202001

The colorful pageantry of the Old Westcame alive when 15 North Dakota CowboyHall of Fame inductees were honored Aug.4, 2001, at Tjaden Terrace, Medora.Despite the extreme heat, recollections ofnotable rodeo cowboys, struggles and tri-umphs of ranching pioneers and a spiritedsalute to the Sanish Rodeo combined tocreate an impressive representation of howthe NDCHF is proceeding from a dream offew to reality for many.

This year ’shonorees includ-ed: Rodeo -Elmer J. Clark,G e o r g eD e f e n d e r ,Wilfred “Sonny”Ehr Jr., DelvinReich, RodeoProducers andLivestock - JohnStevenson andOld Fitzgerald;Ranching - JayN. Grantier,

Andrew Voigt, Frank Kubik Jr. andTowner ’s Eaton Ranch; Leaders ofRanching and Rodeo - George M.Christensen, DVM and Earl Northrop;Special Achievement- Sanish Rodeo;Arts & Entertainment - Frank BennettFiske; and Great Westerner - Sakakawea.For complete inductee biographies see theAugust Cowboy Chronicle Extraor contactthe NDCHF to receive a copy. (For 2002nomination information see page 2.)

• Hall Highlights ••If you wish to suggest aNDCHF Hall of Honor nomi-nee contact a local Trustee.Deadline for 2002 nomina-tions is Jan. 21. See page 2.

•Don’t miss Medora’sCowboy Christmas, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. Call 701-623-4910 formore information.

•The NDCHF is seekingNorth Dakota RodeoAssociation newsletters from1970-82 and ProRodeoSports News Year-EndEditions from the 1980s. CallNDCHF President Phil Bairdat 701-663-2252.

•The seventh NDCHF AnnualMeeting and Banquet isscheduled for Feb. 22-23 atthe Seven Seas, Mandan.Call 701-663-7401 or 800-597-7327 for banquet ticketsor room reservations. Specifyyour aff i l iation with theNDCHF to receive the spe-cial rate.

• Inside •

Texas Cattle DriveProfiling Robert Wilcox and A.N.Jeffries................................3

Now and ThenFeaturing five-time PRCABadlands Circuit championMonty Carson and ranchers andhistory enthusiasts Sheila andDave Robinson.......................4-5

Livestock Donation ProgramNDCHF benefits from sales.....12

The Cowboy ChronicleVol. 6, No. 2 • Fall/Winter 2001 • Published bi-annually by the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Building Fund Receives Boost

Reflections from the Fourth NDCHF Induction

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees and representatives gatheredfollowing the ceremony held Aug. 4, 2001, in Medora. An impressive list of15 inductees typifies how the NDCHF is moving from a dream to reality.

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame fund-raising efforts received a major boost whenNDCHF officials were notified that a$750,000-grant has tentative approval.NDCHF Executive Director DarrellDorgan calls the potential grant “fantasticnews,” and adds, “If we can raise themoney to match this grant, constructionshould begin in Medora in September2002.”

Five local governments, businesses andindividuals, who are determined to seeconstruction begin next fall, recently mademajor financial commitments to theNDCHF Building Fund: the Bill ingsCounty Commission and the Medora CityCommission, both of Medora; Ed & ToniKing, Dickinson; Stockmen’s LivestockExchange, Dickinson; and BP Amoco,Mandan.

•The Billings County Commission com-mitted $250,000. In expressing the coun-ty’s support, Commissioner Wes Schuhrke,says, “If the Cowboy Hall of Fame is goingto get off the ground they need somematching funds. Somebody has to take adip so others will get in line and help.” Headds, “We figure this might help create anextra job or two in the community plus getsomething good going in southwesternNorth Dakota. We made a commitment andhope other people get on the band wagonto support it.”•The Medora City Commission pledged$100,000. Mayor Olie Golberg, Medora,says, “They (commissioners) have made averbal commitment, but there’s ground-work to be finished on how to do it. Detailswill be worked out in November and(Continued on page 12.)

• The Cowboy Chronicle • Fall/Winter 2001

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Executive Director..............Darrell Dorgan

Board of DirectorsPresident.......................Phil Baird, MandanVice President............Robert Tibor, HebronSecretary............Russ Danielson, Harwood

Board MembersKaye Burian............................ManningVirginia Eck............................BismarckLaura Griffin.............................MedoraRay Morrell..................................MinotRobyn Nelson........................PembinaEvelyn Neuens......................BismarckWalter Piehl, Jr.............................MinotWinston Satran......................BismarckWillard Schnell.......................DickinsonArlen Sommers....................Valley City

Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Representative:

Randy Hatzenbuhler.................MedoraState Historical Society Representative:

John Von Rueden...................Bismarck

The Cowboy ChronicleOfficial publication of the

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Editor.....Colette Knutson Gjermundson

Advisory Committee:Jeri L. Dobrowski

Ray MorrellWillard Schnell

Robert Tibor

Send Letters, Address Changes,Memberships and Contributions to:

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame1110 College Drive, Suite 212

Bismarck, North Dakota 58501Phone: 701-250-1833

Nominations Soughtfor Hall of Honorees

it from the

oardB

B

On behalf of theNorth Dakota

Cowboy Hall ofFame, its members

and supporters, theNDCHF

Board of Directorssalutes America,those who havegiven their lives,and those who

dedicate their livesto protecting our strong heritage,moral values

and hard-won freedom.

Nomination deadline for 2002 NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame inducteecandidates is Jan. 21, 2002. Anyonewishing to suggest a nominee shouldcontact a local NDCHF Trustee.

Nomination categories and the poten-tial number of inductees for 2002include: •Leaders of Rodeo and Ranching (1)•Pre-1940 Ranching (2)•Contemporary Ranching (1)•Ranches (1)•Pre-1940 Rodeo (2)•Contemporary Rodeo (1)•Rodeo Livestock (1)For specific information on category

criteria and local Trustees, please callthe NDCHF office at 701-250-1833.

Thus far, 47 individuals and eventshave been inducted into the NDCHFHall of Honorees. Beginning in 2002through ‘10, a rotation developed bythe NDCHF Board of Directors speci-fies that some categories will onlyaccept nominees and have potentialinductees in specific years. For exam-ple, categories not represented in 2002will be represented in 2003 or ‘04.Also, individuals nominated but notselected for induction in 2002 are eligi-ble for nomination in subsequent years.

Ballots will be mailed to Trustees inlate spring and inductees will beannounced in July. The 2002 inductionis scheduled for Aug. 3-4 in Medoraand Sentinel Butte.

If fund raising remains on target,plans call for groundbreaking inAugust 2002 and a grand opening inthe summer of 2003. The 14,000-square-foot facility in Medora will belocated at the current Museum of theBadlands site.

The sixth North Dakota Cowboy Hallof Fame Annual Meeting is scheduledfor Feb. 22-23, 2002, at the SevenSeas, Mandan.

Friday evening’s no-host ice creamsocial begins at 7 p.m. and will featureentertainment, videos and visits withinductees.

Saturday’s Annual MembershipMeeting begins at 1 p.m. NDCHFTrustees hold their annual meeting at2:30 p.m., to discuss 2002 nomina-tions.

Saturday evening activities include ano-host social at 5:30 p.m. with theannual banquet at 7 p.m. Banquet tick-ets are $25 each and only 300 will besold. To reserve tickets or a motelroom see “Hall Highlights” on page 1.

NDCHF Annual MeetingScheduled for February

Change of Address noticefor 2001 NDCHF Nominee:

Pearl CullenEdgewood Vista

3406 Dominion St., Apt. 120Bismarck, ND 58503

Robert L. Wilcox was born inJ a c k s o n v i l l e ,Georgia, April 3,1869, the son ofJohn Thomas andElizabeth Wilcox.He came to NorthDakota in 1889,trailing a herd of

cattle from Texas through the AshCoulee route to a point about threemiles from Grassy Butte. He remainedin that area. In 1894 he was selected torepresent the North Dakota StockGrower’s Association at the UnionStockyards in Chicago. He spentfour years there, checking brandson cattle from the Dakotas andMontana.

