D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 6
6
Summer
TA B L E O F
C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S
TOM
RATH
2026
ISSUE
8 A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER
10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS
12 THE TREASURE STATE TABLE
16 LAST BEST BOOKS
20 BUTTE'S SERB FEST 2026:
FOOD, DANCE AND TRADITION
22 THE OLD BROKE RANCHER INVENTS A NEW SPORT
26 THE PILOT WHO SPLIT THE SPIRES
by Ednor Therriault
32 HARDWOOD DREAMS ON THE HIGH PLAINS
by Jarrett Van Meter
42 THE LIFE AND AFTERLIFE OF COMANCHE
by Joseph Shelton
50 THE SACRED ACT OF THROWING YOUR LIFE AWAY
by Joseph Shelton
58 THE LITTLE BIGHORN IN THE AMERICAN IMAGINATION
62 PROFILES IN VALOR:
MEDALS OF HONOR CONFERRED
FOR GALLANTRY DISPLAYED ON THE BATTLEFIELDS
OF MONTANA DURING THE PLAINS INDIAN WARS
by Douglas A. Schmittou
68 MUSEUM OF MONTANA FLYING:
THE BONEYARD THAT BECAME A MUSEUM
words by Nick Mitchell, photos by Rick Szczechowski
78 A CONVERSATION WITH
ORTHO MONTANA'S DR. JESSICA HART
82 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY WIBAUX
article and photos by Bryan Spellman
88 THE WILD BUNCH
TRAIN ROBBER
by Chris Enss,
illustrations by Robert Rath
94 MONTANA MUSINGS
CROSSWORDS
by Bill Muhlenfeld
95 AD INDEX
96 DOWN THE TRAIL
Cover by Robert Rath
88
THE WILD BUNCH
TRAIN ROBBER
