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- BIOGRAPHY: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mtfergus/homestead/wrr01.htm
THE ROCK CREEK RANCH AND THE STAN GAR FAMILY information by Ben Garthofner and Kathie Fink
When the Government bought the Al Dewar place under the Fort Peck project Ben Garthofner leased it from the Government for $600 per year. It included two river bottoms. Ben moved onto it in April of 1937. In the fall of 1938 Ben's brother, Stan, went into partnership with him. They got a disease, called bangs, in their cattle in 1940 and had to sell them all. Ben left for three years while Stan stayed on. In 1943 Ben sold out to Stan and bought a ranch on the Judith River. After Stan took over the ranch he turned it into a very productive alfalfa seed operation. With the building of the north-south highway and the Fred Robinson Bridge, the area opened up and the raising of hay became more profitable as it could be easily shipped out to a wide market. Stan originally came from the Brussett area where at one time he was a print setter for a newspaper. He married Alice Orr Kurtz in February of 1942 at Fort Benton. She was raised in Rosebud County along the Tongue River. She had a daughter, Connie Kurtz, from a previous marriage. Stan and Alice had eight children: Dale, Jerry, Kathie, Linda, Lucille, Jim, Eilein and Dave who were raised and educated through the 8th grade at the Rock Creek School on the ranch. They attended high school in Roy. In the early 1960's the name Garthofner was shortened to Gar. Stan said he was tired of people asking him how to spell it all the time, so he had it legally changed. He was instrumental in the formation of the Square Butte Grazing District in southern Phillips County. He sold the government lease about 1973 and bought a ranch at Three Forks. He retired about 1974. He and Alice moved into Roy. Stan passed away on Thanksgiving morning of 1975 and Alice just a little over two years later, on March 18, 1978. The Gar Children: Connie married Everett Campbell. Dale and Jerry both passed away suddenly from heart attacks when Dale was 30 and Jerry only 24. Both were big, husky, handsome and healthy-looking young men and their deaths were a shock. Kathie is married to Bob Fink and lives on the ranch north of Roy. She has one son, Brian. Linda (Hansen) is a teacher and resides in Missoula. Lucille lives at Dodson with her husband, Jim Newby, and their son, Mark, and her daughter, Carrie Smith. Lucille's two older sons, Gary Robert and Earl Smith, live in Roy. Jim married Vicki Grabinski of Lewistown. They have two daughters, Tara and Tami. Jim was a bull rider for several years and was fairly well known on the Montana rodeo circuit. Eilein married Dick Cox. They live near Lewistown where they own the D C Guide and Outfitters. They have two sons, Jason and Cody. Dave is married to Shannon Myers. They live in Roy and have a daughter, Stacey. He is the mine superintendent for the construction company at the mines in Zortman, a job his dad would have loved. Stan was a miner at heart. He worked at the mines in Zortman in the early 40's and also had mining claims in Idaho. He and his friend, Lloyd LaFond, would take some time off each summer, and go panning for gold, something they both loved to do.
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1913 - 1975 (62 years)
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