Wallace Donald McRae, 89, of Rosebud Creek south of Colstrip, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 22nd 2025.
He was born on February 26th, 1936 in Miles City, Montana to Don and Kathleen McRae. He was raised on the family ranch along Rosebud Creek south of Colstrip. His mother Kathleen was a daughter of another pioneering family and was raised just up the Rosebud.
Wally attended 12 years of school in Colstrip, graduating in 1954. He attended Montana State College, and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Zoology. He then joined the Navy and was commissioned to an amphibious assault ship in the 2nd and 6th fleet in the Mediterranean. While in the Navy, he met his future wife, Ruth Hayes, who hailed from Mill Hall, PA. They were married December 4, 1960.
Wally was preceded in death by his wife Ruth June 18, 2024. He is survived by his children, Natalie (Jack) Patterson of Franklin, Tennessee, and grandchildren, Maggie, Anna, and Isabella. Allison (Eric) Williams of Tacoma Washington, and grandchildren Tasha and Wyatt. Clint (Tammy) McRae on the Rocker Six Ranch, Rosebud Creek, granddaughters Kathleen (Mike) Schwan of Mandan, North Dakota, and great granddaughter Otellia, and great grandson Harvey. Elizabeth (Brenden) Stevenson of the family ranch, and a great grandson Maddoc.
Internment will immediately follow the service at Lee Cemetery on Rosebud Creek south of Colstrip. After the internment, the family will host a gathering at Clint and Tammy McRaes’ home 3607 Rosebud Creek Road, three miles down the Rosebud Creek from Lee Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Wally to the Northern Plains Resource Council in Billings, Montana, or the Range Riders Museum in Miles City, Montana, or the Colstrip Community Church in Colstrip, Montana.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Tuesday July 1, 2025
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
245 Westwind Lane
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
2:00 pm
Wednesday July 2, 2025
Rosebud County Fairgrounds
Exhibit Hall
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Wednesday July 2, 2025
Lee Cemetery
Colstrip, Montana 59323
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Tuesday July 1, 2025
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
245 Westwind Lane
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Funeral Service
2:00 pm
Wednesday July 2, 2025
Rosebud County Fairgrounds
Exhibit Hall
Forsyth, Montana 59327
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Wednesday July 2, 2025
Lee Cemetery
Colstrip, Montana 59323
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Anonymous says
“What do you say now that he is gone? Hard Lord it is so hard.” Sorry for your loss.
Mark Browning says
Well, I should say something poetic, intelligent or ironic to note this news of his departure; or maybe something humorous? But, I’d rather hear what he would have to say about this. Sorry to hear this silence.
Andy and Donna Mitzkus says
Condolences to the family. Gonna miss the talent and sense of humor. Another pioneer missing.
Darrell Brabec says
Condolences’ and our prayers for Wally passing to all your family.
kitte Coffin says
O, … my goodness! I’m so sorry! I’m praying for your family! I have so many fond memories of Wally!!!
pat riedel says
Ruth and family,
Sorry to hear about Wally passing, but it is a blessing. he will be missed by so many. he was a character with a great sense of humor. i enjoyed seeing him the store.
safe passage over the bridge Wally
love pat
Tracee Raymond-Waples says
Oh my oh my how heart wrenching it is to see this. Wally passed 3 years to the day that Deryl did. Oh my what a wonderful man your dad /grandpa was! I will never for get how he was always willing to help me when I was out delivering mail. What a kinda man he was and he’ll definitely be missed by all who knew him. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Connie Brown says
Thoughts and prayers to Wally’s family, I will always remember his ” Reincarnation ” poem and hearing him recite it! What a man, what a legacy.
Duane and Sue Allred says
We would like to extend our condolences to the McRae family. There was only one Wally, remember his life as he lived it.
Buggs and Loni Hartman says
We are so very sorry for the loss of such a nice man. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you all throughout this difficult time. I know him and Ruth are dancing in Heaven celebrating being back together again. We will never forget such a kind wonderful man. God bless you all.
Kelly Stevenson Sargent says
Our condolences to the McRae family,
Wally was a special soul and will be missed by all that had the pleasure of meeting him. Cant help but think of his reincarnation poem. Safe travels Wally!
Elaine Smith Jenkins says
So sad to hear of the passing of Wally. So so many fond memories of him.. Love and prayers to his friends and family. Love Ellen Smith and Lainy Smith Jenkins
Gary and Amber Ramsey says
Prayers and condolences to all. May your memories give you peace. Rest in Peace, Wally.
