Burkhart, Gerard Story

Gerard "Bud" Story Burkhart passed away on May 13, 2010, 
at the family ranch east of Bozeman. He was the son of 
Harold de la Cuesta and Mayo (Story) Burkhart, born in 
Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 8, 1927. He was the last great-
grandson of Nelson Story, father of the Montana cattle 
industry.

Bud spent his childhood in Bozeman, attending school in 
the winter and working on the family ranch in the Gallatin 
Canyon in the summer. At the age of 16, during WWII, he 
enlisted in the Navy. Bud was in the Pacific Theater, 
assigned to the Marine Corps as a radio operator, taking 
part in the invasion of Siapain, Tinian, Guam and Iwo Jima. 
He received the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon and 
Presidential Unit Citation for the Asiatic Pacific Campaign 
with three battle stars and the World War II Victory Medal. 

After being honorably discharged, Bud returned to 
Bozeman and received his GED, then attending Montana 
State College. Bud worked as a government mule packer 
for the Geodetic Survey Crew resurveying Yellowstone 
National Park and the surrounding areas. Bud also worked 
for the Elkhorn Dude Ranch in the Gallatin Canyon as a 
wrangler.

Bud and Mary (Biering) were married on June 22, 1951. They 
lived on the family ranch in the Gallatin Canyon. Bud then 
went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and after 
graduation, he joined his father-in-law, Harold Biering, in 
ranching east of Bozeman. They raised purebred Herefords 
and foundation quarter horses. Bud was especially proud of 
the fact that two of his four-in-hand teams were chosen by 
Disney to lead the Rose Bowl Parade, pulling coaches in 
1980 for Disney's 25th anniversary. They were used for 
many years in the Disney Park to pull the coaches as well. In 
1989, Bud and his family were honored by the Crow Nation 
to commemorate Nelson Story's cattle drive from Texas to 
Montana-Bud and a descendant of Chief Plenty Coup drove 
a symbolic herd of cattle for the ceremony.

Bud was a strong Masonic brother and received his 50-year 
pin this spring. He was grand commander of the Knights 
Templar for the State of Montana, grand high priest of the 
Royal Arch Masons, member of the Scottish Rite, member 
of the Algeria Shrine and member of the Wyoming Algeria 
Black Horse Patrol, as well as a member of several other 
honorary degrees. 

Bud was a member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association and 
active in rodeo as a competitor and a judge. He also helped 
form the Montana Rodeo Association, of which he is a past 
president. He was also a life time member of the AQHA. 

He served on the Montana Winter Fair Board as president as 
well as Horse Director for twenty five years. He was on the 
Gallatin County Fair Board and LaMotte School Board for 
many years. He also helped form the Fort Ellis Fire 
Department. 

Bud is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary; his sons, 
Robert (Gloria) and Clint and daughter, Kathryn (Marty). He 
is also survived by his grandchildren, Kimberli and Juaquin; 
Michelle, Rachel, Drew, Elizabeth and Nate; Matthew and 
Meghan; and by his sister-in-law, Debbie; niece, Amber 
Ferrin and his faithful dog, Tut.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Richard; 
grandsons, Dax and Josh; brothers, Clint Armitage and Pete 
Samuelson; sister, Etha Jernigan; mother-in-law, Mildred 
Arnold, and father-in-law, Harold Biering. 

Per Bud's wishes, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are 
suggested to the following organizations: The Pioneer 
Museum in Bozeman; 317 W. Main, Bozeman, MT 59715; 
The Knight Templar Eye Foundation, 1000 East State 
Parkway Suite I, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4592, or the Justin 
Cowboys Crisis Fund, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado 
Springs, Co. 80919. Arrangements are in the care of 
Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com

Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle on May 16, 2010