Tom Ford Obituary

Tom Hess Ford, 97, from Winifred, Montana, passed away after a short illness at Valle Vista Nursing Home (he referred to as aka Death Camp) in Lewistown, Montana, May 15, 2025.

Tom was born March 25, 1928 to Hugh and Bernice (Hess) Ford in Lewistown, MT. Tom developed a love for horses as a young child when his folks gave him a pony, Mary Legs. By the age of 13 he purchased his own herd of cattle and began his livelihood of ranching. Bernice, his mother and schoolteacher, taught him in several different one-room country schools before he went to Winifred High School and graduated in 1944. He went to Butte to enlist in the Army, but when the found out he was only 16 he was sent home.

During the "Dirty Thirties" the Ford family moved to Oregon to look for work rather than starve to death here. Tom often told the story of his dad, Hugh, being a foreman in a hop yard and made 20¢ an hour. He also talked about seeing a soup line one mile long of people waiting to get a little bit of food.

The Fords returned back to Winifred to continue farming and ranching. Tom married Audrey Evers, June 16, 1946 in Lewistown, MT. Together they had one daughter, Vicki.

Survivors include his daughter, Vicki (Robert) Ehlert; grandchildren, Abby (Mike) Hall, Barry (Angela) Ehlert, and Carmen (Michael) Van Voast; his great-grandchildren, Izzy, Zoey, Carter, Daxten, Elden, Cali, and Chase; as well as sister-in-law, Lois Evers, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, cherished friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey; infant son, Everett Oliver; parents, Hugh and Bernice Ford; grandparents, Everett and Lillie Hess and Oliver and Lilly Ford.

From the cowboy hat, western (usually white) shirt and boots starting his day with sourdough pancakes and a cup of strong, black coffee thick enough to stand a spoon up in, he flew his airplane to check the cattle and mares in the Missouri Breaks. He logged 14,000 hours in a small plane over his lifetime.

Tom was a cattle buyer and traded cattle in every state west of the Mississippi River. He drove a Mercury car encircled in blue haze from Camel cigarettes while driving. He later switched to WB Cut Chewing Tobacco. And he loved to whistle, while driving or riding horseback. Tom had a partnership on a ranch in El Paso, Texas and Wisdom, Montana. He also owned a feedlot in Springfield, Minnesota.

Back on the ranch he always had a dog beside him in the old Ford pickup. The hired hands thought they would get to sit and relax after dinner, but when they heard Tom say, "As Snuffy Smith says, Time's a wastin" they knew it was time to get back to work. A neighbor was known to have said, "Bring a flashlight as Tom will work long past dark."

Whether it was gathering cattle, harvesting, chopping silage, or branding, there likely was a prank or two involving a hot shot, water fight or you name it!

He loved a rare steak, condiments "No thanks, if it's that bad the cook did a **** poor job cooking it." Oh, don't forget the Rocky Mountain oysters, fresh catfish, and chocolate cake; always good to wash it down with Pendleton Whiskey or Bud Light beer. He always said Blackberry Brandy will cure everything. Yuck!

He raised Quarter Horses and was a member of AQHA for 50+ years. As each of us learned to ride we were cautioned, "Do Not Run Your Horse Back To The Barn." Somehow, he always knew. Tom sold horses in Canada as well as Old Mexico and everywhere in between. Some of his horses made it into the film industry.

In later years, macular degeneration limited his lifestyle, but the phone calls were often answered with, "I'm good, but my headlights (aka eyes) don't work very well."

His great-grandkids and kids of all ages were greeted with his candy dish full of miniature candy bars in fridge and were encouraged to take two!

We all remember the quotes he so often said, like his dad Hugh said, "Seed in the dust and the bins will be bust." "If you just look around someone is always worse off." Growing up Vicki heard often, "Don't do as I do, do as I say." Our family favorite, "If you have your health and family you have everything."

We have closed the book on cowboy stories and history lessons. "Lord, Mr. Ford you may be gone, certainly not forgotten."

Graveside services will be Saturday, May 31st, 2025, Winifred Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will follow at the park or school cafeteria depending on the weather. Memorials may be made to Winifred Museum, Central Montana Foundation - Winifred Endowment or to a charity of one's choice.

The last birthday parties we celebrated with Tom were all he wanted for end of life, so rather than make a long trek for a short service just cherish the memories and remember, "It's better to have halitosis than no breath at all."

Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Tom's family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com