Doug and Debbie Skiles says
Clint, Allison, Natalie and all of Wally’s family,
We are so saddened to hear of the loss of your dad, Wally. He was such a fun loving , onery , talented man. We loved him dearly. He always made us laugh. His poetry was outstanding. We will miss him. Can’t believe it was like a year and a day since his beloved Ruth passed. Love. Hugs and Prayers!
Dee & Shelly Batey says
Prayers to the entire McRae family. Wally and Ruth are once again together in heaven. He was a great man. May he rest in Peace.
Dee & Shelly Batey says
Prayers to the entire McRae family. Wally and Ruth are once again together in heaven. He was a great man. May he rest in Peace.
Paul (Butch) Funk. says
Wally was my Pledge Trainer (Magister) at Sigma Chi at Montana State, and he was terrific! Have not seen him in years, but I would get something on line once in awhile which either made me laugh–or more often–think. He had more intellect than almost all so-called intellectuals! He made all of us better Sigma Chi’s–without ever “preaching and always with a light hand on the reins. ALL HONOR TO HIS NAME!! Beta Rho Chapter at MSU, Butch Funk
Walter C Fleming says
Wally served on the Colstrip School Board with my dad, Cline Fleming. Wally always attended every sporting event and community event. A big personality who will be missed.
Jan Hartmann says
Oh how I loved listening to him tell his stories! Prayers for family and friends. 🙏❤️
Dorothy Bradley says
. . . and this is where the cowboy rides away.
Bless you, Wally.
Peggy and Kent Salitros says
Our condolences to the McCrae family. Rosebud County has been enriched by his presecence and his talents. May your know peace.
Barbara Archer/Tom Tully says
His words become truer as the years go by. A thing of Intrinsic Worth. I’ll be watching for the re-incarnation.
tomoverturf says
That serious photo belies his brilliant sense of humor and poetic storytelling. Montana and Sigma Chi will miss this cowboy and conservative environmental leader. Condolences to this large and extended family…..
Vance J Trube says
I am old high school friend of Wally’s when we were foot loose and fancy free. He will be missed from the friends that didn’t see him for along time. Condolences to the family.
Charles & Susan Smith says
To the McRae family,
We are sorry to learn of the loss of Wally. Please know you are in our prayers.
Dr. Brooke Gondara says
Condolences on behalf of the Clair Streeter Family. Wally was a great man.
Tate and Alice Nation says
Clint, Allison, Natalie and families,
We are so very sorry for your loss. Sending hugs and prayers to all of you. Your dad had such a big personality, but in the end his most important work was helping mold the 3 of you and his grandkids. Let us know if you need anything.
Tate and Alice
Doug and Jan Gaskill says
We are sending our sincere condolences. Wally was an outstanding man that gave so much to the community of Colstrip all of Montana. We all gained so much from him through his stories and poetry. We sure enjoyed our visits with him over the years. Sending our love❤️
Debby, Wendy, Heidi & Mark Beals says
Wally was so special to our family and our hearts are sad to hear he has passed, but happy to know that he is with his dear Ruth. His Mother, Kathleen, was one of our Grandmother’s best friends and Wally’s oldest sister was one of our Mother’s best friends!
Wally gave the eulogy at our Grandmother’s funeral and when he came over to the house to talk to us about our “Gram”, we shared so many wonderful memories between the two families.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time.
“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” St. Matthew 5:4
Bill and Deanna Pound says
Our grandfathers both ran sheep during the cruel Montana winter of 1886-1887. Wally’s grandfather skinned his dead sheep and hung the hides in trees where they would freeze for retrieval in the spring. My grandfather had his on the Crow Reservation and offered the meat of any that died to Chief Plenty Coups.
Wally offered many of us a lifetime of memories at Montana State and years since.
Scott Francis says
The world is a better place because Wally was in it. I am honored to have called him my friend. Sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Randy stanhope says
So sorry to hear about wally prayers to the family 🙏
SHELLY HOLUM says
Sending Prayers and Hugs to all of the family. Lots of memories growing up around him and your family.
Dave Smith says
The McRae family.
Wally will be missed by everyone he met.
He will always have a place in my heart, after him and Baxter Black came to visit me in the hospital. I was in an accident and couldn’t come to the concert. My Brother in law Tom Horn made a phone call. And they showed up. Lord you will smile a little more since Wally is up there.
Diane Hoffman says
So sorry to hear of your loss and and a loss to all who knew him. You kids had parents who were the best!
Gail Small says
Wally was a good neighbor of the Cheyenne people. He respected the land and us. Overall, we could count on him when we needed help. Prayers to his family & friends.
