Stanley Earl Mainwaring

1932 - 2025

Stanley Earl Mainwaring

March 26, 1932 - January 21, 2025

Stanley Earl Mainwaring went to heaven a shoutin' on January 21, 2025. Stan was born in Jeffers, Mont. in March of 1932. Stan was the 11th of 15 children. The family moved to Ennis, Mont. in 1942. Stanley worked part time jobs including setting pins at the bowling alley. As he grew older, he helped his brothers and father with ranch work. Stan started "cowboying" at ten years old and breaking horses at fourteen; at eighty-seven, he broke his last horse.

He was also a very good athlete lettering in basketball, football and track and field. He set several speed records in track that remained in place for many years before they were broken. He graduated from Ennis High School in 1951. Stan was a fast runner and his four children always tried to out run him in a race.

Stan enjoyed working for area ranches, riding horses and working cattle. After graduating from Ennis High School he worked for Shaw Ranches out of Cardwell, Mont. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1951 and Honorably Discharged in 1953. He also worked at Trident, drove snow plow and was a meat cutter in Butte and Billings. In 1972 he moved to the Three Forks area and trained to be a Government Meat Inspector. Stan inspected meat processing plants in Montana and Washington, returning to Montana in 1983.

While in Washington, Stan was a member of the Ellensburg Rodeo Posse and the Drill Master for the Wranglerette Riding Group ( girls aged 8 to 18). In 1993, Stan was inducted into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1997 with the Wranglerette Riding Group.

Stan and Anona Dawn Woirhaye were married in 1952 and had four children, Earl Mainwaring, Nancy Gabel (Richard), Ginny (Gene) Ypma, and Faye (Darlene) Mainwaring; his grandchildren Wade Busby, Dori Fuentes, Beth (Joe) Talcott, Cole Ypma, Ivy Gabel-Rowton, Clint (Emily) Mainwaring, Sadie (William) Donaldson, Dean Gabel, Jack (Alexandria) Griffin, Matthew (Maria) Mainwaring and Charles Mainwaring; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

In 1973, Stan married Eileen (Morris) Lindquist and became a dad to her three children Rick, Tammy and David.

In June of 1990, Stan remarried Dawn and they moved to Pony, Mont. and purchased the property Dawn's parents owned when Dawn was young. Dawn preceded Stan in death in 1992. Stan retired from meat inspector the same year.

In his retirement years, Stan rode for the South West Montana Stock Association in the Potosi area of the Tobacco Root Mountains, the summers of 1993, 1994, and 1996-1999. His daughter Ginny and other family members also rode with him. He also packed salt licks into the mountains for the cattle. In 2003, Stan helped his son Earl when he rode for the Stock Association. Many family members went riding in the mountains with Stan when possible; his influence in the lives of his children and grandchildren was significant.

Stan, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend will also be remembered for the delicious homemade ice cream he made for family and friends.

Stanley's service will be held in the Pony Bible Church on February 16, 2025 at 2 p.m.

Reception to follow in the Church basement.

In lieu of flowers you may make donations to the Pony Homecoming Club (P O Box 654, Pony, MT 59747) or your choice.