Rustling Up Montana’s Western Heritage
Across Montana
By Cathy Moser
Photography contributed
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center is always in search of a rousing tale about the good, the bad and the epochal.
A trail of people, animals, places, objects and events of various reputation have already illustrated the MCHF mission “to preserve and pass forward our cowboy way of life, American Indian cultures and collective Montana Western heritage.” The Hall receives dozens of nominations annually, but MCHF trustees select only 24 nominees for “Legacy” and “Living” inductions.
Since the nominations are rich in subject matter, it’s no wonder that colorful, engaging and diverse stories abounded at the Class of 2020 induction ceremony last August in Great Falls. The event included 12 “Legacy” awards honoring Montanans who’ve ridden into the sunset for good, such as Walter F. Linderman and his famed horse, Scottie.
“Walt Linderman qualified for nine National Finals Rodeos (NFR), finishing runner-up in 1966, ’70, and ’71, and twice he finished third. In 1967, he won the NFR Steer Wrestling average. ”
Walt was born into a rodeo family on March 26, 1936, in Red Lodge. He entered his first competition in White Sulphur Springs and won the steer wrestling event. By 1961, the cowboy co-owned a team of steer wrestling horses. His best, a chestnut named Scottie, debuted in 1965 and carried his first steer wrestler to a rodeo championship. Foaled in 1957, California-bred Scottie was sired by Franks Quarter Master, out of Sandy Bug.
For the next ten years, Scottie and Walt dominated rodeo arenas as a steer wrestling team. Walt qualified for nine National Finals Rodeos (NFR), finishing runner-up in 1966, ’70, and ’71, and twice he finished third. In 1967, he won the NFR Steer Wrestling average.
Scottie’s fame expanded further, as the horse also carried steer wrestlers other than Walt to six National Finals Steer Wrestling titles and four World Championships. For several years, seven of the top 15 steer wrestlers rode the chestnut. “If you didn’t ride Scottie, probably you wouldn’t dominate the steer wrestling ranks,” said Walt’s son, Jay Linderman. “He never bucked, but he was never still, either. He was always wanting to GO.” Scottie was retired in 1977 and pensioned to a Wyoming ranch. He died there in 1980.
Walt Linderman died on May 25, 2005. His legacy wasn’t championships won or lost, according to Jay, but pioneering the concept of steer wrestling schools. Many of Walt’s students went on to successful careers in the sport. In 2016, the year Scottie was honored with an induction into The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Walt was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Heritage Center in Oklahoma City.
The second half of the Class of 2020 induction ceremony shifted from the “Legacy” awards to the “Living” awards that recognize 12 contemporary Montanans advancing Montana’s Western heritage. Bernice Arlene Ende, also known as “Lady Long Rider,” epitomized the pioneer, can-do spirit while riding a horse thousands of miles across America.
“At somewhere around 21,000 miles, I felt seasoned and a sense of accomplishment.”
Born in Minnesota on Nov. 16, 1954, Bernice was raised on a dairy farm. She once quipped that she was horseback before she was born, as her mother rode also. Bernice, a teacher of classical ballet for 25 years, studied and taught dressage, or “horse ballet.” One day she and a couple of thoroughbreds reached a mountaintop. Inspired by the incredible view, she wanted to try something new. Bernice was aware of long-riding, but never considered it as something she’d ever do. That changed at age 50. From her cabin in northwest Montana, she plotted her route, arranged logistics and set off in 2005 for her sister’s home in New Mexico.
Depending on the dispositions of her saddle horse and pack horse, Bernice would either sleep with the reins firmly wrapped around her wrist or picket the animals. She slept in the shelter of a tarp, snuggled up with her dog. A small propane stove heated water for tea and oatmeal. Dandelion greens, lamb’s quarter, nettles and watercress supplemented her diet. Bernice reached New Mexico nearly 2,000 miles later. The miles traveled were twice the distance required to qualify as a long rider.
Her longest ride was from Montana to the Maine coast, back to the Pacific coast, and home. It took her more than two years to complete the 8,000-mile trip. Bernice, who passed away shortly after her induction, was in her 60s, and rode than 30,000 miles solo on horseback. Bernice claimed that she would ride as long as it took to change her completely.
She said, “At somewhere around 21,000 miles, I felt seasoned and a sense of accomplishment,” Bernice said.
The Hall of Fame concept is attributed to the late Leo Cremer of Sweet Grass County. Cremer was a rancher, rodeo producer and promoter extraordinaire who talked up the need for an entity charged with preserving Montana’s Western heritage. He served consecutive state Senate terms in 1949 and 1951, but the historical record is unclear whether his actions went as far as introducing legislation for such a place. Cremer died in 1953 at age 62. In 1979, the man known as “Mr. Rodeo” was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. He has a berth in the MCHF, too, as a member of the Class of 2010.
As the 21st century unfolded, Cremer’s concept was revived by Wolf Point Historical Development Inc., brainstorming ideas to promote tourism in northeastern Montana. The council evolved into the nonprofit MCHF and WHC, receiving legislative recognition as Montana’s official Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Most recently, the Hall of Fame exhibition at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls presented the Class of 2021. Sadly, Bernice “Lady Long Rider” Ende, after her induction into the Hall on Aug. 14, passed away peacefully on Oct. 2.
For information about the MCHF and inductees, visit montanacowboyfame.org.