In 1898, he and JerryHayes spent two years inthe Klondike gold region ofAlaska. Then, Robertreturned to North Dakotawhere he purchased theSam Bierline ranch, laterconverting it into a model dairy farm.His brand was the Bar S Bar. He mar-ried Maggie Schoenline in 1901 and

they had one daughter, Marie.When Dunn County was organized in

1908, Robert was named its first sher-iff. He had built a home in Dickinsonat 644 Second Avenue West, and heand his family lived there for manyyears. He also erected a businessblock in the city (50 Years In TheSaddle: Looking Back Down TheTrail, Volume 1, pages 18-19).Virginia Weber Bice, Killdeer, recalls

working for Maggie for $3 a week in1932, when the Wilcoxes lived west ofKilldeer. Bice also notes that Dan andMimia Beck, and their daughter,Carrie, worked for Wilcox, living in abunk house at the River Ranch, 22miles north of Killdeer and one-halfmile south of the Lost Bridge. TheBecks also cooked forWilcox’s cowboyswhen the outfit ran cat-tle on the reservation.

In an article by Louis

S i g n a l n e s s ,(50 Years In TheSaddle: AnotherLook At TheTrail , Volume2, page 424),

Signalness wrote ofhomesteading near theLittle Missouri River in

Dunn County, and mentioned Robertas one of his honest and dependableneighbors.

An article about Walter R. Veigelranching on the north slope of theKilldeer Mountain, (page 547) notesRobert was a neighbor and describeshim as “a debonair black-hairedTexan, who was engaged in the ranch-ing and banking business.”

In the same book (page 115), an arti-cle about C.R. “Cal” Dodge, notes thatDodge came to McKenzie County in1900 and ranched near DimmickLake, in partnership with Wilcox andWilse L. Richards.

Robert spent many years in ailinghealth and died at his Dickinson homeApril 19, 1957, at the age of 88.

Fall/Winter 2001 • The Cowboy Chronicle •

Robert Wilcox: Dunn County Rancher and Sheriff

A.N. Jeffries: Foreman of Long X

Robert L. Wilcox and Wilse L. Richards crossing the LittleMissouri River.

The features on his page are theninth and 10th articles in a series of10 articles profil ing early NorthDakotans who came to the area byway of trail drives.

1937

N.D

. Bra

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(199

0)Notable trail driver A.N. Jeffries wasforeman for the first Long X trail dri-ves that came north from Texas.

Jeffries was born Nov. 3, 1860.According to North Dakota HistoricalQuarterly, Volume 1, 1926-27, in anarticle by McKenzie County nativeGeorge F. Shafer, A.N. headed the firstlarge Reynolds Brothers Long X traildrive from the Rio Grande River tothe Little Missouri River in 1884.

Shafer writes, “The herd was guidedby means of a compass, and it reachedNorth Dakota in September, havingleft Texas early in the spring. This

process was repeated each year until1897, and in this way the grazinglands of McKenzie County werereplenished with new cattle.”

After the Long X sold out in 1897,A.N. made his home in Dickinson andcontinued in the cattle business. For atime, he and Wilse L. Richards andGeorge Frye were in partnership. A.N.continued with many livestock inter-ests and he was also involved in bank-ing in Dickinson. He probably diedNov. 11, 1909, though some sourcesindicate 1908.

When rodeo folks are asked todescribe Monty Carson's bare-back-riding style, their answersare as constant as the five con-secutive bareback titles Montywon within the ProfessionalRodeo Cowboys AssociationBadlands Circuit between 1979and 1983. Time and again he’sdescribed as “Consistent …Controlled … Text Book.”

His former traveling partner,Sam Perkins, Sherman, Texas,says, “Monty was an aggres-sive, smart rider and almostevery ride he made was textbook.” Perkins recalls that theGrassy Butte cowboy’s ridingstyle replicated that of his idol, JoeAlexander. “Joe had an extremeamount of control and that is anotherway to describe Monty’s riding.”

Monty, a son of Raymond and Leone(Jost) Carson, grew up with two broth-ers, Ron and Gary, and began hisrodeo career at a Little Britches Rodeoin Sidney, Mont., in 1966. “My par-ents hauled me lots of miles when Iwas young,” he recalls. “Dad was agreat supporter of rodeos and lovedbucking horses.”

Monty developed his controlled rid-ing style early on and joined thePRCA in 1975. He explains, “When Istarted out, they were still using softhandholds and you had to rely on yourfeet more.” Monty concedes, “Theydidn’t buck me off a lot. I guess I did-n’t gawk around much.”

Besides five circuit titles, Montyclaimed Badlands Circuit ReserveChampion titles in 1976, '77 and '78.That wasn't his first success either. In1973 he split the North Dakota HighSchool Rodeo Association barebacktitle with Wade Sundby, Williston, andwent on to place seventh in theNational High School Rodeo Finals inOgden, Utah.

After high school he rodeoed for

Dickinson State College, Dickinson,qualifying for four College NationalFinals Rodeos. He won three reservechampionships in the NationalIntercollegiate Rodeo Association’sGreat Plains Region and claimed theregion title in 1977. He was also theNorth Dakota Rodeo AssociationReserve Champion in 1974.

Monty credits much of his barebackriding success to North Dakota cow-boys and North Dakota bucking hors-es. He thanks Jim Johnston, GrassyButte, Harry Olson and Curtis Kelling,both from Killdeer, and his Uncle TomSolberg, formerly of Grassy Butte, forgetting him off to a good start. Someof his favorite draws included AberRodeo Company’s bareback horsesMean Boy and Eddie’s Pet. His leastfavorite mount also hailed from hishome state: Aber’s Defender. Of thebig, strong, yanking horse, Montysays, “I did place on Defender severaltimes, but it was always a chore.” Midwest rodeos were good to Monty.

He recalls winning a rifle in WolfPoint, Mont., a pair of spurs in NorthPlatte, Neb., and $2,400 in Denver. Inthe fall of 1982, regional rodeos con-tributed to one of Monty’s most mem-orable runs. He won the Northern

International LivestockExposition rodeo in Billings,Mont., the Badlands CircuitFinals in Bismarck and placedat the Y’s Men’s Rodeo inMinot. He says, “On the wayhome, I stopped in Belfield andtraded my wore-out car. I hadenough cash for a new Chevypickup.”

Perkins says, “When Montywas up in his own country, itseemed that he rode better andwas more confident. Overall, Inever did think he won asmuch as he should have. Heshould’ve qualified for theNational Finals a few times.”

Monty’s highest PRCA rankings camein 1977 and 1979 when he endedthose respective years 25th and 23rdin the world standings.

Carson and Perkins traveled together“for a good part of two to three years.”Monty says, “I saw a lot of places andthings that I never would have other-wise, but I sure got tired of the travel-ing.”

Perkins adds, “Monty and I made alot of all-night trips.” They once leftValley City in the dark, after waitingfor Richard Bahm, Carson, to ride asaddle bronc horse, and competed in aSan Angelo, Texas rodeo the follow-ing afternoon. Perkins rememberstraveling on bad roads through SouthDakota. “It was a 1,300-mile trip andwe had to average 75 miles per hour tomake it. I am sure we drove a lotfaster than that.” Perkins usually took care of the duo’s

entering and therefore, the drivingschedule. He recalls a stretch ofrodeos where they went from FortWorth, Texas, to Lake Charles, La., toScottsdale, Ariz., back to Fort Worth,up to Rapid City, S.D. and then backto El Paso, Texas. “That was one nightafter the next of driving,” Perkins(Continued on page 7.)


OW & HENN TMonty Carson: “Consistent...Controlled...Text-Book Style”

Grassy Butte cowboy Monty Carson (back left), picturedwith his wife, Carrie, and their sons, Layne and Chase.

Sheila Crowley Robinsonreceived two meaty bits ofadvice from her mother: “Dointeresting things whenyou’re young so you haveinteresting thoughts whenyou’re old,” and “If you wantto do something, you'll findthe time, the work will stillbe there.” Heeding the wisdom of age,

Sheila spent a lifetime read-ing and traveling the route ofthe Lewis & Clark Corps ofDiscovery – all the whileraising a family, working onthe family farm and participating incivic and agricultural groups.Continuing that sense of spiritedinvolvement, Sheila recently donatednearly 100 of her most-treasuredbooks to the North Dakota CowboyHall of Fame for its reference library.The books, a comprehensive history ofthe cattle industry, are in addition toher collection of Bar Northand NorthDakota Stockman, American WestandPersimmon Hill (National CowboyHall of Fame) magazines.

