The Cowboy Chronicle ExtraSPECIAL EDITION • 2000 NDCHF Hall of Honorees Induction • Published by the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

N.D. Cowboy Hall of FameInducts 11 Honorees in 2000

2000 NDCHF Hall of HonoreesInduction Program

• SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2000 •Tjaden Terrace,

Medora, North Dakota

1 p.m. - Musical EntertainmentThe Lardinois Family with Fiddlin' Johnny

1:30 p.m. - Introductions andRemarks

Master of Ceremonies Phil BairdRemarks by Gerard Baker,

Superintendent of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Sulphur, Okla.

Rodeo Honoree Introductionsby Winston Satran

Old ShepGene McCormick

Louie PelissierFettig Brothers Rodeo

Ranching Honoree Introductionsby Gene Veeder

Ben BirdBill Follis

Ole SolbergEaton Brothers’ Custer Trail Ranch

Special Achievement Honoree Introductionby Jim Tescher and Tom Tescher

Home On The Range Champions’ Ride

Arts & Entertainment Honoree Introduction

by Walter Piehl Jr.

Cy Taillon

Great Westerner Honoree Introduction

by Bob Schnell

Ray Schnell

Induction activities continue Sunday, August 6, 2 p.m.,at the Home On The Range Champions’ Ride atSentinel Butte. NDCHF honorees will be introduced byWinston Bruce of the Calgary Stampede.

NDCHF Building Plans Approved

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Center of Western Heritage andCultures: Native American, Ranching and Rodeo is destined to be a two-story, 13,800-square-foot building in downtown Medora. The(Continued on page 20)

Seven men who have lived and portrayed the cowboy lifestyle, three enti-ties that helped foster western character and one notable bucking horsecompose the third round of North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fameinductees.

Rodeo Honorees* include: Old Shep, Gene McCormick, LouiePelissier and Fettig Brothers Rodeo. Ranching honorees include: BenBird, Bill Follis, Ole Solberg and Eaton Brothers’ Custer Trail Ranch.Special Achievement honoree is the Home On The Range Champions’Ride, Arts and Entertainment honoree is Cy Taillon, and Great Westernerhonoree is Ray Schnell.The formal induction is Saturday, Aug, 5 with musical entertainment

beginning at 1 p.m. and the free ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Individuals must reserve their own tickets for the evening pitchfork fon-

due and Medora Musical, as well as the Ian Tyson concert (4:30 MDT).Tickets and motel information are available by calling 800-633-6721.

Saturday’s pre-induction activities include a NDCHF Trustee’s meetingat 10 a.m. MDT at Tjaden Terrace. Trustees will discuss 2001 categoriesand nominations.

Activities continue Sunday, Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. at the 44th Annual HomeOn The Range Champions’ Ride, Sentinel Butte, where 2000 honoreeswill be introduced by Winston Bruce of the Calgary Stampede. ForHOTR Champions’ Ride tickets call 701-872-3745. (*See page 20.)

OLD SHEPOne of the most consistent saddlebronc horses of all time, 022 OldShep, was born north of Wibaux,Mont., in 1964.

“IboughthimfromBillTeetersas atwo-year-oldcolt,”saysstock contractor Bob Aber, Aber Rodeo Co.,Beach. The sorrel gelding was amonga group of horses Aber purchasedfrom Teeters. “His mother was a big,white work horse and his daddy was alittle sorrel Arabian stud,” Bob says.“Bill didn’t know what he had and Ihad no idea what I was getting either.”

What Bob got was a saddle bronchorse chosen to buck in 15 consecu-tive National Finals Rodeos, from1970 through ‘84. He was named topsaddle bronc at the 1975 NFR, andwas twice voted second best at theNFR. He also earned Home On TheRange Champions’ Ride “best bronc”honors five times.

Recalling Old Shep’s start Bob says,“I tried him out a couple of times andthen bucked him at a college rodeo inFargo as a three-year-old. That’s wherehe really bucked the first time.”

Old Shep stood about 15 hands andweighed 1,200 pounds. Bob namedhim after the original owner’s dog.Bob laughs and says, “Yep, that’s real-ly how he got his name.” His full sis-ter, Moon River, also earned a reputa-

tion as a solid saddle bronc horse.Old Shep carried numerous cowboys

to the pay window including BobbyBerger, Pearsall, Texas, at Cheyenne,Wyo., and Brad Gjermundson,Marshall, at Dickinson in 1977. Thatwas Gjermundson’s second-ever pro-fessional rodeo and he scored 80points to win.

“Old Shep was the most well-knownsaddle bronc to come out of NorthDakota in recent years,” saysGjermundson, a four-time worldchampion. “He was as honest as couldbe. He was good in the chute and he’dstart with a rear out almost every time.He bucked hard every time and youcould win first, but he threw a lot ofguys off because he kicked hard andwas kind of droppy.” He adds, “I hadhim two or three times at the NFR. Hewas one of my all-time favorite hors-es.”In a NDCHF nomination letter,

Calgary Stampede Rodeo ManagerWinston Bruce, called Old Shep “asolid campaigner.”

Killdeer saddle bronc rider RockieKukla, agrees, saying, “If you rodehim right you’d dang sure be in themoney. If you didn’t ride him righthe’d throw you off.” Kukla won the1984 Champions’ Ride short-go onOld Shep.

Six-time NFR qualifier Bud Pauley,Isabel, S.D., says, "Many a horse hasbucked rank a few times and quit butnot Old Shep. He was so good to ride.There was nothing phony about him.”He adds, “In North Dakota andMontana there was probably moremoney won on him than on any otherhorse.”

Pauley thinks Old Shep knew if hisrider was a rookie. “He didn’t try thathard if you were a kid, but if you weresomebody who could ride he’d squatin the chute and mess with your minda little bit.”

Pauley wrote in a nomination letter,“It takes heart andthe respect of thetop bronc riders ofeach year to make itto the NFR. OldShep earned thisfeat 15 times. This is

Page 2 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of FameExecutive Director..............Darrell Dorgan

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

Board MembersKaye Burian...........................ManningRuss Danielson.....................HarwoodVirginia Eck...........................BismarckLaura Griffin.............................MedoraRay Morrell..................................MinotEvelyn 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:Emily Tescher-Johnston

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

a big statement; for example, 25bronc riders times 15 years equals375 opinions.”

He continues, “I had Old Shep fivetimes. At the height of my career hebucked me off and the rest of the timeI’m pretty sure I won first. My broth-er Bill made many first-place wins onhim too.”

He is convinced the best ride he’sever seen featured Doug Brown,Silverton, Ore., on Old Shep at the1975 NFR. Brown scored 86 points.

Pauley writes, “I went to the NFRsix times, from 1980 to ‘85. I wouldhave liked to have had Old Shep inevery round, every year. You didn’thave to worry about Old Shep notbucking. He tried his hardest everytime. He stood right there in thechute, as if to say, ‘Get on kid and I’ll(Continued on page 3)

Rodeo

Dakota Awards301 East Front AvenueBismarck, ND 58504

701-222-0827 or 800-626-9562

Awards Supplier for the NDCHF

(Old Shep, continued from page 2)show you what a good one feelslike.’”

Pauley added a P.S., stating, “Thisletter came from my heart. I did it forOld Shep and no one else. That’s theway I feel about him. He was kind ofa friend of mine–an honest friend.”

Old Shep eventually grew too old tocontinue his illustrious career. “Still,he always wanted to go along,” Bobsays, “so we hauled him but didn’tbuck him. We got to Sidney, Mont.,one year and my son, Jeff, said ‘Well,why don’t you buck him? He’s feelingso good.’ We did. He bucked off EdLockwood, Miles City. Mont. That’sthe last time he ever bucked and it wasone of his best trips ever.”

Old Shep was put to sleep in 1995and is buried on the Aber Ranchbeneath a tombstone that reads sim-ply, “Old Shep.”

GENE McCORMICKGene McCormick, Bismarck, was arespected rodeo cowboy, rancher,father, friend and helping hand. BornJan. 27, 1926 in Bismarck, to Charlesand Ruth (Madland) McCormick, hegrew up with two brothers on a farmnorth of Menoken.

Even as a toddler, Gene liked torope, using twine off the feed sacks.The first hard-twist rope he got wasfrom his uncle, Lawrence Madland, in1934. The new rope was much easierto throw and he practiced ropingweeds, sunflowers, pigs, sheep and hisfriends until they were fed up with it.When the wild turkeys came in toroost on the windmill, Gene ropedthem too, pulling them down off ofthe windmill instead of shootingthem.

Gene attended school in Menokenuntil the 11th grade when the schoolclosed. He graduated from BismarckHigh School in 1943 and served in theU.S. Navy from 1944 to ‘46.

He participated in his first rodeo in1943, entering the bareback riding,saddle bronc riding, steer wrestlingand calf roping. Returning from theNavy, he continued to participate inrodeos but eventually quit roughstockevents so he could stay in shape forranching. Then, he participated mainlyin calf roping, team roping and steerwrestling.

Genewon theN o r t hD a k o t astate calfr o p i n gc h a m p i -onship inDickinsonin 1948 andagain in ‘55. He was the North Dakotastate champion steer wrestler in 1953,‘54 and ‘55. Bill Linderman, RodeoCowboys Association president,appointed Gene as RCA spokesman inNorth Dakota in ‘53.

The last rodeo Gene participated inwas at the Bismarck Civic Center in1969. Competing in steer wrestling,calf roping and team roping, he stillmade it to the pay window.

Gene was a Professional RodeoCowboys Association gold card mem-ber, a member of the North DakotaStockmen’s Association, and theNational Cattlemen’s Association for44 years.

Gene married Betty Small Swensonon November 8, 1952, at Wibaux,

Mont. The couplehas seven children:Patty (Tim)Mattson, Menoken;Peggy (Roman)K a u f f m a n ,Bismarck; Pam(Keith) Fordahl,Bismarck; Vicky(Milo) Trusty,Bismarck; Linda(Don) Hawley, PalmSprings, Calif.;

Monte Swenson, Bismarck; and GeneSwenson, Dallas, Texas. They alsohave 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“They used to kid Gene that hebrought his own cheering section tothe rodeo because he brought all thekids,” says his wife, Betty, Bismarck.

After he had basically quit ridingrough stock, she says, “He must havedecided to ride saddle bronc one par-ticular day. I think it was in Medora.He came out of the chute sideways,really–he’d gotten one leg on thewrong side, and Cy Taillonannounced, ‘Here comes that Irishmanriding side saddle!’” She adds, “I canstill remember it. He bucked off on hishead.”

Gene always said he “never roped acalf except when he paid an entry fee.”Betty concurs, “He didn’t practice.Never did.”

For years, John Quilliam, Killdeer,was adamant about Gene team ropingwith him in the annual KilldeerMountain Roundup Rodeo. Quilliamwould enter the duo, and then callGene and inform him. Gene wouldlaugh and say, “That darn ol’ John,I’ve got too much alfalfa down (to begone rodeoing).” Still, his daughter,Peggy says, “We spent every 4th ofJuly at rodeos in Killdeer andDickinson.”

