Montana Clifford Truman

© Cheyenne Star

25 Mar 2004

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Montana "Monte" Clifford Truman, 85, an adored Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Friend and Cowgirl passed away early Monday morning, March 15, 2004 in her home in Konawa, Oklahoma.

Her memorial will be held at a later date.

She was born in San Diego, California. They soon moved to Arizona, where her parents became established ranchers. She graduated from high school in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 16. In school she was an accomplished writer and sketch artist and led her class as the Valedictorian.

She had her oldest son, Lon Hall with her first husband Claude L. Hall.

In 1948, she married a cattleman by the name of Floyd Truman in Mexico, where they proceeded to buy cattle during their honeymoon. Floyd and Monte were married 51 devoted years. Together, they shared a passion for horses and cattle ranching, which led to their enrollment in the American Quarter Horse Association. They started their marriage in Kingman, Arizona and soon moved to Pawhuska, Oklahoma where she was the 1st Arena Secretary for the Pawhuska Cavalcade.

While living in Pawhuska, she had her second son, Van Truman. In 1960, Monte, Floyd and their two sons moved to Ekalaka, Montana where they owned and ran the Ekalaka Track Arena Association, the 1st organized horseracing track recognized by the AQHA. Later, they moved to the famous Missouri River Breaks, just 60 miles to the nearest town, where they roughed it in the ranching business. With their children grown, they moved back to Arizona from 1972-1976. While living on an Indian Reservation in Arizona, Monte became a connoisseur of Indian art, expecially of Navajo blankets and baskets. She had an impressive collection of each.

They returned to Oklahoma in 1976 to Crawford, where they ran the "14 Ranch" and helped raise their granddaughter, Sasha. At Crawford, the French Photographer, Daisy Slabaszevies resided with Floyd and Monte as Daisy photographed for the book, Western Oklahoma. This relationship sparked a creative drive in Monte that resulted in a prolific portfolio of landscape photography. Monte's artistry was trully revealed through her photographs that dealt mostly with the life of a cowboy.

In 1986, Monte and Floyd moved to Bristow, Oklahoma on a beautiful piece of land where they continued to indulge their love of horses by breeding a single mare.

Floyd passed away in 2000, after which Monte moved to Konawa, Oklahoma to be near her sons, Lon and Van.

Monte's life is a symbol of what can be accomplished by pursuing your life's dream. For her it was horses. She never lost sight of this dream, and made sure to always surround herself with like-minded people who also loved horses and the life they represent. They say that cowboys are a dying breed. This may be true, but it is what Monte and Floyd taught the rest of us that lingers on and lives in the ones who loved them.

Monte is survived by her loving sons, Lon of Konawa, Oklahoma; and Van of Wolfe, Oklahoma; her two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

We all love her so much and will never forget her legacy.

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