Born Nov. 27, 1920, to Matt andPauline Crowley, Sheila was raised onthe family's ranch north of Hebron.Matt had arrived in Dakota Territoryin 1887 when he, his parents andseven siblings arrived from southeast-ern Minnesota and settled 15 milesnorth of Hebron. Matt became a pio-neer rancher and a contemporary andfriend of John Leakey.

In the days before Garrison Dam andthe highway crossing the face of theearthen embankment, David MarshallRobinson, who had been born toHelen (Clark) and George M.Robinson in Bismarck, Aug. 1, 1918,would come courting at the Crowleys’after ferrying his red 2-door Pontiacacross the Missouri River at Stanton.Upon graduating from Iowa StateCollege in 1942, Sheila married the

North Dakota Agricultural Collegegrad in a ceremony at the Crowleyhome in Hebron.

The newlyweds moved to theRobinson family's Coal Harbor StockFarm, taking up residence in the housepreviously occupied by the cook.Feeding the hired hands becameSheila’s job, one she held up until thetime their children “were pretty wellgrown.” Together the couple raisedone daughter, Jan Jenson, Statesville,N.C., and two sons, Matthew “Buck”(Janette) and Stephen (Barbara), bothof the family farm. They have fivegrandchildren.

Dave and Sheila had front row seatsduring the building of Garrison Damand subsequent development of neigh-boring Riverdale, three miles to thewest. “We got acquainted with the guywho was the head of the dam con-struction and met a lot of peoplethrough him,” Sheila says. “The rail-road that hauled the equipment for thedam went across our land; the spill-way used to be part of our pasture.”

The history of the Robinson farmdates to 1883 when Dave's grandfa-ther, John Jacob Robinson, moved toDakota from St. Louis and settledalong the Missouri River. Draft horseswere the mainstay of the operation atthat time. Hereford cattle were added

when work horses lost favorto smoke-belching, steelhorsepower. Today, crossbredcattle graze pastures that runup to the breaks along theriver and calves are customfed on the property.

Busy as they were raisingcrops, cattle and kids, Daveand Sheila made time for thestate and their community.Dave served as president ofthe North Dakota Stockmen’sAssociation (NDSA) in 1964-1966, was a charter memberof the McLean County Farm

Bureau, served on the Victoria SchoolBoard and was one of the first direc-tors of Garrison Diversion. He was theDistrict 8 Republican chair for manyyears and served two years in theNorth Dakota House ofRepresentatives and 10 years in theSenate. In a 1999 review of past NDSA lead-

ers, “Through the Presidents’ Eyes,”Dave said the most important issueduring his term was excessive beefimports, which rose from more than500 million pounds in 1960-63 to1,214 billion pounds in subsequentyears. The NDSA and NationalCattlemen’s Association (NCA)helped curb the amount of importedbeef that came into America by gettinga beef quota bill passed in 1964. Davetipped his hat to then NCA PresidentBrooks Keogh and then North DakotaCongressman Don. L. Short, Medora,for their assistance.

Sheila represented North Dakota’scattle industry as well, serving as thestate Cowbelles’ third president in1955-57. She was also active in FarmBureau Women, Homemakers,Riverdale Women’s Club, Keep NorthDakota Clean, and participated inactivities of the Lewis & Clark TrailHeritage Foundation for more than 30(Continued on page 6.)


OW & HENN TSheila Crowley Robinson: Collection Anchors Library

Sheila Crowley Robinson recently donated nearly 100 of hermost-treasured books to the NDCHF’s reference library. Herhusband, Dave Robinson, (pictured at left) served as NorthDakota Stockmen’s Association president in 1964-66.


ALKIN ’ ITH RUSTEEST TWLeRoy E. Johnson, West FargoNDCHF District: 12Family: wife, Roberta; four children and 11 grandchildrenOccupation: Construction superintendentFavorite Rodeo Event: “Bareback riding, because of the skill of the rider.”First horse: “A Paint Horse colt that I raised and trained.”When you were 13, what did you want to be when you grew up? “A horse breeder and trainer.”

Name four things you like: “Horses, real tractors, toy tractors and art museums.”Free-time activity: “I enjoy making wooden models of old machines like hay wagons, hay trailers, drags, covered wagons and stage coaches. I also make harnesses for Breyer horses.”

Latest book read: “Checkered Years: A Bonanza Farm Diary” by Mary Dodge Woodward.

Greatest learning experience: “Serving in the 82nd Airborne in the U.S. Army.”One unique think about yourself that most people don’t know: “My favorite artist is Bev Doolittle.”If you had $1 million how would you spend it? “I’d retire and travel.”Advice for a young person: “Work hard and do the very best you can in whatever you’re doing.”Why do you support the NDCHF? “To help preserve our heritage.”

(Robinson, continued from page 5.)years. Sheila fondly recalls when theMcLean County Historical Society, ofwhich she was president, reconstruct-ed Fort Mandan, the 1804-1805 winterheadquarters of the Lewis & ClarkExpedition. Today the fort is a populartourist destination.

Sheila's love of reading was fosteredin her parents’ home by her mother, aschool teacher who headed west fromPennsylvania in the early 1900s.Pauline Shoemaker Crowley's journeyis chronicled in the book, “Land inHer Own Name,” by Elaine H.Lindgren. Sheila’s father, who had afourth grade education, spent eveningsreading with his family and becamewell educated on a number of topics.

In marriage, Sheila found a matewho reflected her enthusiasm for read-ing. “Even when we got television, wepreferred to spend the evening read-ing. Dave read more political titleswhile I liked history. Collecting bookswas my idea, but he was involved too,he paid for them!” In the early days oftheir marriage the books were storedin makeshift cases made of bricks andboards. Later, sturdy bookcases reach-ing near the ceiling filled one bedroomin the house, spilled over into another

and out into the living room. Bookcases strained from the weight

of other authors’ books as well as fromthose researched, written and editedby Sheila herself. Working withdaughter Jan, a computer whiz, Sheilaauthored “Along the Lewis & ClarkTrail in North Dakota” in 1993. Thebook grew out of a series of slide pre-sentations Sheila made after havingattended 26 meetings of the Lewis &Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. “TheStory of Garrison Dam” followed in1997. Two family histories wereassembled with Sheila working as edi-tor: “The Crowleys of Knife RiverRanch & Elm Creek Ranch” and“Robinson Family History: 100 Yearsof the Robinson Stock Farm.”

Following Dave’s death from canceron Sept. 15, 2001, Sheila felt it wastime to organize her books and find a

home for them. Taking inventory ofher library, she and Jan counted 1,432history volumes. “I started out readingabout North Dakota cattle history butbranched out into fur trading, Lewis &Clark, the military and many others.The books were going to chase me outof the house if I didn't do somethingwith them,” Sheila quipped.

“I wanted good homes for them, so Ihave started dividing them up betweenthe North Dakota Cowboy Hall ofFame and the Lewis & ClarkInterpretive Center in Washburn. Igave my mother ’s 17-volumeTheodore Roosevelt collection to theHarold Schafer Center in Medora. I’dlike to see the two libraries in Medora(NDCHF and Schafer Center) joinedinto one. That would give people areal good place to go and doresearch.”

Jan, who has helped sort, catalog,pack and haul the books and maga-zines is pleased with her mother's giftto the NDCHF, saying, “It makessense that the Hall should have them.Our family has a long ranching histo-ry. It’s not too hard to believe thatsomeday Grandpa Matt will be repre-sented in the Hall.”

–Written by Jeri L. DobrowskiDave and Sheila Robinson (1985)


ALKIN ’ ITH RUSTEEST TWDan Kalil, WillistonNDCHF District: 1Family: wife, Kathy; four sons: Bill, Thomas, Alex and Ian.Occupation: Third-generation rancher/farmer and Williams County CommissionerFavorite Rodeo Event: “Saddle bronc riding and watching the pickup men.”First horse: “We won a Shetland Pony at the St. Joe’s Mardi Gras, Williston. It was a mean little SOB.”

First rodeo experience: “At the State Line Club (west of Williston) in the early 1960s. Hoss Cartwright (Dan Blocker) was there.”

When you were 13, what did you want to be when you grew up? “When I was eight I wanted to be a cowboy, by 13 I wanted to be the governor.”

What was your first job? “Picking rocks with a SC Case for no pay.”Who do you consider a hero? “All of my uncles. Each of them had a profound affecton me and I am thankful I grew up in their company.”