Peggy describes her dad as veryquick witted. “He found humor ineverything,” she says.

“He was man of very strong charac-ter. Dad taught us responsibility.”Remembering her f irst flat tire shesays, “When I called and told my dad Ihad a flat tire he said ‘Well then youbetter change it.’ He made sure welearned life’s lessons.”

He also educated himself, Peggysays, “He read books, U.S. News andWorld Report, and Newsweek cover-to-cover.

Noting that Gene stood straight andtall she adds, “He couldn’t bear to seeanyone slouch. We all respected himimmensely, as did his peers.”

Gene was proud of his Irish heritage,his family and his cattle. “He dearlyloved his ranch and land and(Continued on page 4)

The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000 • Page 3

Mandan • Dickinson • New LeipzigHebron • Taylor • Bismarck

(McCormick, continued from page 3) took good care of everything.” Still,she says, “He was a very humbleman.”

She concludes, “He had a roughexterior but a very soft heart. “He always wanted to be a cowboy.

He loved ranching and he lovedrodeos. He was perfectly satisf iedwith his life because he did what hewanted to do.” Gene died July 31,1996.

LOUIE PELISSIERLouis Pelissier, better known as Louie,was born March 20, 1897, south ofMedora on a ranch along Sully Creek.A son of George and Kate (Roberts)Pelissier, he was raised with twobrothers and three sisters.

“I had very little schooling,” Louiewrote in “50 Years In The Saddle” Vol.1. “My idea early in life was to be acowboy instead of a college professor.When I was a small fry I looked up toBill Chaloner (often pronounced“Chandler”) as a bronc rider and BillFollis as a range hand and roper. Theywere the very best.”

At about age 15 Louie started work-ing for Willis King’s horse outfit nearMedora. “They gave me some prettygood training at handling wild hors-es,” Louis wrote. “When I was 17 Iwas breaking wild horses to ride.”

In the summer of 1916 Louie went towork for Doc Spear and JohnnyShreaves near Sheridan, Wyo. Herecalled, “They gave me 19 broncs toride and they would sure buck! It waswhat you’d call the ‘rough string.’ Ifelt real good about it in later yearsbecause I didn’t get bucked off one of

them.” He also worked two seasonsfor Bud Alderson in Wyoming beforeputting his bed on a horse and trailingback to Medora in 1917.

“My rea-son forc o m i n gback was tosee the girlI later mar-ried–LauraL e b o , ”L o u i ew r o t e .“About thistime Iworked for Hugh “Con” Short northof Medora.”

Louie returned to Wyoming to workfor Phil Keffler on the Powder River.In 1918 he went to Miles City to enlistas a horse breaker at the Fort KeoghRemount Station but since they werefilled up, he didn’t serve in the army.

He married Laura in 1918 and waspleased to claim a “good looking,extra-good cowgirl.”

That autumn Louie helped trail hors-es to Belle Fourche, laid over one dayand headed back to Medora with twosaddle horses and one “plumb raw”eight-year-old bronc. “On the wayback my horses were so tired I saddledup the bronc at Bowman,” he wrote.“Of course he bucked and ran off,which is not the way to break a horse,but he still turned out to be prettygood...I pulled in at Chi Otto’s place atBullion Butte that night, caught afresh horse and loped 25 miles intoMedora to see my son who was bornwhile I was gone.”

Louie recalled breaking snaky horsesfor $10 a head.

“‘Seemed like apretty slow way tomake money but wedid it anyway.”

Louie worked forEd Titus south ofMedora in the win-ter of 1918-19. Hereturned to WillisKing’s in the 1920s.

The couple hadthree children:Bernie (deceased,

his wife Blanche, currently ofDickinson); Elsie (John) Trotter,Cawston, British Columbia, Canada;and Marjorie (J.W.) Boulware, MilesCity, Mont.

Unfortunately, Laura died in 1928.“From that time on my three childrenstayed with my mother to go to school,but would come to the ranch with mefor vacations and in the summer.”

Elsie, recalls, “Our dad raised us onthe ranch and furnished us with work,fun and a lot of love and caring. It wasan upbringing to be envied.”

Louie’s granddaughter LauraPelissier Griffin, Medora, says, “Louiehad a great influence on his grandchil-dren–everything from the cowboylifestyle to dancing. He sang‘Strawberry Roan’ while he hauled usaround the country feeding us pop andice cream. We have very fond memo-ries of him.”

Louie married Isabel Kennedy in1931 and they had one daughter, Jean(E.O.) Jacobson, Billings, Mont.

Louie bought a ranch in 1931 andowned one somewhere along the LittleMissouri River for the rest of his life.“I’m a better judge of horses than I amof cattle because I learned it earlier inlife, but as a business, cattle are by farthe best,” he wrote. “You don’t have tomisrepresent them or lie to sell them.”

He continued, “I’ve spent my wholelife handling wild horses. I’ve beenbucked off, jumped on and punctureda lung with broken ribs, but got bylucky. I have never had a broken legwhich is uncommon for my age, butmy legs are all boogered up from hors-es falling on them and kickingme...I’ve been trapped a few timeswith a horse laying on me in the hillsand he couldn’t get up. By uncinchingyour saddle from either side...he canget up and off of you.”

Louie rode bucking horses and ropedat rodeos but claimed he was “not out-standing at either.” However, he wasstate calf roping champion numeroustimes.

He was best known in rodeo circlesas a top-notch pickup man, starting in(Continued on page 5)

Page 4 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

Mandan • 701•667•1980

(Pelissier, continued from page 4)1916 and continuing into the ‘60s. Hewrote, “Whatever you do, roping orpicking up, some say your horse ishalf, but I’d say he’s 80 percent.”

Louie enjoyed team roping into the1960s and wrote, “When a cowboystarts out he is generally a bronc rider.When he weakens a little he goes forroping. Maybe as he goes down hegoes for bull dogging or starts pickingup. When he drops from that he startsriding cutting horses. Babysittingwould be next. The ending of a realcowboy is tending bar or herdingsheep.”

Louie wasn’t a big operator but hemade a living in the cattle business formany years. “Sagebrush and cotton-seed cake have saved my business agood many times. The ‘30s were pret-ty rough going but we made it any-way.” He learned that range cattle insheltered brush country can live onthree or four pounds of 40-percentprotein daily and make it throughmost winters. He wrote, in typicalLouie fashion, “A county agent wouldtell you to feed them one pound, butmaybe he never owned a cow.”

Louie is remembered for his positiveinfluence on young cowboys, for thequality horses he sold, and the funnystories he told. He became a chartermember of the National Cowboy Hallof Fame in Oklahoma City, Okla., in1959.

He concluded, “If I had my life tolive over I’d do pretty much the samethings. I would perhaps try to ranch ina little bigger way, but live about thesame kind of life...I have some nicegrandchildren that I think a lot of. Iwould prefer seeing my grandsons

grow up to be cowboys rather thanbankers.”

The highly respected, clean-living,working cowboy and cattle rancherdied of cancer on Jan. 14, 1970.

FETTIG BROTHERS RODEOThe Fettig brothers–Tony, Jack, Nick,Ray and Phil–sons of Jacob andTheresa (Rohrick) Fettig, started rais-ing bucking horses and contractingrodeos in the 1940s. Known as FettigBrothers Rodeo, the company wasowned and operated by the brothersand their sister, Monica Hovden.

Fettigs produced rodeos in NorthDakota, South Dakota and Montana,and furnished horses for the Days of‘76 Rodeo in Deadwood, S.D., theCheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne,Wyo., and the World’s Fair Rodeo inMontreal, Quebec, Canada.

Fettigs raised remount horses for theU.S. Cavalry and built their herd usingold cavalry horses, government stal-lions and in later years, top horsesfrom area ranches, the Fort BertholdIndian Reservation and the Miles CityBucking Horse Sale. They contractedthe Killdeer Mountain RoundupRodeo and the Killdeer Herald oncewrote, “a good many horses furnishedby Fettigs have never been ridden tothe finish by any rider.”

In the 1950s Fettigs purchased aMontana rodeo outf it owned byMargie Greenough and Joe Ore. Philalso added Brahman bulls and ropingcalves and Mexican steers, andbecame approved as a RodeoCowboys Association stock contactor. The bucking horses ran on the family

farm and another purchased ranchnear the Lost Bridge, both north of

Killdeer. They produced 20

to 25 rodeos perseason. Phil andNick worked aspickup men, Jackwas flankman, Raywas chute boss andhauled the stockwhile Monica han-dled secretarialduties and designedthe company’s

matching rodeo fashions. Tony and hisfamily did trick roping and he servedas a pickup man at several arearodeos. In addition to producingrodeos, the Fettigs participated in var-ious rodeo events for many years.

Phil began constructing a newKilldeer rodeo arena at its present sitesouth of town in 1956.

Fettigs were among stock contractorspresent at the f irst National FinalsRodeo in Dallas in 1959. They hadstock selected to the NFR for most ofthe next two decades.

Fettigs had more stock at the NFRthan any other contractor in 1963 and‘64 and Bear Den was the top NFRbareback horse those two years.

Nick was the first brother to ownbucking horses. When Nick enteredthe Navy, he sold them to Phil. AfterPhil’s death in an automobile accidentin 1960, Jack bought the company andrenamed it Fettig Rodeo. He contin-ued promoting and producing rodeosthroughout the Midwest until 1976.

Jack, his brother, Ray, and Phil’s son,LeRoy, have kept the stock contract-ing business operating for more than60 years. Fettigs continue breedingbucking horses and with the assis-tance of Lynn Linseth, Killdeer, pro-vide horses to about 15 North DakotaRodeo Association and RoughriderRodeo Association rodeos per year.

“Jack is still raising horses and peo-ple still comment about how theyenjoy seeing those horses in the LostBridge area of the Badlands,” saysTony’s daughter, Lynell Sandvick,Killdeer.

“Ray was usually the horse trailingboss, as I remember it,” says LeRoyFettig, Dickinson. “Ray, Gary(Continued on page 6)

The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000 • Page 5

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Page 6 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

(Fettigs, continued from page 5)Lawhead and I trailed about 150 horses from Killdeer to New Town forthe rodeo in 1957; from Killdeer tothe Blue Buttes north of Mandaree, tothe Four Bears Bridge. That was thelast time we trailed horses a great dis-tance for a rodeo. I can still rememberthe thrill of taking those horses acrossthe bridge; it was bouncing from thecadence of the trotting horses.”

While that was the last time horseswere trailed a great distance,Sandvick adds, “For a number ofyears, as late as the 1970s, we stilltrailed horses into Killdeer and backout.”

“My dad loved rodeo and greatbucking horses,” LeRoy says. “Hewas an innovator and worked hard toimprove the rodeo company.”

