nd Western Heritage Center (WHC) announced the thirteenth class of inductions into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame. Those announcements included Turner resident Lzetta Martha (Combes) Halingstad and Duane Daniel Werk of Chinook. Both will be honored in an induction ceremony in conjunction with the annual MCHF event gathering in Great Falls the second weekend in February 2021.

"Due to COVID restrictions, we are still in the tentative planning phase for our celebration," stated Christy Stensland, MCHF and WHC Executive Director.

The inductees, who were chosen from a field of candidates nominated by the general public, will be honored for their notable contributions to the history and culture of Montana during the Western Heritage Gathering, which in the past has been held at the Best Western Heritage Inn.

According to MCHF and WHC President, Bill Galt from White Sulphur Springs, "The Hall of Fame exists to honor those who have made an impact in their part of the state and represent Montana's authentic heritage for future generations. Our volunteer trustees around Montana vote on nominations that come from the district in which they reside. This process gives the local communities a strong voice in who will represent them in the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame."

An unlimited number of nominations may be submitted from each of the twelve MCHF districts. Blaine, Choteau, Hill and Liberty counties comprise District 4. Nomination criteria established by the board for the Class of 2020 inductions allowed the election of one Living Inductee and one Legacy Inductee from each of the twelve districts. In District 4, Halingstad will receive the Living Award, and the Legacy Award winner is Duane Daniel Werk, formerly of Chinook.

Each nomination is required to include a biography, which is reviewed by the nominee or the nominee's family. An abbreviated version of the biography which was submitted with Werk's nomination reveals his legacy to the cowboy way of life:

His parents bought a ranch on Clear Creek, west of Chinook when Duane was fourteen. While attending Chinook High School, he joined Future Farmers of America. His after-school chores left him unable to compete in sports, even though he was known to have an accurate throw and unmatched speed. In later years, that natural ability would come in handy when throwing a loop or dodging a bull in the arena.

Duane was first and foremost a cowboy. His rodeo career began at age thirteen when he won the cow riding at the rodeo in Warrick, Montana. His mother-a practical woman-took his $50 winnings and used it to purchase a life insurance policy for him. He transitioned into riding bulls, occasionally horses, and even played the role of bull fighter when called upon. His arena experience led to judging local and college rodeos, where he was known to be honest, direct, and fair.

In 1955, as the youngest brand inspector hired by the Montana Board of Livestock, Duane was sent to St. Paul, Minnesota, for the fall season to inspect incoming cattle being shipped by rail from Montana to Minnesota.

Duane later worked as a dude wrangler at the Roosevelt Lodge in Yellowstone Park guiding trail rides for tourists and riding in nightly rodeos at the lodge during the summer of 1957. On September 5, he enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to be deployed to Korea. When inoculations were given, he had an allergic reaction, was hospitalized, and then received a medical discharge on December 31, 1957.

In the spring of 1959, while working construction in Shelby, Montana, Duane met his future wife, Peggy Wilson. They were married that same year and eventually had four children: Debbie, Allan, Chuck, and Sandy.

After moving around for a while, in May 1970, the family returned to Shelby where the rodeo bug resurfaced. Duane joined the North Central Montana Rodeo Association and began team roping (or as they say, competing in "the old man's rodeo sport") with his longtime friend, Merle Boyce. He later served on the Board of Directors and sponsored the Champion Team Roping Heeler saddle for several years. His dedicated roping horses, Duke and Blue gave him years of weekend rodeoing where the Werk's were part of a close-knit rodeo circuit family. Duane retired from his rodeo career when Blue developed arthritis.

In 1973, Duane and Peggy returned to Chinook and purchased a ranch in the valley that Peggy managed while Duane oversaw the cattle operation for Kuhr Land and Livestock until 1977 when it was sold.

In 1978, Duane and Peggy purchased Bear Paw Livestock in Havre and moved to a new facility they built in Chinook, with the grand opening held in 1979. Duane attended auctioneer's school in Billings, and when asked after graduation to share what he learned, he replied, "I am sure not going to go home and fire my auctioneer!" A lifelong supporter of 4-H, Duane purchased livestock from numerous surrounding county fairs each year. The use of the stockyard building was donated to various non-profit organizations. When the sales yard sold in 1984, Duane continued in contract cattle buying and went to work for Agri Basics selling feed, earning a top salesman award.

Duane started golfing in his later years, and when his league won first place, their championship photo showed him wearing his blue jeans and cowboy boots. He and Peggy were members of and participated in the annual International Cowboy Golf Association, where they golfed and volunteered cooking breakfast for other cattle buyers, auctioneers, and ranchers.

Duane also loved his family, friends, horse racing, cards, fishing, hunting, bowling, dancing and a good joke. He had a wicked sense of humor and was always ready with a quick retort. You never wanted to ask for his opinion unless you were ready to hear it. He always said, "I've never left a room with anyone wondering what I was thinking." His life was lived as that of a true cowboy, always involved in some manner with livestock and a ranching lifestyle.

The final chapter of Duane's life forced him and Peggy to relocate to Belgrade, Montana, for healthcare. After a brief but brave battle with cancer, Duane passed away on March 18, 2004 and was buried in Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook with military honors. In June 2004, the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Chinook was dedicated to Duane. A rider-less horse was led around the rodeo arena while memories of his life were shared.

According to Stensland, the Hall of Fame Inductee Recognition Ceremony is the WCH's hallmark event of the year. "This special occasion allows us to gather to express our gratitude for the notable and honorable contributions made by our 2020 Class of Inductees," she said.

Anyone wishing to submit a nomination for the 2022 Class of Inductees to the MCHF is encouraged to contact the MCHF & WHC by emailing Stensland (christy@montanacowboyfame.org) or by calling the Field Office at (406) 653-3800 well in advance of the submission deadline, May 31, 2021, to express an intent to nominate.

Founded in 2003 and designated by Montana State Legislature, the MCHF & WHC is a nonprofit organization that works to fulfill its mission: "To cherish and pass forward the cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures, and our collective Montana heritage for generations to come." The MCHF & WHC organization exists to serve as a resource to all who wish to see this way of life passed forward to the next generation.

Next week's edition of the Journal~News~Opinion will feature Halingstad's biography, which contributed to her winning the Living Award.

The Hall of Fame exists to honor people like Halingstad and Werk who have made an impact in their part of the state and who represent the spirit of Montana's grassroots cultural heritage.