Free-time activity: “If I have a spare five minutes I like to sit on the bunkhouse porch.”Latest book read: “40 Years of Gatherings” by Spike Van Cleve and “Peace Like A River” by Leif Enger.Greatest learning experience: “Raising four boys and being in public office.”One unique think about yourself that most people don’t know: “I completely restored a 1929 Ford Model A truck during high school and I still have it, but I don’t let the boys drive it!”If you had $1 million how would you spend it? “I’d throw a Cowboy Christmas Ball in Medora with Michael Martin Murphy and Ian Tyson entertaining. Then I’d pay my bills as far as the rest would go.”

Advice for a young person: “Get the best education you can, read everything and don’t be afraid to fail.”Honors and accomplishments: “Serving my third term as a Williams County Commissioner, North Dakota County Commissioner Association past president and North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Committee chairman.”

Why do you support the NDCHF? “To honor the struggles and preserve the memories of North Dakota’s first genera-tion.”

(Carson, continued from page 4.)says, “and I’m sure Monty probablyquestioned my sanity as to the way I’dentered us up.”

Spending that much time together onthe road may get on the nerves ofsome traveling partners, but the twocowboys got along well. “Monty wasprobably the best traveling partner Iever had,” Perkins says. “I enjoyedtraveling with Monty because he wasa fairly educated guy and we couldcarry on a wide range of conversa-tions. That made the time pass whenwe were on the road.” He adds, “Icould always rely on him. The onlything that got him upset was when I’dpull into McDonalds for breakfast – hehated their coffee.”

Practical jokes also made the timepass more quickly. “Monty was a littlehard on rookies,” Perkins recalls, “andI guess I was too. One of us wouldstart out and the other would ad liband just go with it.” During one trip,

Carson, Perkins and Rockie Kukla,Killdeer, who was “pretty much arookie at the time,” were enroute toEdmonton, Alberta, in Monty’s van.Kukla was concerned about crossingthe border and the other two com-pounded the rookie’s anxiety by assur-ing him that he needed his birth cer-tificate to get into Canada. Monty

tried to talk Kukla into walking up aside street, bypassing the border patroland meeting them at a truck stop onthe Canadian side. Kukla declined thewalk due to wet, cold weather condi-tions, and took his chances with theborder police – who didn’t even men-tion his birth certificate.

Perkins remembers another north-bound trip in which he and MerlonFairbanks, White River, S.D., weretraveling to Regina, Saskatchewan.Tough weather forced them to stay ina cold motel room in Watford City.Perkins later complained to Carsonabout the cold stay. That December,Perkins received a Christmas cardfrom Carson, along with a Letter tothe Editor clipped from the McKenzieCounty Farmernewspaper. The letter,supposedly written by Perkins, raved about the fine accommodations he’denjoyed in Watford City. Perkinslaughs and says, “Monty always(Continued on page 9.)

Monty Carson’s highest PRCA rankingscame in 1977 and 1979 when he endedthose respective years 25th and 23rd inthe world (Badlands Circuit Finals photo).


Join the North DakotaCowboy Hall of Fame Corral

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall ofFame is a non-profit 501(c)3 corpo-ration and all contributions are taxdeductible.

• Kid Corral – $10 annuallyMembership card and newsletter.

•Wrangler Club – $50 annually All Kid Corral incentives plus bumper sticker and invitations to NDCHF events.

•Ranch Boss Club – $100 annuallyAll Wrangler incentives plus window decal and limited-edition NDCHF coffee mug.

•Silver Buckle Club - $250 annuallyAll Ranch Boss incentives plus autographed photo of first Hall of Fame inductees.

•Gold Buckle Club – $500 annuallyAll Silver Buckle incentives plus limited-edition NDCHF poster.

•Diamond Saddle Club – $1,000 annuallyAll Gold Buckle incentives plus NDCHF founders plaque and listing on member’s wall at Hall of Fame.

•Trail Drivers Club – $5,000 annuallyAll Diamond Saddle incentives plus NDCHF commemorative sculpture and access to reserved seating at NDCHF events.

•Bronc Rider Club – $10,000 annuallyAll Trail Drivers incentives plus a professionally-produced five-minute video segment on family and family history shot on-location in North Dakota. A copy of the tape will be retained in NDCHF archives.

Dear NDCHF Members,

The NDCHF has had a great year. Wereceived tentative approval of a largematching grant and with luck, we’ll beable to break ground on the Hall ofFame in Medora in August 2002, dur-ing our fifth round of inductions. It will take some luck because contri-

butions to non-profit organizations likeours have plummeted since theSeptember 11 attack. Nationwide,groups have reported drastic declinesin receipts. The attacks that killedthousands, followed by a nation-wideanthrax scare, have left many under-standably apprehensive and cautious. Our matching grant is for $750,000,

but to receive the entire amount weneed to raise more than a million dol-lars for the building fund. We’re wellon our way. Billings County Commis-sioners courageously pledged$250,000. Medora City Commission-ers stepped up to the plate with a$100,000 pledge – a $100,000-com-mitment from a city of 100 people isan act of faith in the future. Ed andToni King, Dickinson, made a sizeabledonation and Stockmen’s LivestockExchange, Dickinson, has shown itssupport with a $20,000 pledge. We areworking with several foundations andmany individuals are expressing inter-est in contributing.Because of the matching grant, a

pledge is worth more than the actualgift amount: a building fund gift of$10,000 is worth more than $13,000,$20,000 becomes more than $26,000.Also note that the gifts can be givenover a period of years. If you’re interested in providing a

lasting gift to our building fund, pleasecall. Gifts can be tailored to fit yourfinancial abilities, and your name orthe names of relatives and friends onthe Hall of Fame’s Memorial Wall pro-vides a last memorial.In addition to fund raising we’re

planning for the 2002 NDCHF induc-tions. Trustees statewide have receivedinformation packets and may submitnominations through January 21,2002. If you know of a potential nomi-

nee, please call your local TrusteeChair. There are hundreds of worthypotential nominees, but all nomina-tions must come through localTrustees. Also, if you’re interested inthe process, consider becoming aTrustee. There are Trustee vacancies inseveral districts. Please mark your calendar for Friday

and Saturday, February 22-23, 2002,the dates for our annual meeting at thefabulous Seven Seas in Mandan.Friday night will feature a free socialwith videos, refreshments and time tovisit. Saturday we’ll have the NDCHFAnnual Meeting, Trustee Meeting,banquet and auction. You can counton enjoying good friends, great foodand fond memories. To make roomand banquet ticket reservations call701-663-7401 or 800-597-7327. TheSeven Seas provides special rates on alimited number of rooms for NDCHFmembers, so please plan ahead by call-ing as soon as possible and mentionthat you’re with the Hall of Fame.Submit your 2002 NDCHF nomina-

tions to a local Trustee. Make plans toattend the annual meeting and if you’dlike to talk about a building fund com-mitment please call me at 701-250-1833.

Happy Holidays.

Darrell Dorgan

Notes from the NDCHF Office

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Contributions/Memorials

Membership Contribution of $_________Category______________________

Memorial gift of $___________in honor of ____________________________

Name_________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________

City______________State____Zip Code__________Phone______________

Visa or Mastercard________________________________Exp. Date_______

Mail this form (or a copy) with your check to: North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame,

1110 College Drive, Suite 212, Bismarck, N. D., 58501


Cowboy Hall of Fame Sustaining Members ContributeThe following are new NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame sus-taining members. To contribute tothe sustaining drive or buildingfund, please complete and mail theform on page 8.

Building FundBP AmocoBillings County CommissionMedora City CommissionFarmer’s Union Oil Co.,New Town

Edwin & Antonia KingKEM Electric CooperativeMcKenzie Electric CooperativeNordak Pump & Supply, MohallNorthern Plains Electric Co-opOliver-Mercer Electric Co-opStockmen’s Livestock Exchange

Diamond Saddle ($1,000 annually)G.W. ChildsBurton & Etheleen HoovestolStephen & Denise McDonough

Gold Buckle ($500 annually)James A. JohnsonFrank & Doris Kubik*Bruce M. Van Sickle*

Silver Buckle ($250 annually)Russ & Helen DanielsonDavid Dunlop*LeRoy & Roberta Johnson*Kenneth Radenz*Marvin & Barbara Semrau*Joe Wicks*

*Denotes NDCHF Trustees.

