Dorothea Hildreth

Dorothea Gene Hildreth died February 22, 2021. She was born April 21, 1930 to John Lewis Winans and Beulah Faye (Graham) Winans in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She spent much of her childhood on a small farm and graduated from high school in 1948. She married William Burton Crampton on October 31, 1948. Four children were born to this union, Rebecca Gene November 3, 1949, Deborah Celestia January 31, 1951, Matthew William January 20, 1955 and Theodore Frederick July 14, 1962. In 1948 they, along with Bill's brother Glenn, bought the Archibald and Lillian Henneberry place. Together they grew their family and the ranch, buying Glenn's share in 1955. They divorced in 1963 and sold the ranch. After attending Western Montana college, she moved her children to Oklahoma City to be near family. She went to work for Oklahoma Publishing Company and worked her way up to Administrative Assistant to the Advertising Director of the magazine division. They put out four different farm and ranch publications. She enjoyed her work but longed for Montana and her friends there. The big city was no place to raise children. In August 1967 she married Lowell S. Hildreth in Oklahoma City. She sold her house and moved her children back to Montana. Bret Sterling Hildreth was born December 27, 1968. She enjoyed raising her family, working on the ranch, her huge garden, cooking for large crews and was an excellent seamstress. They divorced in 1987. She was a charter member of the Beaverhead County Cowbelles serving four years as secretary and president. She served Montana Cowbelles for two years as a director. She was a great advocate for the ranching industry and testified on a wide range of controversial issues. In 1988 she bought a house and a few acres in Dell. There she raised western working Morgan horses (a lifelong dream) for 30 years. Her reputation horses were shipped across the United States with a stud standing in Pincher Creek, Alberta and genetics in Spain and Italy. She was very involved in the American Morgan Horse Association and the Big Sky Morgan Horse Association serving as liaison between the two. In 2019 she leased and later sold her beloved horses to Harris and Joanie Grunden (longtime friends and fellow Morgan breeders) and moved into the Legacy at Dillon. She enjoyed the people, the food and the fact that she didn't have to feed in the wind anymore. Survivors include sister Luanne Porter - Mountain View, CA; sister Jan Winans-Lagoria - Stockton, CA; children Rebecca (Mike) Ballard - Salt Lake City, UT; Deborah (Tad) Henningsen - Dillon, MT; Matthew (Judy) Crampton - Billings, MT Ted (Rayleen) Crampton - Dillon, MT; and Bret (Pam) Hildreth - Butte, MT. Also, seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Memorials may be sent to the Spring Hill Senior Services in Lima or the Grace United Methodist Church in Dillon. She belonged to the Grace United Methodist Church for nearly 70 years. There will be a memorial service at GUMC on May 29th at 11:00 AM and a potluck reception at the JC Park at approximately noon. She had an unshakable faith and loved her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.