Fettigs searched constantly for goodbucking horses. Some of their greathorses included: Figure Four, FuneralWagon, Spur Dodger, Red Pepper,Bear Den, Steel Dust, Hobby Horse,Killdeer Mountain and ReservationRed.

“I think the biggest enjoyment I’vehad was the fact I had bucking horsesknown all over the world,” says Jack,Killdeer. “For two years in a row I hadmore total stock in rodeos than anyother contractor in the U.S. and all thestock had a good name.”

Fettigs added class to rodeo withgrand entries and parade routines thatincluded matched horses and paradeoutfits, as well as colorful, matchedshirts for rodeo workers. Leroy notes,“My mother would wash and iron 30or 40 shirts after each rodeo, withoutan automatic washer and dryer.”

Jack says, “We tried to get all of our

horses and outf its to match. Therewere glittery metallic outfits in green,gold, red, black and purple. We alsohad shirts and eight pairs of paradechaps for each color. Initially, wetried to get solid black horses but weonly found three, so we had to useblack horses with white socks. Thehorses we used in parades and thegrand entry were matched buckskinsand then later two matchingappaloosas.”

Pointing toward the Fettig family’syears of rodeo involvement, friendand rodeo supporter Cleo Veeder,Killdeer, assures, “It’s a good, old-time rodeo outfit. They’re good guysand they put on good rodeos withplenty of top-notch bucking stock.”

BEN BIRDBenton C. Bird was born in Denison,Texas, on Dec. 7, 1864, to John andDovie Bird, who had moved therefrom Virginia.

“In 1881 I started my career as acowboy in earnest and went to workfor Adair and Goodnight on their JARanch in the Palo Duro Canyon,” Bensaid in an account recorded by AlBuckli. This was his first associationwith celebrated “Steeldust” poniesand he said, “They were sure toughenough, and stout as the devil’s righthand on the end of a rope.” Benstayed with the JA for three years.

He made his first trip north in 1883,trailing a herd of 2,800 mossy-hornedsteers. “We delivered them near themouth of the Missouri about 125miles north of Miles City, Mont. We

helped gather somebeef that fall thengot a train ride toChicago with thebeef...The commis-sion f irm gave uspasses back toTexas.” There, Benand another youngman rode furthersouth where theypicked cotton andbet on weekend

horse races.“It (betting)paid offbetter thancowpunch-ing and wesure had alot of fun,”he said.

In 1885Ben trailedh o r s e snorth for the Hashknife outfit in east-ern Montana. In 1886 he trailed steersnorth for the OX outfit, returning toTexas again that fall. “I guess it waslucky I did for the winter of 1886-87was the granddaddy of all winters.”

In the spring of ‘87 Ben trailed aherd of remittance steers north for thegovernment, destined for Fort Pierre,S.D. “For some reason the govern-ment didn’t take the steers and ourcompany sold them to the Long Xoutf it, the Reynolds Bros., DakotaTerritory,” he said.

Ben made his last trip north in thespring of 1892 when former school-mates Bob Wilcox and Wilse Richardsasked him to help move a herd of3,400 steers to a new-found haven ofgrass in Dakota Territory near theKilldeer Mountains. “We loaded thecattle in Amarillo, Texas, and shippedthem and our remuda to OrinJunction, Wyo.,” he said. “From therewe trailed them to the KilldeerMountains, to the ranch later knownas the Diamond C.”

Ben noted some of the biggest traildrive worries: a lack of water, duststorms, thunder storms, tornadoes,rustlers and constant mirages overdesert country which made droversdoubt their senses. In a story writtenby Helen Clark and printed in OldWest magazine (Fall 1980), Ben said,“One day I was riding for two hourstoward a herd that seemed only a fewhours ride away. I thought to myself,‘I’ll just go check on whose herd thatis.’ As I was riding toward it, thewhole herd vanished. I felt mightyfoolish.” The scarcity of water formedother mirages; Ben said sometimesthere seemed to be a sea of water with(Continued on page 7)

Ranching

(Bird, continued from page 6)huge ships sailing on the waves.

He and Tim Randall soon starteddealing in horses near the KilldeerMountains. “We bought 100 head tostart with–just raw broncs fromMontana,” he said. “A few homestead-ers were already showing up so wehad no trouble selling them. Wemoved this bunch into the vicinity ofTaylor at prices from $60 to $100,which gave us a nice profit.”

Ben began managing the RiversideHorse Ranch southwest of Mandan inthe fall of 1893. “I had no investmentin these horses but was to manage3,800 and sell the surplus horses on acommission basis.” The Riverside alsoran about 30,000 sheep, 15,000 cattleand 800 registered Percheron horses.Ben stayed at the Riverside for sevenyears. “I cleaned up the last of theRiverside Ranch horses in 1899,” hesaid. “We trailed 2,730 over to theTurtle Mountains and sold small lotsto the newly located homesteaders.”

Ben married Ida Connelly atRiverside in 1896 and they moved toCalifornia because of Ida’s poorhealth. “I got a job driving a stage-coach from Raymond to YosemiteValley, some 65 miles. My wife’shealth was not improving and we bothwanted to get back to North Dakota,so in 1905 we journeyed back to NewSalem,” where Ben had left 50 horseswith Steve Weekes. Upon their returnBirds purchased the Jack Watsonranch and set up a livery stable at NewSalem, and later in Almont andCarson. He also helped locate landand livestock. “Settling the settlers inthis country was a big thing for him,”recalls his grandson Jim Bird,

Killdeer. “His trail trips were good,but helping the settlers gave him morepleasure.”

Ben and Ida had six children, alldeceased: Robert, Verna, Earl,William, Edith, Gladys. Ida died ofgangrene in 1917 and was the firstperson buried in the Almont cemetery.Ben lived in the Medora communityfor many years.

The highly skilled horseman wasknown for sitting tall and straight inthe saddle. He took part in rodeos as asteer roper and also won fame inhorse racing. He won his last tie-downcalf roping title at the age of 75 andhis last major steer roping contest atMiles City when he was 77.

Ben raced and traded horses at coun-ty fairs and powwows and followedhorse racing for decades. One of hisbiggest thrills was receiving anInternational Racing Association life-time recognition trophy at Phoenix,Ariz., in 1959.

He was a member of the NationalCowboy Hall of Fame, the CodyInternational Cowboys Association,the Old Trail Drovers of Texas and theRange Riders Association ofMontana. Ben served 25 years as aStock Protective Association under-cover agent and also as a deputy sher-iff.A quiet and direct man known for his

kindness, humility, fairness and hon-esty, Ben was also noted for his greatsense of humor. Jim says, “Grandpahad good eyesight. One time we wereout riding and he said, ‘See that deer.’(Despite his effort in pointing it out) Icouldn’t see it so finally he shot and itcame tumbling down. He asked, ‘Nowdo you see it?’”

Ben said of hislife, “Men caredabout each other inmy day. The good ofone was the good ofall. We pulledtogether becausetimes were hard...we also knew howto rely on our ownresources. Hardshipmakes for back-bone.”

Ben died at the Beach hospital onApril 1, 1962, and is buried in theAlmont Cemetery.

BILL FOLLISJames William Follis, known alwaysas Bill, was born March 19, 1865 on aranch near Stevensville*, Texas. Hisparents were W.J. and Mary (Hudges)Follis. His father served as aConfederate Army cavalryman duringthe Civil War.

When Bill was seven his family leftTexas, trail-ing theircattle toT r i n i d a d,Colo. Youngas he was,Bill rodeherd asthough hewere agrown man.He lefthome at 15 and worked in NewMexico for two years. There he heardcowboys tell of the “Three Seven”outfit in eastern Montana and westernNorth Dakota. In 1883, Bill took atrain to the town of Keith, about amile and a quarter east of what is nowWibaux, Mont.

Bill was hired by the 777 outf it,owned by the Berry-Boyce CattleCompany of Texas. He was promotedto foreman in 1884 at a salary of $175a month and was also a “rep,” havingthe authority and responsibility forbuying and receiving company cattle.

Many Texas cattle were purchasedfor the 777 in the 1880s and the nextand biggest job was getting them tohome range. These cattle were trailedthe length of the Chilsom Trail, about1,500 miles. It took nearly f ivemonths to complete the trip. In 1888the 777 outfit and others began ship-ping cattle part way and trailing themonly about 400 miles. Even the short-er trip required a month.

With Bill as foreman, the 777 ranabout 30,000 head a year from 1888to 1898. Old timers attested to Bill’sabilities and he enjoyed a reputationas a superb roper, even when he(Continued on page 8)

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(Follis, continued from page 7)reached an advanced age.

According to a biography by hisgranddaughter, Mary McDonaldVictory, the 777 offered hands anopportunity to invest their earnings incattle and then run them with the out-fit at no charge. Bill admired this ideabut because he loved good times andpoker games, he never seemed to haveenough money for cattle. In lateryears he recalled that a frugal cow-hand took advantage of the offer andwhen the 777 closed out, sold his cat-tle for $28,000. McDonald Victorywrote, “My grandfather would laughand end the story by telling that hehimself ended up owing the company$250!”

Hands who worked for Bill at onetime or another included Tater LegsJones, J.A. Van Egan, Plug Plunkett,Bill Moss, Al Sears, John Leakey,Johnny Moats and a cook namedDutch Louie.

Men whom Bill knew and respectedincluded: Charley Bahn, Six-ShooterSlim Gunkle, Harve Robinson, ChrisRasmussen, Joe Meyers, Dan Connell,John Hanson, Hugh “Con” Short andNorman Findahl. He counted HowardEaton–who initiated the Custer TrailRanch–one of his lifelong friends.

Bill worked with Teddy Roosevelt inthe big roundup of 1884. WhenRoosevelt lost most of his herd in thebad winter of 1886-87 he decided toquit ranching. Surviving cattle wereplaced in charge of a hand andarrangements were made to run themwith the 777 outfit.

The 777 closed out its holdings in1898. Bill helped round up and ship6,500 cattle in 13 trainloads.

He had purchased his first ranch in1897 and when the 777 closed out hebegan ranching 20 miles south ofMedora. The ranch was located near abend in the Little Missouri Riverknown as the Little Ox-Bow, forwhich the ranch was named. Bill used“OX” as his cattle brand and a “Lazy7” for horses. He later changed hiscattle brand to “reverse FN connect-ed.” He bought two other ranchesnearby and eventually ran about 1,000cattle.

He also served two terms as BillingsCounty sheriff, from 1899 to 1903. Atthat time, Billings County includedwhat are now Golden Valley andSlope Counties. Bill scoffed at thosewho thought the West was really wildand wooly, saying he only remem-bered one gun battle during his wholeterm as sheriff.

Bill owned a team of white horsesnamed Pud and Charley, noted fortheir ability to swim the LittleMissouri which could become a highand raging torrent. One of his favoritesaddle horses was a bay named Major.