Trophy Spurs($200 annually)George Albers & Joyce Kitt*Phil & Anita BairdTom Breuer*Arnold & Cleo Charging*Rex Cook*Lois Dehaven*Jock Eaton*A. Jay Grantier*Gary & Charlotte Griffeth*Cary & Margie Hande*Phyllis Leutz*Pat O’Brien*Eugene & Colleen Peterson*Ernest & Hazel Ramberg*Duaine Voigt*Frances M. & Edward E. Werre*

Ranch Boss ($100 annually) Keath Borchert*Arnold & Sharon BurianRon CarlisleJoe & Jill C. ChaseLarry D. ChristiansenRichard & Vicki Clarys*Romie ClouseVirginia EckKelly & Karen FleckDave HalsteadDuane & Orpha Howard*Allen JacobsonRussell KleppeC & J Luchsinger FarmSue L. LarsenHerman & Lavila Meyer*Virginia C. ReichertWinston E. & Barbara SatranDon Sillerud*Arlen SommersW.S. & Dorothy StemmJohn & Elsie Trotter

Dick WeberGeorge S. Weinreis*

Wrangler ($50 annually)Don & Randi AdamsNeil & Delilah BartelsonYvonne “Vonnie” BenderGordon & Colleen BensonJames Bromberg*Russell & Marsha DittusJoey & Lanae FritelRobert & Sandy KuchStanley & Sharon GjermundsonEd & Betty GrantierHarold JacobsonBethol KnutsonLyle & Ruth McDermott*James & Beth Mongeon*Gary & Karen ObrigewitchKevin & Cheryl PavlishCal PetersenRandall & Rebecca RobisonKen & Colleen RobertsW. Cary & Barb VossLynn & Connie Weishaar

Kids Corral($10 annually)Jade BooteCourtney DahlRachel DahlBrendon & Haley DorganCole DralleChelach DunbarryCassidy HepperJamie HepperKaylee HepperRyan HepperLeland Alfred KruegerAlexa LarsenAshley LarsenTyler Larsen

Ben OlsonEmily OlsonSamantha OlsonCheyenne PolenJessica TauberGarrick VoigtMavrick Voigt

OtherBud AndersonFrancis BestonBurchill Quarter HorsesRoss F. CollinsDelbert & Rodney EszlingerGlenn Gietzen*LeRoy Johnson*Endine KargesMike KellySheila Marie*Lloyd MillerDaymon MillsJohn W. “Jack” Murphy*A.J. & Marilyn OukropPhillip SchlatterPaul & Betty SmokovDeb ThomasonIver & Lola Tveit*Shirlene Winn

(Please notify the NDCHF of list-ing changes by calling 701-250-1833.)

(Carson, continued from page 7.)denied writing that letter, but I have towonder.”

Monty retired from bareback ridingin 1985 and has since concentrated onteam roping. He notes, “I go to aboutthree rodeos a year now and only enterone of them.” However, he competesat jackpot ropings throughout the tri-state area and has won many awardsand titles including a horse trailer inTimber Lake, S.D. in 1997 and a sec-ond-place, $3,500-finish in Gillette,

Wyo., with Larry Staal, Killdeer.Monty, his wife, Carrie, and his

brother, Ron, organize several ropingsa year at Carson’s Arena, on theirranch west of Grassy Butte. They alsohost ropings in Medora and WatfordCity. Monty enjoys roping because it’sa family event that he, Carrie and theirsons Chase, 15, and Layne, 12, can do together.

Today, Monty is known for his rop-ing horse savvy and trains severalhorses a year. For his own use he

prefers Sonny Dee Bar-bred horses.He says, “I like a horse that standsabout 15.1 or 15.2 hands, that trieshard and can run.”

Whether mounted on a barebackhorse of yesteryear or riding a solidroping horse of today, Monty Carson’sconsistency, control and text-bookstyle place him in the winner’s circle,time and again. –Written by Emily Tescher-Johnston

Have you paid your

annual dues?


PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOYS ASSOCIATION

2001 National Finals RodeoBareback Riding -- Larry Sandvick, Killdeer native, Belle Fourche, S.D.

NORTH DAKOTA RODEO ASSOCIATIONYear End All-Around - JB Lord, Piedmont, S.D. and Pam Rolph, Mill Iron, Mont.

Finals All-Around -- Russell Kling, KilldeerBareback Riding -- Year-End Champion - Shane Kling, Dickinson; Reserve Champion - Josh Pennington, Killdeer; Finals Average - Cheydan Gordon, Fort Yates

Calf Roping -- Year-End Champion - Chad Miller, Bowman; Reserve Champion - Scott Hoovestol, Mandan; Finals Average - Chad Miller

Breakaway Roping-- Year-End Champion - Jackie Olson, Almont; Reserve Champion - Jodi Bubel, Dickinson.; Finals Average - Jodi Bubel

Saddle Bronc Riding-- Year-End Champion - Shaun Stroh, Glendive, Mont.; Reserve Champion - Rick Gross, Shields; Finals Average - Shaun Stroh

Steer Wrestling -- Year-End Champion - JB Lord; Reserve Champion - Chad Smith, Dickinson; Finals Average - Levi Wisness, Keene

Barrel Racing -- Year-End Champion - Pam Rolph.; Reserve Champion - Carol Breuer, Fairview, Mont.;

Finals Average - Lisa O’Keeffe, MohallTeam Roping-- Year-End Champion - Ross Carson, Philip, S.D.; Reserve Champion - Tom Jorgenson, Williston; Finals Average - Chad Kieson, Dickinson, and Tom Jorgenson

Sr. Men’s Breakaway Roping-- Year-End Champion - Don Schwalbe, Beulah; Reserve Champion - Freddie Berzel, Whitewood, S.D.; Finals Average - Freddie Berzel

Bull Riding -- Year-End Champion - James Amundson, Larimore; Reserve Champion - Russell Kling, Killdeer; Finals Average - Russell Kling

ROUGHRIDER RODEO ASSOCIATIONMen’s All-Around -- Greg Carlson, JamestownWomen’s All-Around -- Jackie Olson, AlmontJunior Boys’All-Around -- Kane Gjermundson, Marshall

Junior Girls’All-Around -- Kenzie Benson, SheyenneBareback Riding -- Brien Wieser, KindredJunior Bareback -- Brandon Blekestad, AlexanderSaddle Bronc Riding-- Kutter Moore, BlaisdellJunior Saddle Bronc -- Luke Baker Jr., BelcourtCalf Roping -- Kelly Eggl, MinotJunior Calf Roping -- Leon Cameron, SherwoodSteer Wrestling -- Scott Kleeman, KilldeerTeam Roping-- J.D. Youngbird, WiltonMixed Team Roping-- Kyle Jensen, Kenmare

Barrel Racing -- Beth Rohr, CraryJunior Barrel Racing -- Kenzie BensonNovice Barrel Racing-- Jessica Bauske, RayGoat Tying -- Jackie OlsonJunior Goat Tying -- Ashley Brossart, RugbyLadies’ Breakaway -- Jackie OlsonJunior Breakaway -- David Weishoff, RaySenior Breakaway-- Dwight Hansen, Dunn CenterBull Riding -- Jason Nicolaisen, MaxJunior Bull Riding --Kacey Senger, Devils Lake

N.D. HIGH SCHOOL RODEO ASSOCIATIONAll-Around Cowboy -- Preston Billadeau, ParshallAll-Around Cowgirl -- Heidi Uecker, HettingerBareback Riding -- Cheydan Gordon, Fort YatesSaddle Bronc Riding-- Jarrod Becker, SelfridgeCalf Roping -- PrestonBilladeauTeam Roping -- Preston Billadeau and Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson

Boys’ Cow Cutting -- Preston BilladeauGirls’ Cow Cutting -- Toni Shaw, MinotGoat Tying -- Lindylu Evridge, Lemmon, S.D.Breakaway Roping -- Brandi Guttormson, VelvaSteer Wrestling -- Brent Dolezal, KilldeerBull Riding -- Cody Staiger, HebronPole Bending-- Natasha Needham, ParshallBarrel Racing -- Desirae Weigel, Napoleon

2001 Year-End Rodeo Results

Mandan • Dickinson • New LeipzigHebron • Taylor • Bismarck

BBuuffffaalloo GGaapp GGuueesstt RRaanncchhTen Cabins and

Horse-Boarding FacilitiesSteakhouse and Bar

(Open 7-days-a-week)

For reservations or information call 701-623-4200 or visit www.buffalogapranch.com

“Make plans to visit us during Medora’s Cowboy Christmas!”

