Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 6 TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S TOM RATH Spring 2024 ISSUE 8 OUR CONTRIBUTORS 10 A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER 12 THE TREASURE STATE TABLE 15 LAST BEST BOOKS 16 THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE IN HELENA by Nick Mitchell 22 MONTANA'S SERB FEST by Chrstopher Muhlenfeld 26 BUFFALO BILL'S LAST TOUR OF MONTANA by Joseph Shelton 34 THE OLD BROKE RANCHER ON THE LONELY LIFE OF BUCK BRONCO by Gary Shelton 38 PAVING MONTANA by Ednor Therriault, photos by Tom Rath 46 AGAINST THE WORLD: THE SECRET LIFE OF BUTTE'S PIGEONS by Joseph Shelton 52 ANACONDA, PRETTIEST LITTLE TOWN IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA by Sherman Cahill 58 MARK TWAIN AND "CLARK OF MONTANA" by Brenda Wahler 64 THE POWDER RIVER KID by Lin Vargo 68 JOE MCDONALD [1933 – 2023]: A LIFE OF SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT by Doug Stevens 72 MONTANA AMERICAN LEGION'S HIGHWAY FATALITY MARKERS PROGRAM A VOLUNTEER EFFORT CARRIED ON THE BACKS OF TREASURE STATE VETERANS by Holly Matkin, photos by Greg Harbac 78 THE MORE YOU DO, THE MORE IT COMES TO YOU: LEE STEEN AND THE TREE PEOPLE by Lindsay Tran Permanent Collection Exhibit at Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art photos by Darrin Schreder 82 MONTANA MEDIA: ALL THE YOUNG MEN AND THE POWER OF POITIER by Kari Bowles 87 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY DEER LODGE COUNTY article and photos by Bryan Spellman 95 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 96 DOWN THE TRAIL H E L T O N H E A R I N G . C O M • 4 0 6 - 5 8 6 - 0 9 1 4 B O Z E M A N • E N N I S • L I V I N G S T O N Will Helton, Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A American Board of Audiology Certified Doctor of Audiology Kendra Fajardo, Au.D., FAAA, CCC-A American Board of Audiology Certified Doctor of Audiology Katelyn Thompson, Au.D., FAAA American Board of Audiology Certified Doctor of Audiology At Helton Hearing Care, your hearing health and your quality of life are our primary concern! American Board Certified Doctors of Audiology 2022-23 of B E S T M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F Y E A R S WO N W I N N E R ! NOMINATE US WIN $1000 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO

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