Bill said he owed his life to Charleyas he recalled a wagon wreck in thefall of 1904. While hauling wintersupplies to the ranch in a three-boxwagon, Charley was the “wheel” in asix-horse hitch, of which one-f ifthwas young and green-broke. Onehorse spooked, frightening the others.Amidst the ensuing tangle, the wagonbegan to tip and Bill jumped from hisseat to save himself and broke his leg. Meanwhile Charley planted himself tokeep the entourage from running.Eventually, Bill was able to untanglethe horses by cutting reins with hisjack knife. He maneuvered himself

onto Charley’s back froma sidehill and rodeacross the river and up tothe ranch house door.

Bill sold his last ranchon Bullion Creek in1928. He moved toDickinson, but when thestock market crashed in1929, he headed west foranother eight years ofranching.

Bill had married Mary

Powers in 1888 in Wibaux. Two sonsand four daughters were born of thisunion with one son and one daughterdying in infancy. Mary died in 1897.Bill built a rock house on BullionButte as a summer home, sharing itwith his second wife, Mary “Mayme”Lebo.

Bill died on Nov. 15, 1950. He waslaid to rest in St. Patrick’s Cemetery,Dickinson.(*Editor’s note: May be Stephenville.)

OLE SOLBERGOle Solberg was born Sept. 28, 1914on his family’s Benson County home-stead, 11 miles south of York. The10th child of Norwegian immigrants,Christ and Rakkel (Dockset) Solberg,he grew up with six brothers and foursisters.

His mother died in 1916 and Olelived with his uncle in South Dakotafrom 1916-18. He returned to NorthDakota, graduating from Baker HighSchool in 1932, where he was a suc-cessful student and baseball player.He attended North DakotaAgricultural College, Fargo, majoringin animal husbandry, and returnedhome to pursue ranching.

Ole went to the West Coast in themid-1930s, working variously on adairy farm, cattle ranch and sheepranch. He returned home, havinglearned the grass is not always green-er on the other side of the fence.

He bought the family homesteadfrom his father in 1939. In the ensu-ing years he experimented with rais-ing Poland China pigs and Angus cat-tle to support his interest in saddlehorses.

Ole’s lifelong influence on theregion’s recreational horse industrybegan in earnest in the mid-’40s. Hecommitted to developing a consistentPalomino strain in his herd andworked tirelessly to raise and promotequality saddle horses, regardless ofcolor.

He became widely known as anaccomplished horseman, astute horsetrader and excellent judge of horses.

Many youngsters had their f irsthorseback ride and bought their first(Continued on page 9)

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Medora Musical Shows - 8:30 NightlyJune 2 thru September 3, 2000

(Solberg, continued from page 8)horse at the Solberg ranch. Ole firmlybelieved every child should have ahorse by which to learn responsibility,respect and patience. Glenn B.Johnson, Jamestown, notes, “WhenOle had children of his own theylearned to ride a horse before theycould walk.”

Once, a young girl talked her parentsinto visiting the ranch “just to look,”as she hadn’t yet saved enough moneyto buy her own horse. Not surprising-ly, Ole swiftly sold them one of hisbest horses on a payment plan of $13per month, and for at least $100 lessthan the horse was worth.

Another example is Kindra JohnsonGuty, Knox, who learned to ride on avery gentle, older horse her parentsbought from Ole. When the horse diedof old age two years later, he delivereda new horse at no charge.

Julie Tollefson, Minnewaukan, gotboth her f irst pony, Lucky, and herf irst horse, Bonnie, from Ole. “Hecould always find just the right horsefor the right person,” Julie says. Herolder sister, Jean Johnson, GrandForks, recalls Ole taught them to becautious and alert around horses. Jeansays, “I always remember his words ofadvice and still use it today when I amhandling a horse.”

In 1966, Ole became one of the firstparticipating members of the NorthDakota Equine Ranchers Association.He participated in the North DakotaState Championship Horse ShowAssociation in Rugby for nearly threedecades. He and his palomino mare,Goldsinger, won the barrel racingnumerous years. He rode in PonyExpress commemorative mail ridesfrom Fort Totten to Fort Stevenson in

recent years and was an AmericanQuarter Horse Association member.

Jim Schmidt, Goodlettsville, Tenn.,worked for Ole after his own fatherdied in 1948, and says, “Ole became abig part of my life. I went to work onthe ranchand it was ad r e a mcome truefor a youngboy. Oletaught mehow togrow up.”

James Solberg, Danville, Calif.,describes his uncle as honest, straight-forward, self-reliant and generous to afault–especially to those less fortu-nate. “Add to this his respect for all ofnature–and especially for the animalshis livelihood depended on–and youhave the incarnation of the ideal cow-boy.”

Tom Farrington, Chadron Neb., alsoworked for Ole and recalls a lessonlearned. Tired after a long day, Tomslumped in his saddle as he and Olerode back to the ranch. Tom says,“Ole launched into a lesson saying‘Your posture in the saddle is a mani-festation of your pride in your horseand your riding abilities. In the futureI expect you to display pride by yourcorrect posture.’” Tom assures, “Idid.”

Probably in the early 1950s, Oleassembled a crew to move loose hayinto the barn. With loose wits andyoung tongues, the crew chided Oleabout his advancing age–he was prob-ably approaching 40. Tom explains,“He announced, ‘For ten cents I’dshow you young fools who is too old.’One of the wits took out a dime and

flipped it towardOle, whereupon heleaped toward thehayfork rope,climbed it hand-over-hand until hereached the barnpeak, then let him-self down the ropein the same manner,all without pausingfor breath. No more

was said about the ravages of age.”Ole married Shirley Burke of Leeds,

a notable equestrienne in her ownright, on Aug. 4, 1962 in Fargo. Theyhave three daughters: Suzanne (Al)Walford, Elko, Minn., Roxanne (Kurt)Gillespie, York, and Judy (Tom)Freund, Cando, and three grandsons.Shirley suffered a brain tumor in1977, and Ole lovingly cared for herwithout complaint for more than 20years.

“As early as I can remember, peopletold me what a great man our dadwas,” Suzanne says. “He had a gift forseeing the best side of people andbringing out the best in them. Dad puton a lot of miles and drank countlesscups of coffee in little cafes and ranchkitchens around the state while doinghorse deals.”

Noting that Ole had his prioritiesright, Suzanne adds, “He lived thegolden rule. People adored him for hischarm and cowboy style.

“I watched him wrangle Badlandshorses and Colorado mustangs thathad never been halter broke, and rideand show well-bred stock of allbreeds. He was the people’s cowboy.”

Ole had major cancer surgery in1987. Six months later an acquain-tance told Suzanne they’d seen Ole ata horse sale and thought he was recov-ering well. She agreed and theacquaintance said, “He jumped rightup on that horse he was selling!”When Suzanne didn’t react as emphat-ically as expected the acquaintanceexclaimed, “He was standing on thehorse!” This was at age 73.

Ole continued that stunt periodicallyuntil he died March 17, 1999 at age84.

EATON BROTHERS’CUSTER TRAIL RANCH

Howard Eaton left Pittsburgh, Penn.,in 1868, seeking the romantic life ofwhich western legends are made. Hesquatted on land in the Missouri Riverbreaks near Medora in 1879. Hisbrother, Alden, arrived in 1881 andhis brother, Willis, in 1882.

The trio established separate ranchesbut consolidated in 1883 on a ranch(Continued on page 10)

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(Eatons, continued from page 9)five miles south of Medora on bothsides of the Little Missouri River.Initially they made their living fur-nishing wild game for railway workgangs and putting up hay for the near-by army post, all the while buildingherds of cattle and horses.

Ranchers could be counted on tooffer a hot meal and to bunk anyonecaught on the trail at dusk. Even so,the Eaton Brothers were more hos-pitable than most, according to “TheRanchers,” written by the Editors ofTime-Life Books. The Eatons wel-comed neighbors as well as a streamof visitors recruited on trips backEast.

No guest paid for his keep until 1882when one dude, said to be BertRumsey, Buffalo, N.Y., desired topostpone his departure and arrangedto stay on for the price of his boardand the use of a horse. The Eatonsreluctantly accepted, thus initiating thefirst dude ranch in the United States.Soon, paying guests produced moreprofit than stock. Eatons named theiroperation the Custer Trail Ranchbecause General George ArmstrongCuster camped near the ranch’s DavisCreek on the way to Custer’s LastStand.

Early accommodations were mod-est. Guests slept several to a bed or onthe floor and paid as little as $25 permonth. They were paying for theopportunity to live in small, sod-roofed log cabins or tents, to partici-pate in ranch life and to enjoy pure airand open space.

Still, the Eaton Brothers continuedto raise stock–even playing a hand inestablishing the noted Logging Camp

Ranch. However, the deadly winter of‘86-87 wiped out an estimated 85 per-cent of Badlands herds. That sameyear the Custer Trail ranch homeburned to the ground. The only finan-cial salvation came from dude guests.

In 1904 Eatons moved their opera-tion to Wolf, Wyo., in the Big HornMountains near Sheridan. It becameone of the best known dude ranches inthe country and served as an authenticbackground for activities and enter-tainment designed for a tenderfoot’staste and capability.

Howard Eaton helped organize theLittle Missouri stockmen into an asso-ciation, according to the Feb. 7, 1884issue of Bad Lands Cow Boy. He laterbecame a trail guide and the Howard

Eaton Trail in Yellowstone NationalPark is named for him. Howard diedin 1922 while Willis died in 1929 andAlden in 1937.

History indicates that after theEatons left North Dakota, “BadlandsBill” McCarty bought portions of theCuster Trail Ranch in 1910 and 1917.Billings County records show the U.S.government sold part of the CusterTrail Ranch in Section 10 (Township139, Range 102) to Mary Naurath in1919. It sold, in turn, to John Testor in

1920 and toMcCarty in 1921.

McCarty sold thebuildings and landon the east side ofthe Little MissouriRiver, totaling 2,878acres, to R.S.“Dick” Johnson, in1931. It is believedthe operation wentbankrupt during theDepression.

Meanwhile, McCarty built a newplace on his land west of the LittleMissouri River, also part of the origi-nal Custer Trail Ranch. McCartyoccupied that land until selling toAdolph Burkhardt in 1947. TomTescher later purchased it fromBurkhardt and Tescher’s son, Perry,currently owns the land.

A group of area Lutheran churchesrented the east side of the ranch as acamp for several years. After muchdeliberation, Badlands Bible CampCorporation–consisting mostly ofchurch laymen from Amidon, Beach,Bowman, New England, Marshall andTaylor–purchased the ranch in 1945,from the Bank of Dickinson whichhad held it in receivership.

Though Eatons had moved on, Duderanching was attempted again in the1920s. “I understand that’s when ourlog lodge was built,” says LowellKrogstad, current Badlands BibleCamp director.

