Craig R. “Rusty” Hebel
1960 - 2010
Craig R. “Rusty” Hebel, a rancher in Glen, passed away Oct. 23. He was born Sept. 26, 1960 to Beverly Martin and Rollie Hebel in Bozeman.
Rusty graduated from Ennis High School in 1978. He always said his only advanced degree was the one awarded by spending his lifetime on or behind a horse. He was a lifetime student of horses, and learned from each one he encountered. In 1990, Rusty married Margaret Armitage in Big Sky.
Over the years, Rusty led a multi-faceted life. He rodeoed both rough stock and timed events, was a cowboy on ranches across the state of Montana, was a dude wrangler, over-the-road trucker, and managed Rocky Mountain Supply stores in Townsend and Dillon. However, driving big horses was his true calling and passion.
Rusty and his father bred, raised, trained and showed strawberry roan Belgians for 40 years. Together, they developed a training wheel to hook a beginning driving horse to, the first three or four times, to allow it to move or stop without injuring itself or others.
Rusty successfully started hundreds of horses under harness, not only young colts, but also older horses with bad “people” experiences. He farmed with horses in Montana and Iowa, two very different farming environments.
He had wagon train experience, both as a teenage swamper on the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial Wagon Train (the Montana to Valley Forge leg), and as an adult driver in the 1985-1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Wagon Train, where he drove eight head of Belgian mares 3,600 miles around the perimeter of Texas in six months.
His two preschool sons accompanied him on this trip. Rusty took great pride in the fact that he was in charge of the health, shoeing, and training of 30 head of Belgian mares over the six months of the Texas wagon train, with never a sore shoulder or lame foot. Through these two experiences, he gained invaluable knowledge about working horses daily on pavement, in the heat, and in the company of crowds of other animals.
Rusty worked for McCrossan Boys’ Ranch in South Dakota, training and showing Belgians across the Midwest, always with ‘troubled boys as students and helpers.
After leaving McCrossan, Rusty worked for Dick Sparrow, driving the Coors Belgian Hitch parading, exhibiting, and promoting not only Coors beer but the Belgian breed. He drove horses in every major parade in the U.S. including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day and Rose Parades. One of Rusty’s favorite accomplishments was driving Sparrow’s 40-horse hitch.
For the past 20 years, Rusty and his wife Margaret have promoted Belgians by breeding, training, and showing their own strawberry roans. During those years, they held clinics for individuals and driving clubs, taught ladies only classes, and co-wrote the Montana 4-H Driving Program.
His favorite work experience was using his own finely tuned Belgian mares to teach college students at the University of Montana Western in Dillon to drive. In less than 10 years, he grew the program from a three-day workshop to four full-semester classes.
Rusty loved his family, laughter and good horses.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sons, Lee (Katie), Circle, and Lyle (BreAnn), Bozeman; and only grandson, Archie. Also surviving are his parents; brothers, Zane and Wade (Susan) Miller, Ennis; sister, Shannon (Tim) Chicoine, St. Charles, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Rusty’s life will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m. in the La Cense Arena, with lunch and sharing afterward.
Memorials may be sent to Montana 4-H Foundation Horse Committee, Montana State University, 111 Taylor Hall, Bozeman, MT., 59717, or the charity of your choice.
Connie Mary Coon
1935 - 2010
Connie was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Mary and Bill Van Dorn on Dec. 24, 1935. Connie passed away on Oct. 22 at Parkview Acres Nursing Home with the embrace of her loved ones surrounding her.
Connie loved to travel, going to country western concerts, (epically Chris Ledoux and George Strait), hosting Labor Day parties, meeting new people, and spending time with friends and family.
Connie worked as a CNA for many years, and enjoyed taking care of others during her fulfilled lifetime.
Connie is survived by her children, son Randy Ford, Nashville, Tenn.; daughter, Robyn Ford, Salt Lake City, Utah; daughter; Melody Padilla, Salt Lake City, Utah; son, Mark Ford, Gardner; daughter, Lori (Ken) Ford, Ennis; son, Larry (Angela) Coon, Dillon; daughter, Shawna (Clyde) Bellis, Dillon; daughter, Mandy (Rick) Coon, Ennis; niece; Jill Ence; nephews, Mike Colton and Bill Robinson; grandchildren, Heather (David) Werne; Airen (Barbra) Padilla; Kelsey (Brandon) Smith; Kiley Smith, Desiray Lovell, Jasmine Streight, Tristen Renner, Levi Bellis, EllaMay Bellis; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Colton; step-dad, Donald Colton; father, Bill VanDorn; brother, William Robinson; and husband David Edgecomb.
She will be missed dearly by her special friends, the Reid family, Chuck Thompson, the Hayden family, John and Mary Colton, Leland and Joan McQuistin, Mary Smith, and extended family.
A memorial will be held in Connie’s honor at Beaverhead Baptist Church Friday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m., followed by a grave side service at the Dillon Cemetery.
Concluding will be a potluck supper at the Beaverhead Baptist Church. Please bring a food or beverage item for the supper.
Rod Dickens
1951 - 2010
Rod Dickens was born on Oct. 23, 1951 and died on Oct. 24.
He leaves behind his wife and best friend, Kathryn Hatch; son, Sean; daughter, Krista and son-in-law Donnie; and granddaughter, Rebecca.
Memorial services will be held Nov. 1, at Brundage Funeral Home, at 12 noon.
Posts