Several NDCHF representatives partici-pated in the 2001 North Dakota State Fairparade (left to right): Mardean and (2001Inductee) Sonny Ehr Jr., Minot; TrusteesLynn Asheim, Mohall and John Bearman,Minot. Not pictured but also participatingwas Trustee Bob Knudson, Minot. Thewagon was driven by Bud Redding, Velva.

N.D. State Fair Parade

Hundreds of folks enjoyed NDCHF All-Beef Hot Dogs at Cloverdale’s Hot DogCelebration held in Mandan on July 20.

NDCHF Hot Dogs are served to eventattendees like FOX 96.3’s Jon Roberts atthe Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

NDCHF Beef Hot Dog Heaven in Mandan and Grand Forks

National Finals Rodeo Tickets and Hotel RoomThe NDCHF has two rodeo tickets for two NFR performances and two nights at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino for sale. Minumum bid $350. Call the NDCHF office at 701-250-1833.

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Medora’s Cowboy ChristmasNovember 30 - December 2

Activity Corral


For the first time in North DakotaCowboy Hall of Fame history, WinterHistory Symposiums will be held ineight regional communities across thestate.

During the past four years the pro-grams have been hosted by NorthDakota’s larger cities, but NDCHFExecutive Director Darrell Dorgansays, “We’re going to try something abit different this year by taking theprograms to slightly smaller commu-nities.” Tentative locations and dates are:• Watford City - January 16 •Bowman - January 17•Rugby - January 23•Carrington - January 24•Wishek - January 30

•Lisbon - January 31•Mayville - February 6•Wahpeton - February 7The program will once again feature

University of North Dakota ProfessorEmeritus Dr. D. Jerome Tweton andSentinel Butte cowboy poet BillLowman.

Last year, Tweton presented “On theHomefront: Life In North Dakota.During World War II.” Dorgan notes,“It was a fascinating and memorablelook at what life was like in NorthDakota during World War II. Becauseof the current national crisis, we havedecided to take a very similar programand supporting materials to a newgroup of cities, making the eventsavailable to a whole new audience.”

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall ofFame sponsors the events, free to thepublic, in conjuction with the NorthDakota Humanities Council, (NDHC),Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation andthe North Dakota National Guard.Funding is provided by the NDHC.This is the fifth year the NDCHF has

taken a humor and history program onthe road. Previous programs have fea-tured Dakota frontier justice, theSpanish American War and pioneercowboys.

NDCHF members will be notified ofdates and locations by mail andthrough the local media. For furtherdetails call the NDCHF office at 701-250-1833.

Winter History Symposiums Coming to Regional Communities

Hittin’ The Dirt!loose rein

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Editor’s Note:The NDCHFthanks Solenartist ScottNelson forproviding the“Hitt in’ TheDirt” sketch.Be sure to findthe 17 hiddenwords – front-wards, back-wards or diag-onally – andthen try yourhand atsketching thewreck!


Livestock Auctioned to Benefit NDCHFThe North Dakota Cowboy Hall ofFame livestock donation programrecently netted more than $3,200 forthe NDCHF.

A black/overo stud colt donated byS h e i l aM a r i e ,M e d o r a ,b r o u g h t$750 andsold toD o n a l dL a w s o n ,K i l l d e e r.The coltwas a half-brother to Marie’s 2000 donation,going back to Dual Image, a three-time national champion Paint Horse.Jack Murphy, Steele, donated a sorrel

stud colt that brought $645 fromCarrie Knutson, Steele. Sired byPerrins Doc Bar Jack, A.K.A. Hiram,the colt is out of a Mr. Dusty Blackiedaughter and went into Knutson’sdaughter’s 4-H program.

Iver and Lola Tveit, Forbes, donatedtwo stud fees that brought $775 total.The fees sold to Daymon Mills,Menoken, and Phillip Schlatter, Glen

Ullin.Burchill Quarter Horses, Valley City,

donated two stud fees for LuckySeven Dunit, a grandson ofHollywood Dun It. The fees sold for$350 total and went to Bud Anderson,Driscoll, and Phillip Schlatter, GlenUllin.

Delbert & Rodney Eszlinger, Ashley,donated a stud fee that brought $325from Daymon Mills, Menoken.

Gietzen Quarter Horses, Halliday,donated a stud fee for a three-year-old,dark bay, King-bred stud. It brought$200 from Endine Karges, Hazen.

Deb Thomason, Bismarck, donated astud fee that sold to Lloyd Miller,Bismarck, for $120.

Finally,L e R o yJ o h n s o n ,W e s tF a r g o ,donated a$100 studfee, pur-chased byP h i l l i pSchlatter,Glen Ullin.

(Fund, continued from page 1.)December.”•Ed and Toni King, Dickinson, havemade a substantial donation. Ed King,who was in the grocery business, says,“We’re long-time supporters of west-ern North Dakota. I’m native to thisarea and I enjoy rough country.Medora is good for our part of thestate – especially when you’re in busi-ness, – because it (the town) attractspeople.”•Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange,Dickinson, has pledged $20,000.Manager Larry Schnell says, “(Wesupport the NDCHF) because webelieve in the heritage of ranching andthe cattle industry in North Dakota.We’ve been a part of it for a long time,but the NDCHF reaches back evenfurther.” He adds, “We also feel thereare significant contributions to NorthDakota’s economy that go largelyunrecognized. The NDCHF addressesthat and the Hall itself should be aneconomic boost to North Dakota.”

In addition, BP Amoco, Mandan,recently donated $5,000 to the build-ing fund.

Sheila Marie, Medora

Jack Murphy, Steele

Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange,Dickinson, recently pledged $20,000 to theNDCHF Building Fund. Pictured left toright are: Willard Schnell, Jim Erickson,Larry Schnell, all of Dickinson, not picturedis Delmar Erickson, Beulah.

Mary Louise Defender Wilson, daugh-ter of 2001 NDCHF Inductee GeorgeDefender, recently released a newcompact disk titled, My Relatives Say.

On the recording, Defender Wilson,also known as Gourd Woman, tellstraditional Dakotah stories using ani-mals, birds, the wind and stars as sub-

jects. The stories illustrate respect, theimportance of working together, capi-talizing on each other’s strengths andhelping those in need.

CDs are for sale in music and giftstores or by contacting MakocheRecording Company at 800-637-6863or www.makoche.com.

Mary Louise Defender Wilson Releases New CD

BISMARCK: 701-223-0505 MANDAN: 701-663-6555www.unitedprinting.com


NDCHF Gifts Honoring Loved OnesThe NDCHF has received honorariums/memorials for the following individuals. To honor a loved one, see page 8.

In memory of Ella AgnewRon & Dawn Aberle

John E. & Marilyn J. AdamsDoris M. Anderson

Arnold & Sharon BendishHoward F. & Melvena BierMilton K. & Arllis V. Brown

Lucille BurkeCloverdale Foods Company

Fay & Lynn ConnellPearl Cullen

Ruben & Betty DayGladys M. DiedeDarrell Dorgan

Monte & Karen DralleDwight A. & Dianne K. Dronen

Curtis & Brenda EicheleTed & Ruth Eichele

Mr. & Mrs. Adolph FeyereisenJerry W. & Sharon Franklin

Jan Goehring & Dennis Morris Janice A. Guenther

Elroy E. & Carol J. HaademRosemary Hanson

Gail HagertyDavid & Barbara HeatonRudy & Jackie Hoffman

Joe & Carry IbachCheryl KalbererVivian Kershaw

Robert H. KniefelRoger & Janice KoesterWayne & Delores LangMr. & Mrs. Bus LearyDavid & Diane Liuska