The corporation continued to hostbible camps while renting most of theranch to Walt Christensen. On Sept.25, 1948 they sold most of the land,about 860 acres, to Christensen,retaining just 39 acres for the camp.Badlands Bible Camp is now in its68th year of operation.

Eventually, Christensen sold his landto Fred Luchsinger. Tom Adams pur-chased it from Luchsinger in 1972.Adams still owns and lives on theranch east of the Little Missouri Riverand beside the Bible camp.(Biographies continue on page 11)

North Dakota CowboyHall of Fame

Trustee’s Meeting

Saturday, Aug. 510 a.m. MDT

Tjaden Terrace, Medora

Trustees will discuss 2001categories and nominations.

Dickinson

800-568-2490701-225-8145

“Don’t shoot thebull, sell ‘em at

Western.”

HOME ON THE RANGECHAMPIONS’ RIDE MATCH

Generations of families have traveledacross North Dakota for an afternoonof top saddle bronc riding action atthe Home On The Range Champions’Ride Match, Sentinel Butte. The rodeois celebrating its 44th year benefitingboys and girls living at HOTR.

Father Elwood Cassedy establishedthe ranch in 1950 as a home forneglected and homeless boys. Today,the residential child-care facilityserves disadvantaged, neglected, prob-lematic, pre-delinquent and delin-quent youth, up to 79 at one time.HOTR also has facilities at Glendive,Mont., and Fargo.

The HOTR Champions’ Ride wasborn when professional rodeo cow-boys and brothers, Jim Tescher andTom Tescher, proposed the match toFather William Fahnlander, parishpriest in Sentinel Butte who laterbecame HOTR Superintendent. Theysaw it as a way to help defray thecosts of operating and upgrading thenonprofit facility.

Ray Schnell and his sons, Raymondand Willard, managed the event.Announcer Cy Taillon reported scoreson bucking stock provided by HarleyRoth, Jim Madden, Fettig Brothersand John Steen. Others who helpedwith the f irst match included: EdDoherty, Dick Law, Bill Martin, AlvinNelson and Harley Roth.

It was cold, damp and windy duringthe f irst rodeo in May 1957. Afavorite memory is that world champi-on saddle bronc rider Deb Copenhaverused scrap lumber from chute con-struction to built a f ire behind thechutes, in an effort to stave off thecold. Alvin Nelson, a soon-to-beworld champion, won the rodeo.Champions’ Ride has been held the

first Sunday in August since 1961. Itremains one of the few saddle broncmatches in the nation. Each year, thenatural arena setting awakens withrich rodeo tradition as notable cow-boys and up-and-coming rookies areinvited to participate on top bucking

stock. Each rider is assured two rideswith leading scorers competing in thefinal round, featuring the top saddlebroncs.

“The match concept allows specta-tors to see 20 of the world’s greatestbronc riders on the best horses at oneevent,” says Willard Schnell,Dickinson. “Elsewhere you’d have toattend five or ten rodeo performancesto see anywhere near that many goodbronc rides.”

The opportunity to draw qualitysaddle broncs and benef it youthsattracts professional cowboys toChampions’ Ride. Every world cham-pion saddle bronc rider except Monty

Henson hasridden atHOTR. Apartial listof matchchampionsi n c l u d e s :A l v i nN e l s o n ,D u a n eH o w a r d ,

Pete Fredericks, Jim Tescher, BradGjermundson, Robert Etbauer, DanMortensen and Ty Murray. JimTescher has the most championshipswith four. Rod Hay and Glen O’Neillare the reigning champions, splittingfirst place in 1999.

The best horses provided by stockcontractors across North Americahave bucked at Champions’ Ride for43 years. A partial list of participatingcontractors includes: Fettig Brothers,Harley Roth, Jim Madden, OralZumwalt, Harry Knight, Harry Vold,Tooke Rodeo Company, MarvinBrookman, Bob Aber, BeutlerBrothers, Linger & Cervi, PowderRiver Rodeo Company, KorkowRodeos, and the Calgary Stampede &Exhibition.

Champions’ Ride best bronc awardshave gone to horses such as: TrailsEnd, Whiz Bang, Big John, HardTwist, Necklace, Untouchable,Lonesome Me, Old Shep, Papa Smurfand British Soot.

Through the years, events such ascalf roping, cow cutting, barrel racingand steer riding have been added or

dropped, but saddle bronc riding hasremained the featured event.Triumphant contestants now ride for$13,000 in prize money and a trophyrifle. The current Champions’ Ridealso features bull riding.

In addition to being a family-orient-ed fund-raiser, the Champions’ Rideprovides HOTR residents with theexperience of scraping and paintingfences, mowing and raking hay, sell-ing concessions and programs, guid-ing tours and cleaning up the ranch.Residents savor the opportunity tomeet and visit with rodeo contestantswho serve as positive role models.Their favorite cowboy may complete awinning ride or hit dirt at six sec-onds–a situation that incorporatesrodeo realities with life lessons.

Five-time world champion saddlebronc rider Dan Mortensen,Manhattan, Mont., was a 21-year-oldcollege champion when he first rodeat HOTR in 1990. He won that yearand again in ‘96. “Sentinel Butte isprobably the best matched bronc ridein the world right now as far as goodstock, good prize money and goodcompetition,” Mortensen says.“Anytime I can make it here and com-pete against this caliber of competi-tion on the animals that are here, it’s alot of fun.”

JAMES “CY” TAILLONJames Cyril “Cy” Taillon, “the goldenvoice of professional rodeo,” was bornOct. 18, 1907 northeast of Cavalier.The youngest of Eli and Philomine(Dumas) Taillon’s 10 children, hegrew up helping with farm chores andhorse-powered f ieldwork, whileenjoying card games, horse-drawnskiing, baseball and his family’s musi-cal recreation.

Cy was a violinist at age six and alsolearned to play piano, guitar, tenorbanjo and xylophone. “I learned most tunes from a friend who made moon-shine whiskey,” Cy said. “He’d getarrested and I’d visit him in jail, hand-my violin through the bars, and listen(Continued on page 12)

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(Taillon, continued from page 11)to him play until I knew the tune byheart. To this day I can play dozens oftunes I don’t know the names of.”

Music and microphone prowesssteered Cy into radio announcing.Rodeo producer Leo Cremer, BigTimber, Mont., lured him from radioto rodeo. “I had been announcing at acouple of radio stations during theDepression to bring in some extracash while I was in pre-law at theUniversity of North Dakota,” Cy toldWestern Horseman (September 1966).“Leo kept telling me it could be achallenging and profitable field. I toldLeo I’d do six rodeos for him throughthe summer. Instead, I wound up withengagements extending over 10months, including such rodeos as theone at Chicago Stadium. By then Iwas sold on my job.”

He worked with Cremer until heenlisted in the Army Air Corps in1942. Cy’s niece, Lorna Nowatzki,Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, workedin San Francisco while her Uncle wasstationed there during World War II.She recently recalled, “I would babysit for them...so I got to know them allvery well. He was a very generousand wonderful man. When I startedhaving my family he was always send-ing something in the mail. I still havethe little rocking chair he had when hewas a small child.”

After an honorable discharge in1945, he picked up in rodeo where hehad left off.

The Rodeo Sports News wrote, “Cypioneered the ‘straight man’ style ofannouncing in preference to the oldstyle of ‘corn comedy’ prevalent whenhe took his first whack at the rodeogame, entering the bareback riding atMinot, N.D., in 1927.”

Cy said, “I always swore if I everannounced a rodeo I’d try to presentthe rodeo cowboy as an athlete insteadof as a bum. I want(ed) to explaintheir way of life, their standard ofmanhood, their patriotism.” Theacceptance of his style of announcingwas Cy’s favorite accomplishment.Still, he was modest about it as hiswife, Dorothy, stated, “You broughtclass to rodeo for the first time.”

His clear,c o n c i s ec o m m e n -tary, preciseg r a m m a r ,and distin-g u i s h e d ,w e l l -g r o o m e dappearanceb r o u g h tdignity torodeo. Cy injected drama and humorinto every performance. His mentalbook on hundreds of cowboys madewritten reference notes unnecessary.“I’m interested in the cowboys, and Idon’t have any trouble rememberingthings about them," Cy explained.

Cy also had cool composure. He washandling a rodeo at Great Falls,Mont., on Aug. 9, 1946, when two air-planes collided over the fair grounds,burst into flames and fell to the barns,killing seven people and 19 horses.Despite the tragedy, Cy held the audi-ence from stampeding and the showwent on.

Cy announced the f irst NationalFinals Rodeo in 1959, and went on toannounce it eight more times. Heannounced the Denver NationalWestern 33 consecutive years and theSan Francisco Cow Palace for 30years. He also announced the RoyalEaster Show at Sydney, Australia in1965.

He escaped death in 1965 when heaccepted a job announcing a cuttinghorse finals in Reno, Nev., instead offlying to Idaho with Bill Linderman ina jet that crashed en route.

Cy was was named Rodeo’s Man ofthe Year in 1965 and received theInternational Rodeo ManagementAward during the 1966 NationalWestern. He was nominated for theNorth Dakota Rough Rider Award in1966 and the Western Apparel andEquipment Manufacturers Associationselected him as one of the nation’s 10best-dressed men in 1970 and ‘71. Cywas inducted into the ProRodeo Hallof Fame in 1979. Cy’s f irst wife, whom he later

divorced, was Pat Montgomery andthe couple had a daughter, Cyra Sue.

While in the Army, Cy met and mar-ried Dorothy Cosgriff, an Army lieu-tenant and nurse. They were marriednearly 40 years and had two sons,Terry, Augusta, Mont., and Tom, GreatFalls, Mont.

Dave Stout of the Rodeo CowboysAssociation’s InformationCommission once said of Cy, “Hecould have achieved fame in music,aviation, newscasting or writing if heso desired. It’s fortunate the rodeoworld got the jump on the others toclaim Cy for its own.”Late in his career Cy stated, “I have

enjoyed the freedom of going where Iwanted and doing what I wanted to do.I have loved rodeo with a passion andhave wanted to be no place else butbefore the mic relating this sport tolistening ears.”

Still, it was a hectic lifestyle and Cywrote in 1974, “When the high noiselevel incident to today’s livingbecomes oppressive, I often f indmyself looking back rather wistfullyand nostalgically to the much moretranquil period of my life as a farmyouth in North Dakota. Life then wasrather bucolic and, while work washard, it provided a basic and closeaffinity with family and with the soilthat provided our living...The air wasclean and the smells of the good earthand things growing were experiencesnever to be forgotten.”

Cy retired in 1979 and died April16, 1980 in Great Falls, Mont.

RAY SCHNELL SR.Ray Schnell Sr. was born on hisfather’s homestead near Richardton,May 24, 1893, the youngest of Frankand Maryann (Engel) Schnell’s fiveboys and three girls. He grew upsoutheast of Richardton and took overthe home farm/ranch following hisfather’s death in 1915.

