Harry Brainard passed away February 15, 1998, at his ranch near Manhattan. He was born January 21, 1900, in Bozeman, the son of early Gallatin Valley residents William Day and Laura Russell Brainard. He was raised on the family homestead near Maudlow and attended Durham School, Three Forks High School and Montana State College. He worked with his father on the homestead until 1921, and then started ranching for himself on land adjacent to his father’s place which he still owns.

In 1923 and 1924 he leased what was known as the old Bob Wall Place on Sixteen Mile Creek and went into the cattle business. He later bought the Charles Baker ranch, one of the oldest ranches in the area, on the North Fork of Sixteen Mile Creek. He added several hundred adjoining acres to the ranch which he sold to Dean D. Francis in 1938. This is now part of the CA Ranch. He owned the ranch that his father homesteaded in 1889 near Maudlow and added land adjacent to it. He also bought a ranch near Manhattan where he lived. He had numerous other business activities and was an active livestock order buyer for many years. He maintained his own cattle and ranching interest until 1981 when he leased the ranch to his son, Edwin. He continued to live on the ranch until his death.

He was a member of the Maudlow District School Board for 18 years and a member of the Manhattan Lodge No. 59 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Scottish Rite Masons and Al Bedoo Shrine. He received 50-year membership pins from the Manhattan Lodge and the Scottish Rite Masons. He was also a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association and the Gallatin County Beef Producers which presented him with its Outstanding Cattleman of the Year Award in 1974. The Gallatin Valley Agricultural Committee of the Belgrade and Bozeman Chambers of Commerce presented him with their Outstanding Farmer-Rancher Award in 1995. He was a member of the Agricultural Preservation Association.

In March 1930 he married Ida Mae Warren in Bozeman. They were divorced in 1945.

He married Anna Seeman Todd Aug. 10, 1945, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Edwin D. Brainard and his wife, Alice “Punky” of Manhattan; two children from the previous marriage, Harry Gordon Brainard and his wife, Jane of Butte, and Marlene “Sally” Bond and her husband, Robert of Three Forks; two stepsons, Gene E. Todd and his wife, Marian of Belgrade, and Kenneth “Pat” Todd of Bozeman. There are 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren surviving, as well as brothers and sisters: Hazel Favero of Billings, Eldean Rempel of Tacoma, Wash., Doris Sandquist of Belgrade, Walter of Maudlow, and Bill of Three Forks; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Harriet Ann; his grandson, Michael Naranche; and his brothers and sisters: Lester, Clifford “Buddy”, Louise “Midge” Bright, Bess Reinhardt, and Laura Blankenship.

He was appreciated by many who knew his kindness, wit and friendship. Many took advantage of his excellent memory of early times in the Gallatin Valley area, and he contributed much to the records of the early history of the area. He was also known for the excellent Hereford cattle and the horses that he owned.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman. Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, Spokane, Wash.; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Printed in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle ~ February 17, 1998