Funeral services: Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 1 p.m. in the Broadview School Gym.
Interment: Sunday January 24, 20120 11a.m. in the Family lot Mountain View Cemetery in Big Timber, MT.
Patrick Thomas (Spud) Cremer slipped away on January 12, 2010 in the loving care of his family after a gallant and steadfast battle with cancer. The Lord surely needed a good and fearless cowboy this day, so Spud jumped to the call of duty.Spud was born the sixth of eight children to Cornelius and Katherine (Brody) Cremer on June 7, 1929 in Big Timber, MT. He first attended the Pine Hills country school on Tony Creek and went on to complete high school at the Holy Rosary Catholic School in Bozeman, MT in 1949. Spud wanted to cowboy since he was old enough to swing a rope, so after high school he headed to the Crow Reservation where there were still some big outfits. He hired on at the Spear-O, the Padlock and Tschirgis famed Antler Ranch to name a few. This is also where he met and married the cow boss's daughter, Alta Roberts. Spud and Alta had three daughters together; Maureen, Kelly and Pat.
In 1964, Spud, Alta and the girls went from the Big Horn to the Big Dry to cowboy for the parents of his now long-time friend and revered cowboy, Bill Brown, Jr. Spud spent the next twenty some years in the Jordan area where he cowboyed, was a state brand inspector and was the infamous sheriff of Garfield County for 14 of those years. To his credit, Spud was able to enforce the basic spirit of the law while remaining the areas most respected peace officer. Jordan is also where Spud was able to continue to help everyone brand and ship, pursue team roping and train cutting horses with some very extraordinary people.
During his stay at Jordan, Spud was re-married to Margaret Brown Rhodes where his fourth daughter, Kathy was born in 1972. Spud helped raise Kathy, Kim and Jacque until 1986 when he, Margaret and Kathy moved back to Big Timber to help manage his parents ranch at Melville. During this time Spud also purchased the Cort Bar which he operated until 1995. As always, Spud garnered the friendship and devotion of the best of people throughout the Sweetgrass and continued to help cowboy for his friends and neighbors.In 2004, Spud left the family ranch to join his daughter, Pat and Dave Morton at their ranches outside of Broadview and Roundup where he yet again gathered a huge following of comrades. Spud continued to drag calves, wean and ship for friends and neighbors right up until his passing. Late 2008, at the spry age of 79, Spud bought his first and last place on West Parrott Creek outside of Roundup. He was very proud of this spectacular cutting horse facility where he certainly envisioned the culmination of dreams past but not lost.
Spud was very possibly the last of this dying breed, each relationship he had was personal and treasured. His friendships spanned many generations and transcended all social and economic status. You entered Spuds life with a clean slate and everyone deserved a second chance. He was absolutely fearless in all things and willingly shared that strength where needed. We lost a very good man, an extraordinary cowboy, and a devoted friend today.
Spud was preceded in death by his parents Corny and Kate Cremer; brothers Bubby, Buzzy, Bill and John Cremer; sister, Mary Bowling; son, Kim Rhodes and daughter Kelly Cremer Grow. Survivors include sister, Jo Ann (John) Gee of Stanford; sister, Jane Leptich of Seattle; daughter, Maureen (Dale) Schaak of St. Xavier; daughter, Pat Cremer (Dave Morton) of Broadview; daughters Kathy Cremer and Jacque (Bob) Gregg of Jordan Son-in-law, Tracy Grow of Glendive; many loving nieces, nephews, grand-kids and many great grand-kids.
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