He married Clara Kittleson, a schoolteacher from Minnesota, on Oct. 24,1918 in Richardton. (Continued on page 13)

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(Schnell, continued from page 12)In 1924, Ray attended the Jones

School of Auctioneering in Chicago.He then ran farm and cattle sales, inaddition to ranching.

The Schnells moved to an operationsoutheast of Dickinson in 1925. In the1940s and ‘50s, Ray and his familyexpanded their ranching interests fur-ther, purchasing operations north ofLemmon, S.D., and north and east ofRichardton.

Ray had great draft and saddle horseknowledge and experience. In earlyyears he raised horses using remountstallions, including a famousThoroughbred stallion named DutchHenry and an Arabian stallion namedMazzepan. “I can still remember theCavalry coming to the ranch to try outthose horses,” says his son, Bob, RapidCity, S.D.

“Pops loved good horses,” recalls hisson, Willard, Dickinson. “He constant-ly looked for a better horse.

As the need for draft horses faded,Ray’s ambition to own and raise saddlehorses surfaced. He was among thefirst to import Quarter Horse bloodinto North Dakota in the mid-1940s,buying two entire crops of filly coltsfrom the Albert Mitchell Ranch inNew Mexico.

“He firmly believed the outside of ahorse is good for the inside of a man,”Willard adds. “He wanted his horsesdisciplined, well-trained and ready toearn their keep.”

Ray worked to improve the quality ofhis own livestock and encouraged fel-low producers to do the same. Hejudged cattle and horse shows in tenstates and Canada, including judgingthe Iowa State Hereford AssociationShow and Sale 20 consecutive years.“Dad often purchased livestock fromthe various events he attended, bring-ing them back to North Dakota wherehe sold them to area producers. In thisway, he did much in introducing topseedstock to the region,” says his son,Raymond Jr., Dickinson.

Ray believed in auction marketing. In1937, he and two partners purchasedthe old Stark County Fairgrounds inDickinson, converting it into

Dickinson Livestock Sales Company.Ray and four of his sons bought outthe other partners in 1950. Theyupgraded the market and today it isknown as Stockmen’s LivestockExchange. Schnells also leased mar-kets in Miles City, Mont., andLemmon, S.D., in the late 1950s and‘60s.

Ray supported and promoted numer-ous livestock organizations and activi-ties. He was Missouri Slope LivestockBreeders Association secretary/trea-surer for 30 years and was the firstpresident of the North DakotaLivestock Auction Market Association.He was a North Dakota HerefordAssociation president, North DakotaStockmen’s Association director, andmember of the American NationalCattlemen’s Association, AmericanQ u a r t e rH o r s eAssociationand 50 Yearsin theSaddle.

Ray was atrustee ofHome Onthe Rangefor Boys atS e n t i n e lButte. He helped set up the livestockand farming program and by securingheifer donations, was principallyresponsible for the foundationHereford herd.

His philosophy on politics was, “Ifyou want to raise a family in this stateand nation you’d better be interested inyour government.” He served six two-year terms in the North DakotaLegislature and was elected lieutenantgovernor in 1951-52. He was also acandidate for governor and U.S.Senator. Ray said one of the most interesting

and important projects of his careerwas as a National Cowboy Hall ofFame trustee. He encouraged andguided the project, and chaired the siteselection committee that placed theHall in Oklahoma City.Honors received include 1959 All-

American Father of the Year, bestowedby the American National Cowbelles.

The judges noted that Ray “devoted anoutstanding amount of time to worth-while industry, civic and charitableendeavors, and at the same time raiseda fine family.”

Ray was also named 1963 NorthDakota Man of the Year in Livestockand 1965 Livestock Man of the Year atthe Denver National Western. He was1963 North Dakota State UniversitySaddle & Sirloin Club Agriculturalistof the Year.

Ray promoted, managed andannounced rodeos at Richardton in the1920s, riding his favorite grey horse,Slim, and announcing with a mega-phone.

He constructed a rodeo arena near theDickinson auction market in the late1940s. Then, Ray founded theDickinson Match of Champions,beginning with an invitational calf rop-ing in the summer of 1946. Saddlebronc riding was added in 1948. “We’dhave the top stock from six or sevenstrings,” Bob recalls. “It was a helluvashow.”The last Dickinson Match was held in

1958, as Ray fully supported the just-born Home On The RangeChampions’ Ride at Sentinel Butte.

Ray and Clara had 13 children. Theirliving children include: Lucille Law,Raymond, Willard, and Gordon, all ofDickinson; ; Oral Shjeflo, Scottsdale,Ariz.; Robert, Rapid City, S.D.;Shirlene Winn, Pasadena, Texas;Wayne, Boulder, Colo.; and Jerry,Vienna, Va. Their deceased childreninclude: infant daughters, Lavern andLuella, Howard, killed in 1955, andViola Boehm in 1991.

In addition to his numerous businessand civic endeavors, Ray was an excel-lent public speaker, a true salesmanand an effective goodwill ambassadorfor North Dakota and the livestockbusiness.

He died at his Dickinson home April5, 1970. In a telegram to Ray’s widow,Clara, former Senator Milton Youngwrote, “Ray was one of the greatestcitizens North Dakota has ever pro-duced. He richly deserved the nation-wide recognition he received in manyfields.”

Page 14 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

Once again, the renowned LardinoisFamily will add western dance atmos-phere and unequaled musical qualityto the NDCHF induction ceremonywith their musical prelude beginningat 1 p.m. MDT at Tjaden Terrace,Medora.

John Sr. and Susan Lardinois met inmusic theory class in college andmusic has always been a family priori-ty. Their older son, John Owen, startedplaying violin at age 4 at the SuzukiSchool of Music.

Today, “Fiddlin’ Johnny,” 20, is thecenterpiece of the family’s musicalgroup. His success is credited to end-less hours with bow and violin inhand. He says he finds fiddling lessrigid and more creative than classicalviolin. John Owen chooses to keepmusic a top priority.

Meanwhile his sister, Jeanette, 18,plays the mandolin; Daniel, 16, playsthe cello and John Sr. accompaniesthem all on his guitar. Susan managesthe group, making sure their showgets on the road.

In 1997, John Owen placed third inthe junior division of the National OldTime Fiddler’s Contest in Weiser,Idaho. He’s won numerous fiddlingchampionships across the Midwest inthe last nine years.Available CDs include:

•Aural History (1994), which spansmusical traditions from Civil Wartimes to present. •Cowboy Legacy (1997), presents richfiddle tradition and chronicles the fid-dle’s role in the cattle drives fromTexas to the Dakotas. The recordingincludes 12 pages of liner notes andphotographs detailing the f iddle’simportance to cowboys.•Lewis & Clark, (1998), is a musicaljourney following the 1802 expeditionup the Missouri River, and includes a24-page booklet detailing music’s rolein the expedition.

To purchase CDs check local storesor call Chairmaker’s Rush/MakochéRecording at (800) 637-6863.

Lardinois Family WithFiddlin’ Johnny toPerform at Induction

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Famelimited-edition rifle number 45 is cur-rently being raffled. Tickets are avail-able from NDCHF Trustees and othermembers for $10 each. The drawingwill be held Aug. 6, at the Home OnThe Range Champions’ Ride atSentinel Butte.

The Winchester Model 94 30-30 isone of 50 commemorative rifles com-missioned by the NDCHF Board ofDirectors in 1998.

The rifle was designed by S&SPromotional Group, Fargo. Rifles inthe series sold for $2,100 each but ascollector’s pieces, a secondary markethas already developed. One riflerecently resold for $3,000.

Second prize in the raffle is a bed-and-breakfast weekend for two at theRoughriders Hotel in Medora.

To purchase a raffle ticket call yourlocal NDCHF trustee or the NDCHFoffice at 701-250-1833.

Raffle Tickets Available for NDCHF Rifle

Rifle artwork includes 24-carat gold andnickel etching on the receiver. Scenesinclude branding, roping, bronc riding, apioneer couple and a ‘brand page’ of sixfamous North Dakota brands.

Home On The Range Celebrates its 50th Home On The Range, Sentinel Butte,celebrates “50 years of Care andService to Children” in 2000. To com-memorate the anniversary, HOTR ishosting special activities the eveningof Saturday, Aug. 5 in Sentinel Butte.

A reunion of former HOTR residentsand staff begins at 4 p.m. in theSentinel Butte Community Hall, fol-lowed by a barbeque supper from 5 to7 p.m. A free concert and dance featur-ing Billy D & The Crystals begins at8:30 p.m.

On Aug. 6, the 44th Annual HOTRChampions’ Ride begins at 2 p.m. Thematched bronc ride will feature 20Professional Rodeo CowboysAssociation riders on stock from theCalgary Stampede and Exhibition,Calgary, Alberta, Canada, PowderRiver Rodeo Productions, Wright,Wyo., and Korkow Rodeos, Pierre,S.D. Bull riding rounds out the after-noon of rodeo action.

In addition, the2000 Champions’Ride willinclude a shortr e c og n i t i o nprogram hon-oring Ed andE m m aLievens andFather Elwood

Cassedy. The Lievens came to GoldenValley County in 1911 and farmed andranched until 1949 when nearingretirement, they read of Fr. Cassedy’sdream of starting a home for homelessand neglected boys . The couple deed-ed their 960-acre ranch to Fr. Cassedyenabling him to fulfill his dream.

Finally, HOTR’s 50th Anniversarycelebration will culminate on Friday,Oct. 13, with a roast honoringSuperintendent Emeritus Fr. WilliamFahnlander. The event will be held atthe Seven Seas Inn, Mandan. Ticketsfor the $100-per-plate event are on saleat HOTR and proceeds will help fundthe Fr. Fahnlander Endowment withinthe Home On The Range Foundation.

(NOTE: Champions’ Ride tickets willbe available at the NDCHF Hall ofHonorees induction ceremony inMedora on Aug. 5 and at the gate onAug. 6. Tickets are $30 per immediate

family or $10 for adultsand $6 for students, 7

to 17. Childrenunder six arefree. For morei n f o r m a t i o ncall 701-872-3745.)

Taxidermist DennisSchaner, Mandan,recently donatedmore than 100hours to mount ared-and-white, spot-ted longhorn steerhead for the North

Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.The steer, donated by former Golva

ranchers Ralph and Sue Northrup, isone of the longhorns trailed fromTexas to Miles City, Mont., in 1995.

“I decided to donate my labor tomount this longhorn because it con-tributes to the ranching and farmingheritage that my wife, Patti, and Ihave,” Dennis says, noting that hegrew up near Center. “I like to do my

part and this is a way I can contributemy time and talent.”

A casual viewer can easily appreciatethe beauty of the mount, but eventrained taxidermists praise it, as evi-denced at the North Dakota TaxidermyAssociation Competition and Expo inValley City in March. The mount won“Best of Gamehead Category” out of40 mounts. Noting that working with ashort-haired animal and carefullyblending its features is challenging,Dennis says, “I knew I could give theNDCHF a good product, but I won-dered just how good it could be. Now,it’s gained credibility as a masterpiece.To have had an opportunity to do thisfor the NDCHF means a lot to me.”

