Howard G. "Howdy" Hardeman

Open the gate for and old-time rancher.

Howard G "Howdy" Hardeman passed away peacefully at his home in Victor, Montana on July 18, 2021. Howard Hardeman was born January 9, 1930 to Gerrit & Lamar (Crandall) Hardeman in Kelly, Wyoming. The Hardeman's worked the family ranch in Kelly until 1959 when the property was sold to the US Park Service and the family purchased the C.C. Mosely Ranch in Wilson, Wyoming where they specialized in raising registered certified Hereford Bulls. Howdy married Lois Latsch in 1956 and raised his family at their Fish Creek Ranch Home. Howdy was a great family man to his three children, Gary, Gayle & Steve. He was a founding father of the Wilson Volunteer Fire Department and The Chicken Fry and he helped build Wilson's Owen Bircher Park. As a member of the Hardeman A League Town Basketball Team his exploits were legendary. He was always on hand to assist at the JH Rodeo and 4H Events.

With the subdivision of the Hardeman Ranch in 1986 and the passing of his wife Lois in 1990, Howdy started a new chapter in this life: He married Betty Holstein in 1993 and moved to Victor, Montana. Howdy and Betty shared their love of horses, llamas and riding as well as raised steers on their Montana Ranch.    Howdy loved visits to his new home in Montana from his family and friends and loved to showcase the Bitterroot Ranching Valley. He lured his sister Marie and her husband Keith Stilson and family to the area as well as his younger sister Helen and her husband Warren Robertson. Finally Howdy and Betty convinced his daughter, Gayle and her husband Dave Decker, to move to nearby Hamilton to share his final years.

To relate the biography of Howard Hardeman is to tell the tale of the Hardeman Ranch that began in Kelly, Wyoming in 1911 and continued in Wilson in 1956 with the purchase of the Major Mosley Ranch. The Hardeman Family Legacy is still in evidence by the Hardeman Barn in Wilson which now houses the Teton Raptor Center. It is tied to Howdy who helped build the barn when he was a freshman in high school. The barn was the sight of purebred Hereford Bull Auctions for many years when the Hardeman's owned the ranch. Howdy's story is linked to the many values of hard work, independence, endurance and friendship that were a trademark of the early days in Jackson Hole.

Howdy is survived by his wife, Betty, 2 sons and a daughter, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces & nephews plus many friends neighbors in Wyoming and Montana. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Lois, and his older brother Earl and sister, Marie.

An excerpt from a poem by Baxter Black - “I Know You'll Miss This Man”

The Lord spoke to the heavy hearts that stood with hats in hand,

"Your sadness pains me deeply and I know you'll miss this man.

I promise you he's happy, though I know you can't pretend

You're glad he made the journey, it's too hard to comprehend.

The earthly way you look at things can never satisfy

Your lack of understanding for the answer to the WHY?

So, I offer this small comfort to put your grief to rest,

I only take the top hands, 'cause my crew's the very best.

And I know it might seem selfish to friends and next of kin,

But I needed one more cowboy, and Howdy fit right in.”

A Memorial Service will be held at The Bar J Chuckwagon on August 28, 2021 at 10:30 am.

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