William "Bill" Loney

1932 - 2017

William P. "Bill" Loney

Bill Loney, 85, passed away May 4, 2017, at Mountain View Longterm Care Unit in White Sulphur Springs after an extended medical condition. Bill was born May 2, 1932, in Choteau.

When Bill went to the Navy, 1952-54, he gave his saddle to his sister Sharon and his black Buick convertible to his mother. He served on the destroyer USS Walton. After Bill's discharge from the Navy, he attended MSC (now MSU) in Bozeman on the GI Bill. He was one quarter short of graduating, majoring in Ag classes and Rodeo. He won the bronc riding at the first Rodeo held in the Brick Breeden Field House, riding Barney Green. He wore that buckle the rest of his life. He is remembered by all that knew him for his strong will to win.

Loney, as he was respectfully referred to by his many friends, was groomed in the cattle business by Charlie and Inez Hodson at Cascade. Their influence resulted in his cattle brand "IC." This friendship lasted a lifetime. He also worked for the Jenkins family before moving his young family to White Sulphur Springs in 1964. He had bought some cows and leased some ranches before buying and putting his ranch together. Bill needed more to do to make ends meet, so he began running the Birch Creek and Lingshire unit of the Rankin Estate for Jack and Louise Galt. This gave him the opportunity to succeed. Loney knew how to run big outfits and trail big bunches of cows. All the men who worked with Loney and put in the sweat and time, everyone of them, even to this day, would drop what they are doing to lend him a hand.

Bill has been mauled by wild and mad cows numerous times. Once while turning mares out, he was kicked along the side of the head, nearly tearing his ear off- a mark he wore the rest of his life. Bill Loney is a cowboy that is unimaginable to most of today's cowboy's standards. Several friends have hauled him to town for stitches or a cast and then returned him to the job at hand. There is "tough," there is "cowboy tough," and then there's "Loney tough."

Bill was as modest as he was tough. He also had a big soft spot for animals, wild and domestic. He raised two baby porcupines to adulthood, hauling them around like pets. He was inducted in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Game in 2012.

Bill is survived by his wife Pam (Fellows) of 56 years; daughter Tammy (Bob) Etter; grandson Matt Etter; sister Sharon Ruple; and brothers Clay (Cherry) Loney and Cleve (Cyndi) Loney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Mary Perry, and brothers Ross Loney and Laurie Jr.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life service will be on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 11 a.m. in White Sulphur Springs. Location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society in Bill's name.