Dennis began doing taxidermy in1974. “Taxidermytakes a lot of timeand patience isessential,” he says.

He has mounts allof the United Statesas well as in SouthAmerica andEngland, and haslong promoted thedevelopment andbetterment of taxi-dermy. He is afounding memberof the NDTA andalso belongs to theNational TaxidermyAssociation and theInternational Guildof Taxidermy.

The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000 • Page 15

Three stud fees benefitting the NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame havebeen donated by NDCHF Trustee GlenGeitzen, Halliday, in the last 15months. Bids ranging from $100 to$200 per stud fee have been giventhrough the NDCHF livestock dona-tion program which allows ranchers todonate livestock proceeds to theNDCHF.

Two stud fees were for Star FourPolicy, a son of Angels Policy out of a

direct daughter of Zan Par Bar. Onestud fee was for Caramel’s Rocket, aSugar Rocket son out of CaramelCountess, a daughter of ChocolateJack by Two-Eyed Jack. The fees wereauctioned at the April cataloged horsesale held at Stockmen’s Livestock,Dickinson.

Explaining how it works, Gietzensays, “The bidder buys the breedingservice, writes his check to theNDCHF and then contacts me when

he wants his mare bred.”He concludes, “It’s a win-win-win

situation. There’s no cash lay-out forme, the buyer gets a nice colt for areasonable stud fee and the NDCHFgets a needed donation.

“I challenge other stud owners toconsider doing the same thing. It does-n’t cost much–I feed and care for mystud all year anyway–and it benefitsthe NDCHF.”

Schaner Donates Taxidermy Talent

Three Stud Fee Donations Benefit the N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame

Dennis Schaner, Mandan, mounted this red-and-white,spotted longhorn steer for the NDCHF and earned a“Best of Category” award at the North Dakota TaxidermyAssociation Competition and Expo in March.

Burian Named toNDCHF BoardKaye Burian, Manning, was recently

named to the NorthDakota CowboyHall of Fame boardof directors.

As an artist, Kayesays her ranchingbackground and loveof the outdoors pro-

vide her with the “perspiration andinspiration” necessary to paint herfavorite subjects: prairie landscapes,horses, cattle and buffalo.

Kaye earned a B.S. degree in artfrom Dickinson State University in1966. After teaching art for six years,she turned to painting full-time. Herart is currently featured in the CorbettGallery, Big Fork, Mont., the KrugerGallery, Ellensburg, Wash., andMontana Heritage Interiors, Bozeman,Mont.

Kaye has won numerous awards,including the Best of Show in Oil“Buckskinner Award” at theInternational Roughrider Art Show inWilliston in 1998. She was featured inthe publication Notable NorthDakotans in 1999.

Kaye and her husband, Myran, ownand operate the Lazy 77 Ranch, a reg-istered and commercial Red Angusranch northwest of Manning. Theyhave two sons, Paige (Brenda),Manning, and Harden, a student atKansas State University, Manhattan,Kan.

A traveling exhibit titled, “Legends ofOur Times: Native Cowboy Life” iscurrently on display at the NationalCowboy Hall of Fame and WesternHeritage in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The exhibit, organized by theCanadian Museum of Civilization inHull, Quebec, focuses on NativeAmerican ranching and rodeo as itevolved on the northern Great Plainsand southern Canada.

NDCHF President Phil Baird servedas an advisor of the exhibit. He alsoauthored a chapter titled, “IndianRodeo Cowboys of the Dakotas,”included in the book, “Legends of OurTimes: Native Cowboy Life,” which isavailable with the exhibit.

In addition, the Three Aff iliatedTribes Museum, New Town, is provid-ing cultural artifacts as well as histori-cal information about the impact theMissouri River dam construction hadon Fort Berthold Indian Reservationfarms and ranches.

For the permanent exhibit in Canada,Arnie Charging Sr., Roseglen, pro-duced a large cowhide map outliningmany original Fort Berthold reserva-tion ranches along the Missouri River.Each ranch is identified by its originalcattle brand.

Page 16 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

North Dakota HistoryOn Exhibit in Oklahoma

Edge of the West Rodeo to Support NDCHF

The Raleigh Rodeo Club celebrated its50th anniversary during its annualNorth Dakota Rodeo AssocationRodeo held July 3-4.

The first Raleigh rodeo was held in1950 in the Raleigh stockyards. It wasmoved west of Raleigh in 1951. Oneyear later, it was transferred to its pre-sent location north of Raleigh, havingsecured a 100-year lease from theMike Ternes Family.

The earliest written record (1951)indicates the following men and theirfamilies have long been involved:Howard Christiansen, Wayne

Christiansen, Otto Dally, Joe Eli, JoeGartner, A.J. Kopp, Pete Miller, BillMorrison, Norvin Ozbun, Alois Paul,Alois Riehl, Rossows, Hubert Rounds,Alfred Schiek, Val Schriener, MikeTernes, Vic Ternes, Mike Tishmackand Duaine Voigt. Today, Larry Vetter is RRC president,

along with the assistance of his wife,Kelly. Wayne Eckroth is in charge ofstock. Currently, 31 families areRaleigh Rodeo Club members. Inaddition to the annual NDRA rodeothey produce a high school rodeo, ayouth rodeo and numbered ropings.

Raleigh Rodeo Celebrates 50 Years

NDCHF Board MemberGinny Eck Retires fromTeaching ProfessionNorth Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fameboard member and first-grade teacherGinny Eck, Bismarck, recently retiredfrom education.

Ginny competed in her first horseshow in the pleasure class when shewas seven years old. She went on tobecome a four-time North DakotaRodeo Association barrel racingchampion and reigned as Miss RodeoNorth Dakota in 1963.

Ginny continues to live and work onher ranch southeast of Bismarckwhere she enjoys riding horse, raisinglivestock, reading and gardening.

Bismarck’s Edge of the West Rodeohas joined forces with the NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame to pre-serve western heritage while promot-ing rodeo.

Because Edge of the West Rodeo is anon-profit organization, a percentageof profits from the annual rodeo willbenefit the North Dakota Cowboy Hallof Fame.

“What’s good for rodeo is good forthe NDCHF and vice versa,” saysNDCHF Executive Director DarrellDorgan. The Edge of the West will pro-mote the NDCHF in its advertising andduring rodeo performances. Forinstance, past NDCHF rodeo inducteeswill be invited to attend and be recog-nized during a rodeo performance.In addition, the NDCHF will help pro-

mote Edge of the West. “The NDCHFis in the business of preserving westernhistory and heritage. Rodeo is part ofthat,” Dorgan says. “Anything we cando to promoterodeo promotesheritage.” The fifth

annual rodeois scheduledfor Oct. 5-7at theBismarckCivicCenter.Rodeo per-formances

are at 7:30 night-ly. Stock is pro-vided by 1999ProfessionalRodeoCowboyAssociation’sStock Contractor ofthe Year SankeyRodeoCompany,Cody,Wyo.Nine-timePRCAAnnouncer of the Year Randy Corleywill call the action and Miss RodeoAmerica Brandy DeJongh will be onhand.

Because the Edge of the West is heldtoward the end of the PRCA’s regularseason, it draws numerous top contes-tants who are trying to earn NationalFinals Rodeo berth. “We haven’t hadany problems getting big-name cow-boys before and this year we’re thesame weekend as Minot,” says Edge ofthe West Vice Chairman Tom Neuens,Bismarck. “Having two good rodeos100 miles apart will help us get evenmore good contestants.

The Edge of the West is a DodgeSeries rodeo, a CopeSkoal ProRodeorodeo and a Quality Farm & CountrySeries rodeo.

Vernon E. BrownVernon E. Brown, 74, died in January2000.

Vernon was born Nov. 10, 1925. Hegrew up on the family farm nearMillarton where he later raised horsesand cattle. He married Syble Tomlinon Nov. 3, 1950. They moved toJamestown in 1966 where they built astable and indoor arena. He was amember of the Circle/Cross SaddleClub in Jamestown and a foundingmember of the Fort Seward WagonTrain.

He is survived by his wife, Syble,Faith, S.D.; three sons, Jody (JoAnn),and Newton (Debbie), both of Faith;and Rory (Wanda), Edgemont; andfive grandchildren.

Normen E. GrubbNormen E. Grubb, 73, died March 12,2000.

Normen was born April 12, 1926 inBurke County. He grew up nearBattleview and his first job was herd-ing cattle at age four. He graduatedfrom Powers Lake High School in1945 and served in the U.S. Armyfrom 1946-47.

He married LaVon Nelson, June 18,1950. Normen was active in churchand community. He served in the statelegislature from 1973-74 and was amember of the Powers Lake SaddleClub.

He is survived by his wife, two sons,Nolan (Malinda) Grubb, Huntington,W. Va., and Stanton (Diane) Grubb,Des Moines, Iowa; three daughters,Donelda Grubb, Zona Grubb andNatalie Grubb; and f ive grandchil-dren.

Alfred HansenAlfred Hansen, 85, died March 31,2000.

Alfred was born Nov. 28, 1914 atWerner. He attended high school thereand served in the U.S. Army from1941-45. He was awarded numerouscitations.

He married Mary Eileen Brandt in1946. They ranched north of Werner.He enjoyed ranching, raising regis-

tered Quarter horses, and was an avidsupporter of rodeos, showdeos, FFAand 4-H. He was a NationalCattlemen’s Association charter mem-ber and received a North DakotaStockmen’s Association honorarymembership in 1995.

He is survived by his wife, threesons, Dwight (Sharon), Dunn Center;Bob (Rose) Dickinson; Fred, DunnCenter; three daughters, Eileen(Willard) Nickisch, St. Charles, Mo.;Marla (Al) Morrison, Killdeer; Carla(Bill) Trotter, Grassy Butte, onedaughter-in-law, Sharon Hansen,Killdeer; one sister, 15 grandchildrenand two great-grandchildren.

Preston JensenPreston Jensen, 17, died March 20,2000.

Preston was born July 8, 1982 inDickinson. He was raised and educat-ed in Medora and enjoyed basketballand horseback riding. He spent sum-mers working for the TheodoreRoosevelt Medora Foundation at theMedora Riding Stables, assisted withCalvary Colors, and the MedoraMusical.

He is survived by his parents,Douglas and Marjorie Jensen, Medora,his paternal grandparents, aunts,uncles and cousins.

Margaret McDowellMargaret McDowell, 77, died April18, 2000.

Margaret Hendrickson was born Jan.13, 1923 in Perth. She married HarleyMcDowell in 1948 and they startedMcDowell’s Big Boy, Bismarck, in1953.

She is survived by her husband,Harley, a sister and several nieces andnephews.

