- Date Of Death: April 2, 2011
- State: Idaho
Mont Harmon
Orson Mont Harmon, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all, passed away from the ravages of cancer on April 2, 2011 at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born June 12, 1935, the second of six children to Orson Willis and LeNora Barrus Harmon.
Mont grew up as his Dad’s right hand man, learning farming and ranching early, milking, feeding horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, even turkey and chickens. When Willis and Nora bought the Spring Creek Property, summers were spent living in a tent. They had the enormous job of fencing the entire property.
Mont milked cows and herded sheep, but horses were in his blood, though he was pretty proud of his red ’58 Buick and he appreciated the horsepower in his trucks. From necessity he learned to mend bridles and harnesses and developed great skill working with leather. He had amazing welding abilities and mad lots of truck racks, sleigh beds, and repaired lots of horseshoes. Anything bent, damaged or broken; Mont could fix it or build a new part to take its place.
He learned from experience to diagnose and treat animal ailments, especially horses. Mont had an incredible mind and could add and subtract faster in his head than most people could with a calculator.
He started working when he was very young at dude ranches, packing bug jobs, and guiding hunters. He helped establish trail rides and hunting camps in the wilderness areas of Yellowstone using his expertise with horses and packing as camp boss at Hawk’s Rest his reputation led to him being featured in several national magazines.
Willis developed a business renting horses for hunters and dude ranches and Mont continued building it up. He had a good eye for a good horse, with a special knack for buying the right horses and finding the right horses for the right people. The last years he spent passing on the business and his expertise to Chad Madsen who became like a son.
He Married Loa Mae Lancaster on April 27, 1960 and they faced the challenges of life together for over 50 years. They welcomed into their home Val Dee, Nikki Lee, and Vance Mont.
He attended Utah State University. He served his country for seven and a half years. He was a demolition expert for Fort McCleilan in Alabama. During the Berlin Crisis, he and Mae and baby Val were stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington.
