Lowell Hildreth

Lowell Sterling Hildreth passed away May 25, 2024 in Dillon, Montana, surrounded by his family. He was born March 24, 1930 to Bessie and E.W. (Bob) Hildreth, the fourth of six sons born into a family that ranched in the Medicine Lodge Valley of Beaverhead County. He was very close to his parents and brothers, Pat (Trudy), Bill (Gisela), Gene (Wini), Raymond (Darlene) and Edward Barton (Eathal).

Lowell, "Scotch" graduated from BCHS, served in the US Navy, and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. He married Ruth Ann Brown in 1954 and their daughter, Gail, was born in Honolulu in 1956. After his Naval service, he and his family moved back to Montana. His son Justin, was born in 1958 in Dillon. He divorced and then married Dorothea Crampton; they were later divorced.

His true passion in life was ranching and developing sheep and later cattle ranches. He started sheep ranching in the late 1950's and bought the Bert McMenomey ranch on the upper Beaverhead River when Clark Canyon Dam was built. In the mid-1970's he began breeding Saler cattle and developed a herd with his son, Justin. Later they bred primarily Angus cattle.

Over the years he and Justin, owned and improved ranches in Oregon, Colorado, and a large grass ranch near Capitol, Montana and in South Dakota. His last major project with Justin was turning a property in the Upper Medicine Lodge near his grandparent's homestead into a working summer grazing ranch.

He enjoyed traveling and went to the Bahamas, Canada, Florida, Central America and the US East Coast. One of the highlights of his travels was attending horse shows with his daughter and her husband, Doug Whitsett DVM, and watching his ranch bred and raised Oldenburg stallion, Cochise, and his gelding Charlie, compete nationally in jumping and 3-Day events. He and Gail went to the World Cup of Jumping together and to see another of their warmblood stallions, Conquistador, compete in International Equestrian Federation (FEI) dressage shows in California. His close friend, Verda Clawson, went to Hawaii and accompanied him on many trips and horse shows after his retirement.

Lowell was a Christian, who especially enjoyed listening to the Reverend Billy Graham's messages. He was a true American patriot and veteran from the Greatest Generation, a dedicated and compassionate family man, and superb caretaker of the land and its animals. He will be greatly missed by the members of his close and extended family.

He is survived by his two children, Gale and Justin, two grandchildren, Brandon (Anita) and Jesse Hildreth, step grandchildren/great grandchildren (Kim, Merrill, Shelby, James, Brayden, and Parker Buckley, Eva Lindow, Kyrie and Bob Cantoni), two brothers, Raymond and Barton, and numerous cousins (including Coy Bearden), 17 Hildreth nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and several Koontz, Schwartz and Hansen nieces nephews. His granddaughter, Carrie Hildreth, preceded him in death.

We would like to thank his special caregivers: Michelle, Reata, Aimee, Marie, Kim and Valerie, as well as Dr. Burke Hansen and the staff of the Barrett Hospital for their kindness and care over the last few months.

A service for Lowell will be held At Brundage Funeral Home on July 2, 2024 @ 11Am. 

A picnic will be held at Medicine Lodge on July 4th.