Obituary News

1. Myra Moss, Age 91!
2. Gene Allard, Age 97!
3. Tribute to Stone Mason Dan Baumgartner

Myra Moss, Age 91!

An obituary in the Lake County Leader or Missoulian or Char-Koosta News by Howard Moss noted the passing of his mother Elmyra "Myra" E. Moss on 19 February 2003 at the age of 91. I worked for Myra & Reub Moss before we Ostheimers bought the ranch from them in 1974. The Moss family resided for many years in the Molesworth Montana Institute "Old Lodge," and built the main machine shed and rodeo arena (see pix #17 of structures) here. They played an important part in preserving this farm and ranch for the future.

Gene Allard, Age 97!

We noted with celebration the long and productive life of Eugene "Gene" Allard, the last of his generation of Allards in Mission Valley MT, as he passed over the Great Divide on 8 December 2002 at the age of 97. Gene was raised along Post Creek MT, hunted and gathered wild apples all over his family's various allotments here, lived a long and good life, handled his increasing adversities with humor, and now follows his brother Sidney Allard and other family members through the Cloud Veil and into the Mysteries. A full obituary and the story of Gene's life may be read in the Lake County Leader or Missoulian or Char-Koosta News archives. We add the following notes to that. Gene probably lived his first 7 to 10 years in our MMI double log Allard Homestead, though his memories here on his mother's Flathead Indian Allotment #771 were more of the "third two-story Allard house" under the giant cottonwoods. That home burned during the Great Depression after the bankers repossessed that 80 acre parcel. We have done some archeology digs around that site and show some of the artifacts recovered from the burned Allard House in pix #26 of furnishings 3, displayed in a Molesworth Frame that once contained mirror glass. Unfortunately we have no photo of the house itself, but hope someday to obtain a good copy of one from the Allard family to display with this artifacts board.

Gene and his siblings were able to hold and maintain most of their family's Flathead Allotments assembled by their parents, aunts and uncles. The modern result is that the Allard Post Creek Ranch continues today under the stewardship of Martena Allard Savage assisted by her husband of 40+ years Luke Savage, and "Colonel" Doug Allard, auctioneer and owner of Allard's Flathead Museum, Trading Post, Restaurant, Store, Motel, and Jam Factory. We believe this is a noteworthy family accomplishment because Allard's Post Creek Ranch was recently recognized as a Montana Centennial Farm and Ranch by Montana Farm Bureau! It has been continuously owned and operated within this family for more than one hundred years! To our knowledge it is the only one of its kind so recognized in Lake County MT and within the Flathead Indian Reservation boundaries. Several other family ranches will become eligible in 2010, such as the Krantz Family Sabine Creek Ranches, the Dupuis Family Mud Creek Ranches, the Cornelius Family Farm & Ranch, the Pablo Family Ranches. Others may contact us at MMI via email for more info about the Montana Centennial Farm & Ranch Program.

Montana Centennial Farms are available online by:

• searching "Prairie Star" archives for Centennial Farm Features.

Tribute to Stone Mason Dan Baumgartner

MMI notes the passing of Daniel Bert Baumgartner, age 82, probably the best artistic stone mason ever to live and work in Montana. Dan built both the stone chimneys and "heat-saver" fireplaces at Molesworth Montana Institute in 1937 - '38. Photos of those are shown elsewhere on this website. Dan was born 2 June 1919 to George and Goldie Pratt Normandeau of Ronan, Montana. He last lived at Polson, and passed over the Great Divide 7 February 2002 at Fort Harrison VA Hospital, near Helena, Montana. Dan leaves 4 children, 13 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. Dan's full brother Blaine Normandeau and others who worked alongside him, young and old, said there was no man as strong or as determined for his size (which was Large!) as Dan. Men who played football against Blaine said they hated lining up opposite him as they were sure to get lifted off the ground and dumped, and then thoroughly tromped upon. Blaine would laugh at that and quietly say, "they were lucky they didn't have to line up against my brother; he weighed 60 pounds more and was strong as a Grizzly Bear!" Dan was still working into his 70's. There's a lot of nice stone work around Mission Valley thanks to his strength and artistry. Comparing Dan's two rockwork chimneys at MMI against two brick chimneys, we are seeing how well his work is lasting. Not a crack. No spalling. No need to point the chimneys, even at the top, even after 64 years! He chose certain stones over others, because he knew they'd last. It seems fitting that the Romer Family selected Dan to be stone mason for their Molesworth-commission Lodge, as Dan's chimneys are rugged, beautiful, functional, and a necessary part of any Western Lodge where firewood is plentiful in cold country. Like Thomas Molesworth's furnishings, Dan's chimneys had style. Hopefully, someday, someone will catalog and photograph all of Dan's chimneys (see pix #5, 8 of structures). Adios and rest in Peace, Dan!