His father was an Irish immigrant rancher in the Miles City area. His mother was raised on an eastern Montana prairie homestead. Dennis Clarke Haughian was born to be a cowboy. But that was just the beginning of his thirst for a life of adventure and knowledge.
Known as “Hawk,” his big life ended on Dec. 13, Friday the 13th, in Billings. He died from natural causes. He was 76.
Born in Terry in April 1943, he spent much of his youth on ranches in Garfield, Custer and Prairie counties. He was breaking ornery horses before most kids got their driver’s license.
Dennis was extremely proud of his family Heritage — both Haughian and Clarke sides. His middle name came from his grandfather, Charles G. Clarke, who had a homestead on Cherry Creek, north of Terry, from 1915 to 1939. Before WWI broke out, he rounded up 500 horses near the Terry Badlands and sold them to the U.S. military. Many ended up as “warhorses” for the European battlefields.
As a Haughian, he knew that he came from ranching royalty. His Irish grandparents, Daniel and Susan Haughian, built one of the most successful cattle ranches in Montana, starting with a two-room shack and eventually growing their ranch to 240,000+ acres.
Dennis’ grandmother, Susan became the Haughian matriarch in 1931 when her husband, Daniel, died, leaving behind five sons and five daughters. The Haughians’ sprawling Big Sheep Mountain-based ranch operation expanded to the Missouri Breaks near Jordan. Susan and her husband, Daniel, were inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2009 as Legacy winners.
In 1952, Collier’s Magazine did a cover story on Susan Haughian, proclaiming her Montana’s favorite redhead and titled the story “The Cattle Queen of Montana.” It became a movie two years later, starring Barbara Stanwyck and a guy named Ronald Reagan.
Dennis was Susan’s first grandchild, from the union of Alexander “Nander” Haughian and Jane Clarke, who taught rural schools in eastern Montana. Dennis loved to read and learn; he devoured every book he could get his hands on.
When Dennis dropped out of Terry High at the age of 17 to better himself; it went against his mother’s wishes. Dennis bypassed school and elected to serve his country just as his Father Alexander had served in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner during WWII.
Before Jane was stricken with health issues in the 1980s, Dennis had begun to make amends. Dennis made her immensely proud by not merely getting his GED, but rather earning highest academic credentials. He eventually graduated summa cumlaude with a Master’s Degree, and was all but a dissertation away from a PhD.
At his core, he was always a cowboy. He never got rodeo out his blood. “Seldom in the winner’s circle,” he wrote. Nonetheless, he rode bulls and bareback broncs for nearly 20 years from Alaska to Tennessee, and states in between. During summers he worked as a rodeo announcer. He dabbled in singing.Although his first true profession was the Armed Service (both as both sailor and a soldier), serving cowboys, rancher and farmers became his longest-lasting and final profession. His love of the land that he called home and the ranchers that worked that land eventually led to a career move with the Department of Agriculture. When his son, Shane Clarke Haughian, was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy, Dennis transferred his civil service duty location from Montana to Colorado to provide his son emotional support and to be nearby when limited military leave was made available. “He strived and sacrificed to be a good father to me. He ensured that I only knew unconditional family love and support; something I fear that he never truly felt himself. Much of my accomplishments happened because he made sure I had more and better opportunities and love than he ever had,” said Shane, now a USAF Colonel and the Commander of the 19th Operations at Little Rock AFB, AR.
