 Great nieces/nephews & numerous friends.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Mark and Leanne Schell; his nephew Adam Schell and great niece, Grace Schell.

A celebration of life is scheduled for March 29th from 1:00pm through 3:00pm at the Emigrant event center in Emigrant, MT. Condolences can be sent to P.O. Box 114 Clyde Park, MT 59018.

The two would be inseparable from that time on over the next 47 years. Rich was a member of the Sussex Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for ten years. He played on several baseball leagues in the Sussex area. Sue and Rich were married on August 22, 1981 and were blessed with two son’s: Daniel (Kathy Chen) and Jeffrey. Later years they had the joy of adding a daughter Brittany to complete their family. From there four grandchildren would become the most important thing in their lives, Alessandra (Davis), Grayson (Davis), Abraham and Max (Schneider Chen).

Rich coached kids in football, baseball and hockey while living in Phillips, WI and even coached several years after his own children were grown. He worked as a machinist tool and die maker and opened an archery store in Prentice WI for several years. Hunting and fishing were his passions and he spent lots of time with Sue doing just that. In 2012 along with Eric Wilund they began J&J Guide Service, Living the Dream Outdoors LLC in Ekalaka, Montana. From there the business would grow to four camps throughout Montana. It was that passion, his genuine love of what he was doing and his wanting all the hunters to feel like they were at home that helped that business become successful. Rich judged the success by the lifelong friendships he made while guiding the hunters. These friends have become more like family. And he always wanted the ranchers he worked with to know how very special and important they were to us and that it was a privilege to use their land. This all could not have been done without some amazing guides.

It was the adventures with family and friends that were most important to Rich. Along with his friends they were the “Tiddly Wink Champions!” He spent wonderful days hunting in Iola, and Park Falls with his father and friends. Rich and Sue along with all their children spent time in Hawaii. And they had a trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. And the special memorable people, family that we spent time were among the best days, Marjorie (Schlei), Lynn (Craig) Wallace, Tom (Heidi) Schlei, Howard (Robin) Schlei, Edith (Bill) Schwartz), Mark (Vlad) Schlei, Lynn & Cindi Heemeyer, Jeff and Jeannette Spotts.

Rich was bigger than life, he was funny, caring, generous, the first one to help. He was a favorite Uncle. Along with Sue they were Mr. and Mrs. Santa for the nursing home, day care and visited elderly residents. He was the silly PopPop who would dress up at a bakery to surprise his grandkids, or surprise them with pizza as a delivery man. He was ready to play games and read stories. Snuggling with his grandchildren was his favorite thing to do. After seeing a play and lunch with his little grandson’s Rich went to a favorite spot that he had hunted since he was a child in Iola, WI to begin a few days of hunting. It was there he passed away peacefully on Friday, October 25, 2024 with a view of the woods and heavens that he Loved.

As a child, he enjoyed hiking on the family ranch, gardening, looking for arrowheads, reading, and cracking jokes. He also cherished his two sisters and his beloved childhood dog, Fritz. Rob first became an uncle in high school, where his love for his niece and nephew was an insight to the wonderful father he would become. He met the future love of his life when he was five years old and she was just two. They were high school sweethearts and married on June 15, 1996. He graduated as Valedictorian from Gardiner High School in 1990. He was an amazing high school athlete, holding 5 school track records at one time. He attended Montana State University on an academic scholarship and was a sprinter on the track team. He formed deep friendships with his fellow teammates and remained close through the years.

While attending MSU, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and pursued his Master’s in Soil Science. Rob worked for the Yellowstone National Park Service as a Landscape Architect for 24 years. He and his wife also own Wilderness Connection Outfitters, where they host guided hunts, horseback rides, and vacation rentals on the family ranch. It was his life’s dream to be able to raise his sons on the same ranch that his great grandfather homesteaded in 1900. He and his wife spent many years restoring the original ranch buildings, ensuring that the history of the ranch could be shared with others.

