Loyal Smith Henderson

MISSOULA – Loyal S. "Bud" Henderson passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at St. Patrick Hospital with his wife Betty Ann and family at his side. Bud was born on Nov. 2, 1931, to Joseph and Opal (Fish) Henderson in Big Sandy.

He married the love of his life, Betty Ann Stevens, on May 6, 1951. They had five children, Teresa (Thomas) Collins, Doreen Waid, Ronald (Janice) Henderson, Candice Olson and Shawnee (Dave) Hollenback. They now have 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. He was very proud of his family and cheered them on in their education and sports.

Bud was raised in the Bear Paw Mountains near Big Sandy and grew up cowboying on the IX Ranch. This was one of the last ranches in Montana that still drove cattle to the railhead. His first love was horses. Bud started training horses at the young age of 12 and worked in many areas of horsemanship, reining, roping and racing.

After leaving the ranch, he attended a meat-cutting school in Ohio and worked for John R. Daily, Diamond Bar Meats and Imperial Meats in Missoula.

A highlight and honor in his life was being chosen to be a drover on the Montana Centennial Cattle drive from Roundup to Billings. Bud never met a stranger and loved telling stories of his many wild adventures.

Bud is survived by his brother, Gary (Georgia) Henderson of Denver; and his sister, Josephine Jones of Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clyde; sisters, Donna Whitson and Dorothy Barnes; and grandsons, Caleb Henderson, Brent Waid and Isaac Zohner.

Memorial services will be held at the Frenchtown Community Church at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7. Graveside service will follow a luncheon at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 3 p.m.

Read Loyal Henderson's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.