Fun-loving and straight-talking, he had strong opinions. Late in life, he owned a home in Terry next door to the old jail. “I asked him if that was just a coincidence,” said his cousin Norm Clarke of Las Vegas. In the end, the profession Dennis took the most pride in was that of being both Dad and Granddad. Dennis married Lois Scanlan of Miles City in 1966. They remain married until 1983. In 1972 they became the proud parents of Shane Haughian. In 1985 Dennis was blessed with another child. He and Linda Hummel welcomed their little girl, Elizabeth Hummel who grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. When you look at Dennis’s gravestone there is written only one profession, “Father of Shane and Elizabeth”; in the end that is the one job that mattered most. Dennis’ mother died in 1988 and his father “Nander” in 1996. Stepsister Bette Jane Harwood of Miles City died in 2014 and his sister Shannon as an infant. Survivors include his sisters, Sharon Lash of Brainerd, MN; Cynde, Mary Bobbi and Kellye; his stepbrother Nelson Walla of Billings. He is also survived by his son Shane, daughter Elizabeth and his four grandchildren (Isabella, Alexandra, Luke and Rowen).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Rite of Committal will follow in family plot of the Old Calvary Cemetery in Miles City with full military honors provided by VFW Post #1579. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Sandy McFarland Hays says
Sending condolences and prayers to the family of Dennis.
Gracie Ann Waples Hill says
Thanks Dennis Clarke Haughian for the family history and stories you put together and shared. And thank you for the friendship and kindness as I visited Russ and Susan in Terry, MT. You will be missed.
Dolores Meidinger Willson says
My sincere sympathy to all the Haughian & Clarke families, as well as all extended family.
Sharon McBain says
A wonder man whose friendship we valued very much. My partner (John Kriegsman Who passed in Feb 19) thoroughly enjoyed Dennis and his tales. We were lucky enough to visit him in Terry and were thrilled when he came through to visit us for an evening in Illinois!
Sincere condolences to the family.
Lynne Poindexter Bailey says
What a shock to open the paper today. Dennis and I went through “real estate school” together when we both worked for The Old West Company. He was such a gentleman and worshipped his son (I knew him before his daughter was born). Sympathies to Haughian and Clarke families. He will be missed.
Coral Creek says
Wishing you peace and comfort, Shane, as you grieve the loss of your father. Thinking of you and your family. Coral
Clarke Dunnam says
A great cousin, he was. I didn’t see him often but when I did he made me feel special. I thought of Dennis as the renegade of the family I knew. I wanted to be like him but knew I would be a poor specimen of a renegade. I lost track of him several times and didn’t know his children at all. I knew his sister Sharon Lash but don’t know her well. My deepest sympathies to his children and all who knew Dennis. I am proud to be in the same family. s
Faye Dekker Grice says
My condolences. This is such a shock. Dennis was truly larger than life. He was one of the best friends I have ever had, telling the truth even when it hurt. There for me unconditionally through many hard days and many good times. I have loads of great memories. Thank you, my friend. Shane, my heart is heavy with yours. I wish I could be at his services.
Christine Keltner says
Sorry to hear of Hawk’s passing. I can only imigine the stories that are getting shared at this time!!!
james burdette says
so sorry to hear of the passing of another member of Montana’s best ranching families. they are fine people and my heart goes out to them all.
Mary Wandler says
My thoughts and prayers to Your family.
Craig Dunnam says
Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family(s) and friends of Dennis. Jane and my mother were sisters, which makes Dennis, Sharon, Betty Jane and Nelson cousins. Dennis and Sharon were a few years older than Betty Jane and Nelson so I only saw them occasionally when they came home. I remember seeing Dennis in his Navy uniform; watching him leave the shute at a Terry rodeo and watching him lately on Facebook. No one passes through this world without leaving some kind of print. Dennis certainly did that. As we can all say, I do regret not having the opportunity to spend more time with Dennis.
Craig Argabright says
I enjoyed working with Dennis when he moved from Colorado to Williston, ND. During our commutes to our sub-office we would always have some great and sometimes “spirited” discussions. My condolences to Shane and all of the Haughian family.
Archie & Bonnie LaRoque says
WE are sending prayers to all the family.
Tim Meidinger says
Shocked to read this news about you Dennis. RIP my old childhood friend. Sorry I gave you so much grief in our youth but also glad we reconnected as understanding adults in 2012 at my sister Claudia’s sale. Thanks for the memories. It was good knowing you and your sister Sharon as we grew up. God bless your soul.