Willowa Heppner French and Family says
I am very sorry to hear of Wally passing. Hugs and condolences to Clint, Allison and Natalie and all other family. He was a true cowboy legend and will be in so many hearts of those who knew him.
Sean Logan says
FOR WALLACE McRAE, COWBOY POET
(written by my Dad, Mike, in 2007, when nominating him for an international award)
It has been my pleasure to have Wally McRae as a friend and fellow cowboy poet for twenty five years. We have performed together in cowboy poetry gatherings in such widely scattered events as The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering, The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada and The National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
I am, also, fortunate to have had Wally write the foreword for my first book of cowboy poetry, BRONC TO BREAKFAST & OTHER POEMS and a blurb for my second book of cowboy poetry, LAUGH KILLS LONESOME & OTHER POEMS. I wrote and gave the introduction to Wally’s video WALLY McRAE LIVE (MORE OR LESS).
All of this is to say that I know Wallace McRae, the cowboy poet, Wallace McRae , the rancher and Wallace McRae, the man. In any category he is the very best.
He has performed his poetry all over the United States and the world, from England, Scotland, Australia and Japan to our nation’s capital. His poetry, appearances and books have earned him local, state and national awards such as Montana’s prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts Award. They have, also, led him to appear on such nationally known television and radio shows as The Charles Kuralt Show, The West, Sixty Minutes, A Prairie Home Companion, and other radio and TV programs too numerous to mention.
Enough said. Wally McRae is the finest cowboy poet in the country, which would, I guess, make him the finest cowboy poet in the world.
Diana Elwood says
Dear family, Wally will be missed but his legacy lives on through all of you and his poetry. I’m so proud to have known him and to have spent time pondering life and stories with him. May God be with you all at this time.
Marie and Karson Kluver says
Well I guess Wally has gone to look for strays over that next ridge.I hope He finds lots of grass, good water, and the strays.
Curtis and Kate Terrett says
So sorry for your loss.
Kay Crosby Dooley says
Class Act – thinking of Wally warms my heart. Godspeed, sir
Macque Cozzens-Bohleen says
I am so sorry for your loss, Wally will always hold a special place in my heart!! I have fond memories of Wally & Ruth buying an oak toilet seat from our store in Colstrip!!
Rocky and Carol Plympton says
Love and prayers to all. We have been “life long” friends and neighbors for over 100 years. The memories and appreciation for this family will never end.❤🙏
John and Barbara Groom says
A True Legend of Rosebud County and of Montana. A man who was a Hard working Rancher and a custodian of the land that always had time for his Family and his community. It has been a pleasure to know you Wally! So may God Bless and Hope to see you again on the other side. Prayers for You and All of Your Family…
Mary Ann (Bailey) and Duane Lammers says
To Wally’s family–Wally wrote a poem for my parents, Jim and Mary Bailey, for their 50th Anniversary and also wrote poems for their funerals. My brother, Don, and Wally were quite the pair in tackling environmental concerns for Rosebud County and Montana. As I returned to the Rosebud Creek over the years, I tried to include a visit to Wally and Ruth’s home when possible. My three daughters knew about Wally and his poetry, and we have a signed copy of “Reincarnation” hanging on our wall. Special condolences to Natalie, Allison, and Clint and their families. He will be missed by many; however, his contributions to the Colstrip Community, state of Montana, and beyond will endure forever.
Garth Lee says
Was on the M89 centennial cattle Drive with wally good memories!
Garth Lee
Andrita Harris says
Natalie, Clint & Family, so sorry for your loss. Wally will aways will be Icon to Eastern Montana, great guy.
Know it’s hard, I figure they are back together with there love of there life. Lost mom in 1/25. RIP COWBOY PRAYERS. Until we meet again.
Desi Small-Rodriguez says
Nea’eše/thank you to the Cowboy Poet who encouraged generations of Cheyennes and non-Natives in Eastern Montana to respect one another over a shared bond for land, water, and a way of life that was worth fighting for. Travel well to the next camp.
Roban Philbrick Bunting says
To the McCrae family, your dad was often one of the subjects in good humor around the Philbrick kitchen table. Newell recited many tales of “the good old days “! God bless the McCrae family as you suffer through the loss of this great family man.
Tom Bivins says
Wally McRae my Brother and a friend . You positively touched so many peoples lives no one will ever know how many. Although Wally was best known by most for his infectious Cowboy Poetry he had quietly accomplished countless other achievements. From a significant environmental legacy to the invention of The Montana Block Management Program that myriads of hunters enjoy and will never know to thank Wally.
