Harold Draine Sr

Visitation: Thursday, May 25th, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus.

Funeral Service: Friday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Broadus

Interment: Valley View Cemetery

Harold Herbert Draine, Sr. was born to Herbert W. and Amanda Ann (Blaylock) Draine on December 2, 1919 on the family home place near the Little Powder east of Broadus. To this union, were four other siblingsRay, Ayche, Nola and Pearl. Harolds mother died of pneumonia when he was a young boy. His dad remarried a lady named Flossie Wilkerson and she brought with her a son named Glen. Flossie and Herb had three more childrenDon, Dale and Gladys.

When Harold was about three years old, he was injured while riding on a horse drawn farm implement. He was reliant upon the use of a cane to walk, but it never dimmed his spirit. He attended school at little country school about a mile east of his home. He graduated from high school at Broadus.

When he was about 17 years old, he contacted a Dr. to get medical treatment to try to repair the damage to his leg. With the help of the Shriners he received surgery in Billings and spent three months in a body cast. His prognosis of ever walking was grim, but with his determination and drive, he walked shortly after he was released. He attended college in Billings where he received his teaching degree. While at college he met the love of his life, Bernice (Bunny) Larsen of Sidney, Montana. She too was earning her teaching degree.

On May 29, 1942, (the day after graduation) they were married in a simple ceremony at a professors home. From there, they hitchhiked out to the Seattle area where they worked in the shipyards for a couple of years. They decided to move back to the Broadus area and lived in a sheep wagon herding sheep on the Beach place. In 1946, they moved a little further south to a piece of land that they purchased from his dad. Due to the harsh winters, they moved to where the present day ranch home is located where they farmed and raised sheep and cattle. Life was not easy, but they worked as a team and persevered.

In November of 1951, Bunny and Harold had a son, Harold H. Draine, Jr. They had two more sons--Larry in October 1953 and Gary in October 1955. There was never a dull moment with this threesome.
Harold enjoyed being involved with life. Harold never knew any strangers. If he didn't know who they were at first sight, he knew who they were before much time had passed. Besides his love for ranching and farming, he was a 4-H leader, a Deacon at the Baptist Church, traveled to Europe in 1972, raised prize-winning Hereford bulls, attended numerous dog trials around the country and even participated in the Montana Drive of 89. His real passion was raising, training, showing and talking about his beloved Border Collies, which were more than just dogs to him. These special creatures were his constant companions.

Following heart surgery in 1992, Harold began to slow his pace a bit with the main ranch work, but was always involved with the activities.

Harold had not only the love of a beautiful woman, but a family he was proud of. He delighted in the stories and antics of hisgrandchildren, who will miss him dearly. A couple of his favorite activities were to take his grandkids to the local rodeos and theShriners Circus. They are proud to say they are Harold and Bunnys grandchildren.

Sadly, Harold gave up a good fight on the morning of May 18, 2006 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital. Surviving Harold are his wife, Bernice; sons, Harold, Jr. and Sacha of Hammond; Larry and Dawn on the family ranch; Gary and special friend, Dixie Green of Billings; grandchildren, Colt, Tim, Stacie, James andCorie; and a sister, Gladys and WalterHagensen of Washington, amongst numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. His parents, four brothers, two sisters and a stepbrother preceded him in death. His family and many friends will miss him. Go with God, Harold.

Burial will be at the Valley View Cemetery in Broadus, Montana on Friday, May 26, 2006. Memorials may be made to the Shriner's Organization, The Powder River Manor or to a charity of one's choice.