Melvin Thomas

Melvin Roger Thomas passed away peacefully on August 26, 2011, at the family ranch, just a short distance from where he was born and spent his life ranching with his family. Melvin was born December 2, 1929, the youngest son of Edward (Shorty) & Emma Thomas of Haxby, MT. Shorty homesteaded in 1907 at York Island then sold to his brother Al and homesteaded the present family ranch in 1914. Shorty raised around 300 Shire work horses and used teams to build reservoirs, dikes and roads in the area such as the Haxby Road and the landing for the Lismas Ferry. The Thomas family fed with team and wagon and spent a lot of time in the saddle keeping livestock gathered up since there were no fences until about 1965. Evie remembers when they would trail horses and cattle to Brockway to put on the train and trailing horses from Ismay to the Haxby area and camping along the way. Melvin enjoyed telling about when he was eight or ten years old riding down on the Dry, riding from ranch to ranch and staying with friends. In a week or so he would ride home, checking the cows all along the way and kicking them back onto Thomas Range. He told the family how different breaking colts was back then as compared to the gentle training done now. He said they´d rope a bronc, snub him to a post, saddle up and climb on, open the gate and away they´d go bucking wildly and by the time they got done with the runaways and riding all day, the horse was what they considered started! He also remembers the family riding to Glasgow in wagons or buggies and attended dances on the Missouri River. In winter they used bobsleds and covered the kids with quilts to keep warm. The kids remember their Dad telling about people coming in wagons from miles around to play baseball or picnic and visit then camp overnight then head home the next day.
Shorty hauled freight, grain, and groceries from Glasgow to the Haxby Store with the help of his sons Melvin, Jim and Walter. They used horses to mow and rake hay and then stacked it with an overshot stacker. Later on they used an F20 tractor that had rubber pads bolted to the iron wheels. The CBC´s (Chappel Brothers Canners) were in the area in the 30´s and often stayed with the Thomas´ and Shorty helped gather their horses. Melvin was proud of the fact that his Dad roped the last wild CBC stud horse on the Howe Place and has a drawing by Bob Curtiss Sr. depicting the scene and that his brother, Jim, later owned the CBC brand.
Emma stayed with the boys during winter months in an old cabin near the old Haxby Store when the boys went to school at the Haxby School. Evie remembers Melvin telling her about the time he, Jim and Walter were riding to Cat Creek School over the Beaverslide Hill on cold backed broncs one chilly morning and suddenly Walter´s horse started bucking so Jim and Melvie started laughing until their "colts" started bucking and they ended up getting bucked off but Walter ended up riding his horse. Fern Schillreff has fond memories of Melvin as her student and friend.
Melvin married Evelyn Ferguson on his birthday December 2,1952 in the Presbyterian Church in Jordan and this past December they celebrated their 58th Anniversary. The kids held a special 50th Anniversary party June 22, 2002 at the VFW hall with dancing which many friends and family enjoyed.
A few years after marrying, Melvin and Evie bought the family ranch from Shorty. While working the ranch, Melvin, also worked for ranchers like Benny Binion, Walt Secrest and Bud & Bobby Kramer. The family spent several years competing in rodeo events and Melvin enjoyed competing in: team roping, calf & goat roping, steer jerking, keg races, and wild horse races with special nephew Bill Thomas, Walt Secrest and Bob Selman and most times was `in the money´ or won buckles. Melvin & Evie helped many kids with 4-H projects and Queen Contests and Melvin spent many years helping build the old horse barns and corrals at the fairgrounds.
Melvin was a natural with a rope and neighbor, Harold Isaacs, told the story of when he and Melvin went to the Secrest ranch to cut studs and Melvie would front foot the horses as they ran out a gate into the pasture and Harold said he never missed a horse. Harold also remembers the time Melvin roped a prolapsed cow with a chain out of the back of the pickup. He did C-sections, mechanic work for many neighbors and helped them with haying, branding and was good at stucco or concrete and a good carpenter. For many years he kept the local TV boosters operating on Square Butte which is near the ranch and at the Binion Ranch. Melvin also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his boys.
Over the years the family raised Paint horses then Morgans and later on Thoroughbreds. In 1967 they started raising Quarter horses and in four years will receive the 50 year award! Even after raising horses for so many years he said his favorite was always his Buckskin stud, Trigger the Melvin had taught to lay down, shake "hands" and to bow. Melvin also had special feelings for Old Buck and Texas.
Melvin is survived by his wife Evie; sons, Les (Jerri) who runs the family ranch, and Clint (Deb) owns Hell Creek Marina; daughters, Karen (Clay)Taylor of Fort Peck and Susan (Joe) Philippi of Judith Gap. Grandsons - J.C. (James) & Chance Taylor, Corben Thomas, Layne Thomas, Bill, Casey and Donald Philippi. Granddaughters - Valene & Crystal Taylor, Anna and Angela Philippi, Tiffany (Thomas) Smotherman (Robert) of Belt, MT, Courtney Thomas, and his special little Jack Russell Terrier buddy, Teeka.
Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Edward (Shorty) & Emma Thomas, two brothers Jim Thomas & Walter Thomas, a half brother, Freddie (Gregory) Thomas, special nephew Bill Thomas, Sister in Law Ruth Thomas and Sister in Law Eileen Thomas.
Graveside services will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. at the Thomas Family Ranch. After the service sandwiches and refreshments will be served. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Jordan is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.