Walter L. Secrest

Walter Lee "Walt" Secrest, age 90, passed away in Miles City, MT on January 06, 2023 at the V.A. Nursing Home.
Walt was born on a thirty-eight degree below zero morning on March 10, 1932. Despite the freezing temperatures, his dad had to ride horseback about four miles to town to get the doctor. Walt was born at home, on his family's ranch on the outskirts of Hardin, Montana. He was the fourth child of six born to Lee and Ethel (Weast) Secrest.
Before Walt was five years old, the family purchased a ranch east of Crow Agency, Montana. His youth spent here would help him develop into a talented cowboy. He spent his childhood working; helping his dad make a living by raising livestock and doing a little farming with horse-drawn machinery. At age seven he broke his first horse, a tall black gelding named Bullet. At this young age, he had already achieved a high level of responsibility and work ethic that is exemplary of becoming a skilled cowboy.
Walt spent the little free time that he could find chasing wild horses with his older brother, Charlie, across the endless empty rolling hills of eastern Montana. If Walt and his brother got bored with chasing wild horses, they would play with the stock already corralled. Of course, they had to wait for their folks to go to town before they could enjoy such activities. This included tying flank straps on yearling cattle, unbroke horses and green colts and riding them out, competing to see who could stay on the longest. This is what they did for fun as kids, and it served as the foundation for the making of a cowboy.
After an eventful childhood, it was only natural for Walt to soon become a great rodeo competitor. He entered in every event and placed, often winning, in each except bull riding. His rodeo career spanned thirty-six years, as he would be seen in "old man" rodeos, riding saddle bronc, roping, competing in wild horse races, and bulldogging into his fifties. Through his rodeo career, he won a total of thirty-nine buckles. Because of his proficiency in so many events, it was common for Walt to win the all-around cowboy award in many rodeos.
Although he was an excellent competitor, Walt is perhaps best known for role he took into the arena. The job of pickup man began in 1960 at the World Famous Bucking Horse Sale. It was not uncommon for a rodeo crowd to see Walt pick up a ride, then jump on the bucking horse and ride him out. His notoriety as a pickup man that earned him numerous jobs at countless rodeos across the state, the college national finals, the Indian National Finals, and the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in 1975.
Aside from his rodeo career, Walt continued his cowboy lifestyle on the ranch he purchased in Cohagen, Montana, which he called home for many years. He built up his holdings to about 2,000 head of sheep, 700 head of cattle, and 200 horses. Of course, there was a big arena on the place complete with bucking chutes. Walt put on many youth rodeos and rodeo clinics, and for many aspiring cowboys and rodeo hands, this was the starting place.
After selling his ranch and as Walt neared retirement age, instead of slowing down, Walt was still rearing to go. From 1980 until 1986, he served as the foreman of Benny Binion's ranch north of Jordan, MT. He then returned to Hardin and remained there for the next 30 years. Throughout the 1900s he made a career as a wrangler on movie sets. These included Far and Away, The Ballad of Little Jo, and Return to Lonesome Dove. IN 1995 her served as wagon boss in "The Great Drive of '95" cattle drive from Fort Worth, Texas to Miles City, Montana.
Walt settled down with his wife Maureen on a little ranch they bought in Dunmore, Montana. After a lifetime spent in the saddle, Walt found it difficult to stop. He spent 16 winters work as a pen rider at Edgar Feedlot just across the highway from his place. In 2017 he and Maureen moved to Miles City.
Walt is survived by his wife Maureen Lundby Secrest, his son Cotton (Bobbie) Secrest of Hardin, MT and their families; Jimmie Lee (Will) Sparks, Deanne (Brian) Gierke, Chad (Heather) Toavs and families; brother Charlie of Sheridan, WY; sister Betty Heller of Spokane, WA. He is also survived by Maureen's family, Bret, Brand & Desta Hirsch. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Loetal, Virginia & Bonnie; adopted son Charley Cole.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.