Jack R.Stewart

North DakotaCowboy Hall ofFame historicaladviser Jack R.Stewart, 75, diedJune 6, 2000.

Jack was born Dec. 2, 1924 atLangdon. He and his family moved toSherwood in the early ‘30s and Jackgraduated from Sherwood HighSchool in 1941.

He attended the Merchant Marineacademy and later served in the U.S.Air Force. He married Althena Raptison March 30, 1951 and taught schoolfor more than 30 years; 17 inDickinson.

Jack was sought out for his westernlore and Native Americana knowledge.He was an avid collector and workedfor many years as a consultant andcurator of the Fur Traders andTrappers Museum in Medora. He wasalso an accomplished artist who paint-ed many Old West scenes.

He is survived by his wife, two sons,Michael, Cascade, Idaho, and Jackson,Sioux Falls, S.D.; two daughters,Patricia Stewart, Sherwood, and LiliStewart-Wheeler, Dickinson; and fivegrandchildren.

Paul TiborPaul Tibor, 80, died April 30, 2000.

Paul was born Sept. 21, 1919 at ruralHebron. He was educated there andserved in the U.S. Army Air Corp.from 1942-46. He returned to the areato farm and ranch with his brother. Hemarried Ann Conlon on Nov. 26, 1974and they continued farming until 1984.

He is survived by his wife, four step-sons: Jim (Linda); Denis (Sarah);Robert (Janet); all of Hebron; Terry(Kisanna), and one step-daughter: Jean(Allen) Raff, both of Pomeroy, Wash.;two brothers, seven grandchildren andthree great-grandchildren.

The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000 • Page 17

Obituaries

Obituary Policy:If you are aware of the recent deathof a NDCHF member, North Dakotacowboy/rancher, or friend of west-ern heritage, please inform us and ifpossible, provide an obituary.

Send notice/obituary to: NorthDakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110College Drive, Suite 212, Bismarck,ND 58501. While all submissionswill be noted, space availability andNDCHF relevancy may dictatelength.

Page 18 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

Cowboy Hall of Fame Sustaining Members ContributeThe following are newNorth Dakota Cowboy Hallof Fame sustaining mem-bers. To contribute to thesustaining drive or buildingfund, please complete andmail the form on page 19.

Building FundMitzel BuildersWilliam RaseUnited PrintingMary Ellen Veigel

Diamond Saddle ($1,000 annually)Burlington Resources FoundationPhillip Morris Companies Inc.

Gold Buckle ($500 annually)Ray Gress

Silver Buckle ($250 annually)Bob & Alexzine BrooksRussell & Helen DanielsonJim DanksDavid DunlopGlenn & Linda GietzenDean & Arlene HellingGrant & Barbara JohnsonMrs. Gene (Betty) McCormickEvelyn NeuensChester & Joy Reiten

Ranch Boss ($100 annually) Lynn & Janet Asheim

Clinton & Vera BergstromBest Western Seven Seas InnJ.W. & Marjorie BoulwareSpencer BrandtKaren BrookhartBob BullingerAdolph & Jorine BurkhardtDale & Karen ChilsonMerle & Linda ClarkDickinson APIByron & Kim DorganDarrell & Kathy DorganPeter & Diane DunlopMary Ann DurickJerry & Beaty EngelsWilliam & Kay FortierJoyce FossumGeorge “Woody” GagnonGeneral Steel & Supply Co.Victor & Gail GoetzSteve & Patti GoodallLaura & Bud GriffinGerald GroenewoldMaude GullicksonKen HalvorsonCary & Margie HandeLyle & Marge HartmanRandy & Laurie HatzenbuhlerDavid HendricksonRoswell HenkeDeVerne HoggarthKarnes JohnsonGuida M. KarlstadBruce KautzmanVi KennedyBarbara LangKatherine L’AmourTom MartinHerman & Lavila MeyerAlan Misek

Randy & Sue MosserJohn W. MurphyShawn & Danette NeidhardtCharles & Carol OlsonEugene & Colleen PedersenBob & Winona PenfieldNoble & Betty PetersonDoug PopeKirt & Rorrie SabrowskyThorris & Lynell SandvickWinston & Barb SatranHarold SchaferGerald SchlosserDon & Sandra SivertsonHarry & Jennie SpiegelbergStuber RanchArt Todd

Wrangler ($50 Annually)Yvonne P. BenderMary BonogofskyPaul ChristensenJim C. CookRob & Jeri DobrowskiDerrick & Angela DukartPatricia FranzenLeann GardnerRay & Linda GilstadMargaret GriffinJanet HoltRose HowardBob & Donna IrwinDr. Greg & Lynae LardyLynn & Bonita LaskeStewart E. LorenzJon & Jeannen McMillanHarry & Maureen OlsonBlanche PelissierCal Petersen

Lenard ResslerWalter SchuttTed & Kay TescherTom & Lorraine TescherBurton Yeager

Kid Corral($10 annually) Brendon DorganHaley DorganCole DralleTyrell NeidhardtDoug & Merle Stevick

Other Contributors George & Ruby BruingtonShirley BurkeCenex & Cenex U-ServeNew Salem

Center Machine Inc.Bev ChristensenJoAnn & David CookGuys & Dolls BoutiqueElla MurrayFlorence NelsonNorthland Insurance AgencyDr. Thomas & Ruth OrchardJ.L. & Sonja OzbunPatrick & Wendy PetermannJoe & Beverly SolsengRay StraightSW Mutual InsuranceLola & Iver TveitVariety MotorsWesternaire BarShirlene Winn

(Please notify the NDCHFof listing changes by calling 701-250-1833.)

NDCHF Gifts Honoring Loved Ones

In memory of Mike BirdsellCal Petersen

In memory of Al & Helen BuehliLois & Iver Tveit

In memory of Betty CampJim & Donna Fritz

In honor of George Christensen’s 80th Birthday

Ed & Betty GrantierIn memory of Ron Egly

Jim & Donna FritzIn memory of Nick Fettig

Ruth FettigIn memory of Albert Fossum

Joyce FossumIn memory of Alfred Hansen

Eleanor Trotter

In memory of Howard HarmonFay & Lynn Connell

In memory of Preston JensenDarrell & Kathy Dorgan

Randy & Sue MosserIn memory of Leroy Kalenze

Doug & Merle StevickIn memory of Orville Klein

Beverly KasperIn memory of Harold Lowman

John & Lila Lee KalvodaAnna Lowman

Bill & Joann LowmanCharles & Marleen Lowman

Jim & Dona LowmanIn memory of Tootsie Luchsinger

Evelyn Neuens

In memory of Margaret McDowellDarrell & Kathy Dorgan

In memory of Gene McCormickBetty McCormick

In memory of Chad MeyerRandy & Sue Mosser

In memory of Donnie NeidhardtJames & Barbara Johnson

Selma NeidhardtIn memory of Jack Stewart

Darrell & Kathy DorganIn memory of Paul TiborDarrell & Kathy Dorgan

Sherry PlummerIn memory of Alice Rebecca “Becky” Zoller

Evelyn Neuens

The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000 • Page 19

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.

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 of it) along with your check to: North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, 1110 College Drive, Suite 212, Bismarck, N. D., 58501

Just a Reminder!

Please pay your ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

dues to the North Dakota

Cowboy Hall of Fame!

Bill Taylor is currently being honoredwith a Memorial Wall plaque to beplaced in the North Dakota CowboyHall of Fame.•Bill Taylor came to North Dakota in

1896 after DocBlaylock hired himand his youngerbrother, Jess, totrail ConverseCattle Company’sAHA herd toMcKenzie County.

Upon reaching North Dakota, Billcontinued to work at the AHA and onanother area Converse Ranch, theLong X. Bill participated in threemore trail drives between 1897 and1900. He began running his own hors-

es with a T Cross brand in 1905. Hemarried Olaphene “Teppy” Werpy in1914 and they sold the T Cross horsesin 1917. Bill became a hotel manager,a deputy sheriff and a justice of thepeace. The couple had two daughters,Ruth Taylor Scobie, Evanston, Ill.,and Goldie Taylor Wilson, San LuisObispo, Calif.

Memorial Wall plaques honor thosefor whom at least $1,000 in memori-als is given. Anyone honored in such away is automatically included in theNDCHF Card File Registry.

To inquire about benefactor plaques,Memorial Wall plaques or the cardf ile entries call the North DakotaCowboy Hall of Fame office at 701-250-1833.

Memorial Plaque Purchased for Taylor

Page 20 • The Cowboy Chronicle Extra 2000

The Cowboy ChronicleNorth Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame1110 College Drive, Suite 212Bismarck, North Dakota 58501

Return Service Requested

(Building, continued from page 1)Medora Zoning Commission approvedthe project in a 5-1 vote in June.

The $3 million facility includes theNDCHF Hall of Honorees, a 45-seattheater, display areas, space for visit-ing exhibits, an art gallery, a multi-purpose meeting area available to cor-porations and organizations, archivesfor research, a library, a children’sactivity area, an outside patio for edu-cational exhibits and entertainment,and an awe-inspiring view of the LittleMissouri River and Badlands.

Display areas will interpret andhonor Native American tribes, traildrivers, homesteaders, ranches androdeo. “Some exhibits will changeevery year and the whole project istied together by the people, the landand the horse culture of the NorthDakota Plains,” says NDCHFExecutive Director Darrell Dorgan.

One-third of the funding for the $3million project is currently committedand earnest efforts are under way to

secure further backing. For example, aNDCHF delegation recently met withthe CEO of Toyota Corporation toexplore possible support.

“This building is not an overnightcreation–the design has been in theworks for five years,” says NDCHFPresident Phil Baird, Mandan. “I’mhappy our board has the integrity andforesight to know what the future ofthis project looks like.” Baird stressesthat the facility represents a broad,state-wide group of people, but thecommon thread is still the group’sappreciation for western heritage.“Nowhere else will anyone see thiscollection of people, land, communi-ties and events.

“This is a Hall of Fame. It doesn’tneed to look like a Medora hotel or asummer business,” he says. “This is ashrine-like place of honor. We’re try-ing to incorporate the western heritagetheme with the stature and dignity thatNorth Dakota’s western heritagedeserves. I encourage supporters totrust us that when it’s all said and

done, the project will be appreciatedand admired by North Dakotans andout-of-state visitors.”

To qualify for federal grants the pro-ject must meet State Historical Societyspecifications. Though those parame-ters have not yet been met, Dorgansays, “We’re working on a compro-mise with the historical society andwe’re confident an agreement can bereached shortly.”

Baird concludes, “We extend our sin-cere appreciation to supporters inMedora and the surrounding area.”

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDBISMARCK, ND

PERMIT 256

*Editor’s Note: There are onlytwo cowboy honorees in theRodeo division this year. Eightindividuals were nominated,but because a new Trustee rulerequires that inductees beselected by at least 50 per-cent of those casting ballots,only two cowboys wil l beinducted.