Rev. Magnus & Viona LutnessVirgil & Carol Malard

Nancy M. MathenaMrs. Gene McCormickBernice B. McDowall

Douglas G. & Margaret L. McDowallRoger D. & Ann C. Meland

Alex J. & Dianne MochJohn W. “Jack” MurphyLeRoy M. & Ella Nayes

Evelyn NeuensNaomi Oder

Mr. & Mrs. Douglas OlsonEdward A. & Marliss Peterson

Benjamin & Leona PoctaLois Salter

Verdun & Jacque SchauerBruce L. & Carol J. Schmidt

Herda SchmidtBernard & Etta Schue

Floyd J & Rosella SeibelElva M. Shafer

Leo R. & Gloria J. SilbernagelDuane Slovarp

Gary G. & Geraldine A. SmallPaul & Mary Small

Bernard SolbergOlga Storhaug

Margaret & Harley SwensonRon & Wendy Wollmuth & Sons

John & Clara S. YonkerJim & Hazel Zoller

In memory of Maurice & Norma BenzRon & Wendy Wollmuth & Sons

In memory of Kolbjorn ByePeggy Ann Rixen

In memory of Vic & Mildred ChristensenCarol Oukrop

In memory of Dr. Delbert ClarkAlan & Nikki Boote

In memory of Leo B. “Bud” ConnollyTammy Gilstad

Tom & Lorraine TescherIn memory of Phyllis Connolly

Ron CarlisleBarbara L. King

In memory of Clair CullenGeorge Albers & Joyce Kitt

Dean & Fran ArmstrongBob & Virginia Bubel

Joe & Jill C. ChasePaul Christensen

James & Janet ConnollyBob & Jean Edwards

Gerald & Barbara EdwardsRobert & Wilma Freise

Stanley & Sharon GjermundsonElvera D. Hintz

Jack InghamMr. & Mrs. Robert Ingham

Jim & Mary Jennes & FamilyLandgren Family

Mel & Neva LawsonSteven & Meri Martin & Family

John W. “Jack” MurphyRalph & Ella Murray

Curtis & Kathryn PalmgrenSherry Plummer

Jim & Agnes RaskWillard & Linda Schnell

Arlyce SchulteMonte Swenson

Myrna & Charles ThompsonUnknown

Clark & Cheryl WhitneyIn memory of Father Wm. J. Fahnlander

Sherry PlummerIn memory of George Fenton

Thelma FentonIn memory of Francis “F.K.” Goodall

Dr. Mark P. HinrichsIn memory of Dale Greenwood

Viola KennedyRandall & Sue Mosser

Phyllis O’NeilWillard & Linda Schnell

In memory of Sylvia HoweAlick & Grayce Dvirnak

David, Avis & Bruce HoweIn memory of Mike Howiatow

Catherine M. Howiatow

In memory of Francois “Sis” IngallsEvelyn Neuens

In memory of Oliver LarsonAngelen A. Larson

In memory of Alex LaSottaDoris Helen Strom

In memory of Herman & Elenor LaufLyle Lauf

In memory of John LeakeyAndy & Babe Andrews

In memory of Irvin E. LeeMark & Jessanne Knutson

Randall & Sue MosserIn memory of S.F. “Mug” Murray

Ralph & Ella MurrayIn memory of Earl Northrop

Dale L. & Karen ChilsonIn memory of Shawn O’Brien

Jim & Donna FritzJiggs & Ardene M. O’Connell

In memory of George M. OlsonAndrew & Mary Voigt

In memory of Isak PedersonGerald & Anita Dederick

In memory of Louie PelissierJack & Sophie Pelissier

In memory of Leo J. RayMorris & Mavis Brandvik

Sheila MarieAgnes Fisher

Jim & Donna FritzLarry & Linda FritzBud & Laura Griffin

Cary & Margie HandeMichael T. Hogan

Karnes & Ruth JohnsonBill & Anne Neuens

Evelyn NeuensNora O’HearnElsie R. Stiles

Al & Joyce StudeA.D. & Frances Volbrecht

In memory of Alvin SabrowskySherry Plummer

In memory of SakakaweaDale L & Karen Chilson

In memory of June Ida ScottSheila Marie

In memory of Shirley SolbergTom & Judy Solberg Freund

Kurt & Roxanne Solberg GillespieAl & Suzanne Solberg Walford

In memory of Lodema SpurgeonBud & Laura Griffin

Karnes & Ruth JohnsonSheila Marie

Herbert SpurgeonAl & Joyce Stude

In memory of Monte SwensonRobert & Wilma Freise

Evelyn Neuens

Ella AgnewElla N. Agnew, 78,died Sept. 28, 2001.

Ella Pokall wasborn March 14,1923, four milessouth of Coldwater.

She attendedDickey Country

School and loved to ride horse in thehills above the school in LorraineTownship.

She married Elmer M. Agnew in1940. They farmed/ranched atMenoken and McKenzie until pur-chasing a farm west of Moffit, wherethey remained for 52 years. She was agracious lady who was very involvedin her church and community andenjoyed music, reading, playing cardsand Scrabble. Her most important rolein life was to be Mrs. Elmer Agnew.

She is survived by her husband,Elmer, Bismarck; one son, Elvin(Wanda), Steele; one daughter, LonnieJoy (Frank) Privratsky, Braddock; fivegrandchildren and four great-grand-children.

Lester P. AndersonLester P. Anderson, 88, died June 6,2001.

Lester was born May 10, 1913, atLeonard. He was raised with five sib-lings and attended school just one milefrom home. He grew up handling hisdad’s work horses and identified goodhorses by the way they held their headand ears. He married LeilaHendrickson in 1941. He managed hisown operation, as well as the neigh-boring Bohnsack Ranch for 21 years.Lester managed the Dakota Sandhill

Feeder Association sale for manyyears. He served as president of theNorth Dakota Stockmen’s Associationin 1976-78, and as president of theSheyenne Valley Grazing Associationand the North Dakota Quarter HorseAssociation.

He is survived by his wife, Leila,Leonard; a daughter, Roberta,Jamestown; a son, Paul (Judy),Leonard; two grandchildren and eightgreat-grandchildren.

Leo ConnollyLeo B. “Bud” Connolly, 72, died July31, 2001.

Bud was born Feb. 8, 1929, in Ayer,Mass. He was raised and educated inan area with many race horses andtracks. His first job was with jumpers,then gaited horses, then race horses.He trained Carryback, a race horsethat won more than $1 million.

Bud had his first taste of rodeo dur-ing his dad’s travels to Texas. He wasa professional cowboy for 20 yearsand also served in the U.S. Army.

He married Francis “Frankie”Phillips in 1955. They had 12 childrenand raised several other boys nearSentinel Butte. He loved to teach kidshow to ride rough stock and rope.

He is survived by five daughters,Shireen (Boyd) Ducheneaux, Ocala,Fla., Kathlene Zahl, Sparr, Fla.,Shephanie Connolly, New Castle,Okla., Kelly Connolly, Duluth, Minn.,and Brianna Connolly, Sentinel Butte;six sons, Kenneth (Lynn), Brian, all ofOcala, Fla., Phillip (Cindy), Decatur,Texas, Mike (Pam), Mackburg, Iowa,James (Holly), Fairdale, Ky., andShawn, Sentinel Butte; one daughter-

in-law, Kim; 23 grandchildren andfour great-grandchildren.

Otto “Maddy” Feickert Jr.Otto “Maddy” Feickert Jr., 74, diedJune 24, 2001.

Maddy was born March 19, 1927, inJamestown. He served in the U.S.Navy and was discharged inNovember 1951. He worked for theNorthern Pacific Railroad and subse-quent railroads from 1948-79. He mar-ried Bonnie-Jeanne Blank in 1954.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie;one daughter, Mary CatherineFeickert, Grand Forks; two sons,James (Rosalie), Chandler, Ariz., andPaul, Bismarck; and three grandchil-dren.

Maynard FritzMaynard Fritz, 83, died Oct. 30, 2001.

Maynard was born May 30, 1918, inBillings County. He grew up andattended school in the Whitetail Creekarea. He worked for neighbors, spenttime in the CCCs and served in theU.S. Marines. He married Inez Ruf in1945. They ranched in the GrassyButte area until moving south ofMedora to manage the WosepkaRanch and later the Northrop Ranch.He also worked for the U.S. PostalService and the Gold Seal Company.He enjoyed rodeos, fiddle playing,collecting arrowheads and makingspurs.

He is survived by one son, Dennis(Elaine) Fritz, Rugby; one daughter,Ramona (Kent) Dressler, Marshall;and six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Obituaries


Christmas gifthonorariums ormemorials are a

great way to recognize a lovedone. See pages 8

and 13.


ObituariesDale Greenwood

Dale Bruce Greenwood, 72, died Oct.19, 2001.

