Stephen J. Vogt

HAMILTON - HAMILTON - Steve Vogt, 75, of Hamilton passed away Monday, June 8, 2015 at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. He was born February, 13, 1940, the son of George Charles Vogt Jr. and Josephine Estelle McGlumphy Vogt.

He was raised in Sula, Montana on the family ranch. His sister Margo and he learned early in life to love the land and the ranching lifestyle. His early education was in Darby. He attended Hamilton High School beginning in his freshman year and graduating with Hamilton's class of 1958. He later graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Agriculture Economics. He served honorably in the National Guard including a memorable tour of duty during the Watts riots of 1965.

He met his future wife, Marla-Jane (Janie) Bernhard, in Pullman, WA where he was training horses and teaching riding and she was attending Washington State University. They were married on November 1, 1975 in Seattle, Washington, and ranched side by side in Sula for 18 years.

When the ranch was sold they moved to their current home in Hamilton. They would have been married 40 years on November 1, of this year.

After college Steve worked for Producer's Cotton Oil and later for John Deere both in California. He worked as a horse trainer in California and then for Countess Margit Bessenyey transporting and training horses, and teaching her grandchildren to ride.

In 1974 he returned home to the family ranch to become its manager. Steve's connection to the land, people, and history of Sula was deep and enduring. He loved being a rancher and cowboy. He had the ability to see wonder in the smallest of everyday events, like a foot wide ant migration across the barnyard, strange migrating birds with blue legs, or a nest of baby cottontails. He taught his wife to really see the world around her. He never missed bringing her the very first buttercups of spring to float in a dish and place, with some ceremony, in the kitchen window to signal the end of winter.

His talent for understanding animals and for making them feel safe was extraordinary. Watching his patience with even the most difficult horse was enchanting. That patience allowed him to tame frightened dogs and feral cats no matter how impossible it seemed to the rest of us. Small children felt safe in his lap as well. Steve brought out the best in people and never had a bad word to say about anyone. He was a caregiver and liked nothing better than to be asked to help a friend. His many friends, knowing his large frame and impressive strength, often referred to him as a gentle giant.

In 1974, Steve became a member of the Bitterroot Conservation District board of supervisors and served on the board until his death. Water and its vital role in nature and agriculture were extremely important to him. He devoted many hours to his belief that water in the Bitterroot could be managed properly for the good of everyone.

Steve loved working with his hands in later years crafted many pieces of beautiful rustic furniture. He often copied old farmhouse stools and benches and kept his wife busy taking pictures to use for patterns. He enjoyed imagining the stories those forgotten battered stools would tell if they could talk.

Because he loved driving teams of horses, he and Charlie Yerian broke several teams together and mutually enjoyed the company of one another for many years. Steve listened carefully to Charlie's wisdom and horse savvy and was thrilled with the things he learned from a true teamster.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Margo. He is survived by his wife, Janie, of the family home in Hamilton; cousins, Bill McCracken wife Elsie and family of El Cerrito, CA; Martha Arnold and husband Joe of Phoenix, AZ; and Katie McGlumphy and family of Helena, MT; his many horses, dogs and cats; and his deeply cherished family of friends.

Steve did not wish sadness for any of his family or friends so a celebration of his life will be held August 8 between 1:00 and 4:00 at the family home at 362 Fish Hatchery Road in Hamilton. Steve would have been delighted to know people gathered in his memory to become reacquainted or perhaps make new friends among those who had come together in his honor.

Steve was always looking for a need to be filled and so the family suggests, in lieu of flowers, tax deductible memorial donations be made to The Daly Hospital Foundation, Inc., 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840 to fund the purchase of a blanket warmer for the ICU at Marcus Daly Hospital, or to Fox Hollow Animal Project, 155 Fox Hollow Drive, Corvallis, MT 59828.

He would have been so pleased to know the money was going to something that will stay here in the valley to benefit the people and animals of his beloved Bitterroot.