I knew Wally was getting up in age for a Cowboy and I often wondered about his well being and if I would live long enough to read his obituary. Although Wally’s passing saddens me greatly I revel in reflecting on his incredible life and the legacy he left us all.
Friend and Faternity Brother Tom Bivins
Debbie Fadhl Nolan says
Sorry to hear the news of Wally passing. Sincere condolences to the entire McRae family.
Lynn Holland says
Condolences to the McCrae Family,
Rancher, poet, caretaker of the land. Great at all three.
My dad and uncles all new him.
RIP
Lynn Holland
Kara Granlund says
“You’ll hear no keening to the vaulted skies,
But the good hands know when a good hand dies.”
Tears. Good night, Wally. Thank you for all the wonderful memories. I’m lucky to have shared a stage with you, and I’m blessed to have known you.
Buzzy Vick says
Wally Was Montana, community, history, poetry, song, laughter and good vino.
Judy Hayworth says
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you grieve Wally. Wally and Ruth were truly “salt of the earth “ people. It was my privilege to know and love them.
Chris Valentine says
I am sad to hear of Wally’s death. He was such a great leader and organizer in our fight against the Tongue River Railroad. We owe much to him. I loved his humor and his wonderful poems. My deepest sympathy to all his family and friends
Cora Mae Ofstie says
Wally spoke to all through his poetry & his Cowboy stories. A Montana Man, A Committed Community Man. His loss will ripple through us. My condolences to his family.
Buzzy Vick says
Wally Was Montana, community, history, poetry, song, laughter and good vino.
BuzzyBucklesandBuns@gmail.com
Thomas and Patricia Mott says
Dear McRae family
Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of you. Wally had a « larger than life » personality. His poetry and wit were always on point, especially his poem « Urban Daughter » hit home for us when our own daughter tried to come to terms with living in Bozeman.
Thank you, Wally, for sharing your talent with the rest of us. May you and Ruth be reunited in heaven.
His Pen says
As the end of the ride comes,
the memories will live on.
The Cowboy the backbone
rides off into the heavens.
The reunion, with love will be special
the loss here heartache.
Remember the best, the legacy left
one of Gods best layed to peaceful rest.
Margie Smith says
Wally’s family, and my ancesters, MacDonalds, were pioneers on Rosebud Creek area… Can’t remember some story about all leaving Scotland, but kinda funny… Think the last time I saw him I had asked him if he had the opportunity to meet Proc, whom he had a great poem about. Said Proc had ‘passed’ before he was born, but heard lots of stories… I got Proc nominated to Montana Cowboy Hall of fame… And ‘bugged’ some relatives into getting Wally nominated, before his passing… I had told Wally that he needed to be inducted and he said “Well, they better hurry up while I am still around”… He was around a good spell afterwards… He will for sure be remembered as a great cowboy poet, and glad my family and his were friends…
Glenda Somers says
I first met Wally when I was 8 years old my brother-in-law Harold McCullough and Wally had just finished playing a football game on opposing teams. They had both decided that they both were good players. I left MT at 18 and married my sweetheart who served on submarines. My sister always let me know where Wally would be appearing
I loved Shakespeare at Poker Jim. My sister Mary Ann McCullough always made sure I received all of Wally’s publications. What a talented and wonderful man
Glenda Irion Somers
Mary Smith Roig and Ellen Wallin Smith says
I’m so sorry. I have many fond memories of Wally and Ruth. One of my favorite and special moments was in 2019 when they traveled clear to Broadus, MT to celebrate my mom’s Ellen Wallin Smith ‘s 90th birthday .It meant the world to my mom and us. To many he was a great poet . To our family he was a dear family member and a cousin that is very precious to us. Now, he joins his beloved bride. I talked to my mom today. She shared some memories. She sent her condolences. Prayers and great thoughts to everyone.
Kolleen Waldo Forsyth says
Cowboy stories and Poetry have been synonymous with Wally McRae for decades! Im glad his writings are printed so they’ll never be forgotten. His presence will be missed greatly. Sympathies to the McRae families.
Marshall J. Mead says
Marshall & Shirley Mead
We will miss Wally and his wonderful sense of humor. I will always remember the fun we had in doing Guys and
Dolls. He truly was an inspiration to all of us that knew him. My prayers are with his family. I will miss him.
Yours Truly Marshall Mead
Cal, Roxie and Fillie family says
We were sorry to hear of Wally’s passing. Wally was a strong supporter of the Colstrip Fillies and it was always great talking to him before or after home games. He was always positive and always had this twinkle in his eyes and a broad smile on his face. He was someone we admired and looked forward to visiting with. Prayers for your family and friends.