Rob and Stacy welcomed four sons; Bryson, Luke, Tyler, and Joel. Rob was so proud of his boys and never missed an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with them or cheer them on and support them in all of their endeavors. Rob was devoted to the youth of the community with his involvement as a 4-H leader, and a high school track and basketball coach. He was a member of the Gardiner Community Church and had a heart for service. He enjoyed chaperoning mission trips with the youth to help repair homes in underprivileged communities.

He was never one to complain that he was dealt a bad hand in life; when he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 39, his faith and positive attitude were an inspiration to others. Rob also had an adventurous spirit and loved making memories with his family through the many worldly travels that they were able to enjoy together. He loved to swing dance, and took every opportunity to dance with his wife, or his “bride” as he always lovingly introduced her as. Rob’s quick wit, humor, and smile were contagious, even until the very end.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Stacy (Ballagh); his children, Bryson (Chloe) Stermitz, Luke Stermitz, Tyler Stermitz, Joel Stermitz; his mother Lorayne Stermitz; his sisters Sharon (Llane) Carroll and Kara Stermitz; and 13 nieces and nephews. Rob was preceded in death by his father, James Stermitz.

Art loved his sheep hunting; he was one of the few outfitters who completed his own North American Wild Sheep Grand Slam. He guided sheep hunts in the Spanish Peaks and in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains. He also guided quality big game hunts in several Montana locations.

Art served several years on MOGA’s Board of Directors during the mid-80s. He represented Montana on the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (now the Wild Sheep Foundation) Outfitter Advisory Board. Art thoroughly enjoyed visiting with people and sharing hunting and cowboy stories. He could play a fine tune on the fiddle and harmonica, and he loved to yodel. He and his wife Tracy enjoyed dancing at MOGA conventions.

Art sold his A-B sheep hunting business to Lee Hart, and his Spanish Peaks operation to Merritt Pride. He passed away March 3, 2009, at the age of 83.

On August 9, 1941, Gene married Martha Foster, a kind and fun-loving native of Gilman whom he met in Augusta. They exchanged vows in Fort Benton and made a great team, going on to run an outfitting business in the Blackfoot Valley for four decades. They had a warm but teasing rapport fueled by their witty exchanges. They had one son (Gene F.) and two daughters (Marty and Becky).

Gene got his start outfitting when he was about 18 years old. He would pack supplies into sheepherders working for the Carmichael Ranch in the Bob Marshall. He fell in love with the area and continued working there until he served in WWII, where he trained pack artillery units.

Immediately following the war, Gene picked up outfitting again. He became a shoe master, harness master and pack master. Gene and Martha moved to Lincoln, where they ran the D Bar A Ranch and led trips into the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat, a business they kept up for 39 years until they retired in 1985. Their main camps were located up Basin Creek, not far from the Continental Divide, and along the Middle Fork of Landers River. Crow Ridge and Red Ridge along the headwater of the Landers River were among his favorite spots.

Gene was never without a story to tell and was always willing to help out people or animals in need of assistance. He once helped a hunting party comprised of surgeons with an “emergency” hemorrhoidectomy. Another time, he expertly stitched together an injured horse. It took dozens of stitches, but she recovered nicely. He had a particular talent for matching trail riders with stock to match their temperament.

Martha was a lifelong learner who especially enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know local youth through clubs like 4-H and Girl Scouts. Her interests were diverse: She taught herself how to play guitar, became quite the computer geek late in life, and was a lifelong basketball fan. She also enjoyed oil painting, woodcarving and fiber arts like quilting, knitting and sewing. She was recognized as one of the Lincoln Lady Loggers in 1992.

Both Gene and Martha were skilled with horses, and they found a warm and welcoming community through them. Martha was a founding member of the Purple Sage Riders, a riders’ drill team, and Gene was a charter member of the Lincoln Rodeo Club.

Gene was also a founding member of the Montana Outfitter and Guides Association, and he remained active in the organization through up until he quit outfitting in 1985. He was renowned for being quite the teller of tales, many of them quite humorous.

Gene passed away at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Fort Harrison, Montana on June 10, 1995. Martha passed away on July 1, 2003.