Dale was born June 7, 1929, atRushville, Neb. He was raised on aranch at White Clay, Neb., and was arodeo cowboy and clown in his youth.He competed in all roughstock eventsbut favored saddle bronc riding. Hewas a lifetime member of theProfessional Rodeo CowboysAssociation. He married MarilynWilson in 1948 and they moved toNorth Dakota in 1958.

Dale organized the Association ofNational Grasslands, served as its firstpresident and devoted many years ofhis life to defending grazing onnational grasslands. He served asNorth Dakota Stockmen’s Associationpresident from 1996-98 and served onmany National Cattlemen’s BeefAssociation committees.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn,Cartwright; six children, Bruce(Rachel), Yelm, Wash., Dick (Jan),Jerome, Idaho, T.J., Midland, Texas,Jim, San Diego, Deb Cox, Mullen,Neb., Nancy (Curt) Severson andScott (Dawn), all of Cartwright, andKaty (Tracy) Kovar, Bismarck; 19grandchildren and 10 great-grandchil-dren.

Mike A. HowiatowNDCHF nomineeMike A. Howiatow,83, died Sept. 1,2001.

Mike was bornFeb. 21, 1918,northeast of Solen.He ranched for more

than 60 years, raising registered andcommercial Hereford cattle that soldacross the United States. His lifelongphilosophy was to improve theHereford breed. Mike was an out-standing North Dakota citizen whoserved on numerous boards. He mar-ried childhood girlfriend CatherineLockner in 1980.

He is survived by his wife,Catherine; one sister; three nephewsand five nieces.

Irvin E. LeeIrvin E. Lee, 86, died Sept. 30, 2001.

Irvin was born March 3, 1915, inWatford City. He attended Schaeferand Pleasant View Schools while help-ing on the family farm. He spent timein the CCCs, helped initiate the SooPass Dude Ranch in Detroit Lakes,Minn., in 1941, and also served in theU.S. Army. He took great pride in hishorsemanship skills and enjoyedteaching others, especially young peo-ple. His passions included antiqueauctions, horses and rodeos.

He is survived by two brothers; onesister; seven nieces; two nephews andtheir families.

Shawn O’BrienShawn Patrick O’Brien, 51, died Sept.10, 2001.

Shawn was born March 25, 1950, inDickinson. He attended Fryburg andBelfield schools. Shawn was a giftedhorseman whose first job was operat-ing a dude ranch at Cedar Canyonwith his brother, Jim. He worked forseveral area ranchers as well as in theoil field. He married ArdysChamberlin in 1994.

He is survived by his wife, Ardys,New River, Ariz.; one son, Brandon,two daughters, Danielle and Jennifer,all of Belfield; his father, Pat (Birdie)O’Brien, Belfield; one brother andfour sisters.

Leo J. RayLeo J. Ray, 75, died Aug. 4, 2001.

Leo was born Jan. 3, 1926, inDickinson. He was raised in Medoraand south of Medora on a ranch onDavis Creek. He attended theHellickson School as well as schoolsin Medora. He served in the U.S.Navy from 1944-46, crossing thePacific Ocean five times.

He returned to ranching with his dadand married Leah Northrop in 1949.The couple ranched for 30 yearsbefore moving to Sidney, Mont., in1979.

He is survived by this wife, Leah,Bismarck; one son, Donny (Linda),White, S.D.; and two grandchildren.

David RobinsonDavid Marshall Robinson, 83, diedSept. 15, 2001.

David was born Aug. 1, 1918, inBismarck. He graduated fromColeharbor High School and NorthDakota Agricultural College.

He married Sheila Crowley in 1942and lived his entire life on the CoalHarbor Stock Farm. He served asNorth Dakota Stockmen’s Associationpresident from 1964-66 and served inthe North Dakota Legislature for 12years.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila,Coleharbor; one daughter, Jan Jenson,Statesville, N.C.; two sons, Matthew“Buck” (Janette), and Stephen(Barbara), all of Coleharbor; and fivegrandchildren.

Lodema SpurgeonLodema Catherine Spurgeon, 93, diedAug. 22, 2001.

Lodema Runions was born Nov. 17,1907, in Sentinel Butte. She wasraised and educated there and marriedPage L. Myers in 1924. They ranchedsix miles northwest of Medora.

Page died in 1944. She was the firstwoman to serve as a Medora GrazingAssociation director, completing herhusband’s term. Lodema marriedHerbert Spurgeon in 1952.

She is survived by her husband,Herbert, Dickinson; two daughters,Norma Myers, Medora and Ramona(Dick) Zauner, Riverside, Calif.; twosons, Rodney (Diane), El Cajon,Calif., and Roger (Peggy) Myers,Medora; 14 grandchildren and 31great-grandchildren.

Obituary Policy: If you are aware ofthe recent death of a NDCHF member,North Dakota cowboy/rancher, or friendof western heritage, please inform usand if possible, provide an obituary.

Send notice/obituary to: North DakotaCowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 CollegeDrive, Suite 212, Bismarck, ND 58501.While all submissions will be noted,space availability and NDCHF relevan-cy may dictate length.

Five individuals are currently beinghonored with $1,000 Memorial Wallplaques to be placed in the NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame: EllaAgnew, Clair Cullen, George Fenton,Glenn Murray and Norman “Peg”O’Neil.•Ella Agnew was born four miles

south of Coldwaterin 1923. She attend-ed Dickey CountrySchool and loved toride horse in theLorraine Townshiphills nearby. Shemarried Elmer

Agnew in 1940. They farmed/ranchedat Menoken and McKenzie until pur-chasing a farm west of Moffit, wherethey lived for 52 years. She playedpiano in dance bands with Elmer for30 years. Ella was a gracious, dearly-loved lady who enjoyed handwork,reading and traveling.•Clair Cullen was born in Leeds in

1911. His familymoved throughouthis childhood, untilhis father purchaseda ranch on theMissouri River bot-toms west ofHensler in the early

1930s. In 1940 the ranch became apartnership between Clair and hisbrother, Ross. He married PearlEdwards in 1940. They helped initiate

the North Dakota Rodeo Association.Clair was a North Dakota Stockmen’sAssociation brand inspector for 36years, judged rodeos and was the 1955NDRA (non-RCA) calf roping cham-pion. He always had a pasture full ofgood Willow Quarter Horses and hispersonal horses were trained to comewhen he whistled and to kneel on cue.•George Fentonwas born at Oakdale

in 1907. The eldestof five children, hewas raised on aBadlands ranchhomesteaded by hisuncle “Big” PetePeterson. Georgestarted his full-

fledged ranching career at age 13.Through cattle herding he learned thebenefits of good grazing distributionand cattle’s preference for specificgrasses at specific times. He trulyloved the land and his livestock andrefused to overstock his ranch. As ayoung man, he would strap an accor-dion onto his saddle, ride to a barndance and play until sunrise. He waseasy-going and saw only the good inlife. He married Thelma Edwards in1935 and the couple had four daugh-ters.•Glenn Murray was born in GlenUllin in 1908. He attended Beulahschools, Valley City Teacher’s Collegeand taught one year in a rural school.He married Beatrice Erickson in 1929

and they hadfour children.Glenn wasknown as “Mr.Relay,” for win-ning every relayrace he enteredfrom 1928-50. He was a BeulahRodeo Association member, CowboyReunion Rodeo organizer and lifetimemember of the Mercer CountyHistorical Society. He was an avidbowler and Beulah Miners fan.•Norman “Peg” O’Neil was born

north of DunnCenter in 1923. Heattended ConnollySchool #2 and grad-uated from BeulahHigh School in1941. He marriedPhyllis Murray in

1954. They farmed and ranched inMercer and Dunn Counties. Peg wasknown for his quick, but dry wit. Hewas a North Dakota Stockmen’sAssociation brand inspector andserved as founding president of theNorth Dakota Rodeo Association from1953-55. He was extremely proud ofthe Killdeer Saddle Club’s annualKilldeer Mountain Roundup Rodeoand dedicated many hours to theevent. He was a member of theCowboy Reunion Rodeo in Beulahand 50 Years in the Saddle.

• The Cowboy Chronicle • Fall/Winter 2001The Cowboy ChronicleNorth Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame1110 College Drive, Suite 212Bismarck, North Dakota 58501

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Individuals Honored with Memorial Plaques and File CardsNONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAID

BISMARCK, NDPERMIT 256

202001

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