Flathead Lake Lodge

I had the pleasure of meeting Louie Udall, a talented trick rope rider who worked for Les in the 1950s. Although I don’t recall the exact year we first met—perhaps it was in 2008—Louie stopped by the ranch one summer, and we quickly struck up a conversation. He shared his journey of coming to the ranch as a young college student, and to my surprise, I learned that he was the trick roper featured in the ranch history book and that I have seen photos of and heard about for years.

Louie reminisced fondly about his time logging the two pastures as you enter the ranch, recalling how he inadvertently became a lumberjack. He had made the mistake of mentioning that he knew how to run a chainsaw, and just like that, he found himself working from sunup to sundown, seven days a week. While the work was grueling, he didn’t miss it once it was over. In addition to logging, he also helped manage the herd of horses and cattle, but it was his rope trick riding that truly defined his legacy.

With tears in his eyes, Louie told me about how he met his beloved wife, Leona Ream, while working at the ranch. They shared over 60 wonderful years together before her passing in 2018, and he spoke of her with a warmth that was palpable. After our tour of the ranch, we said our goodbyes, but our connection remained.

Occasionally, Louie would call, and we would spend time reminiscing about the ranch and his cherished memories here.

When it came time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ranch at the end of the 2020 season, we planned an all-employee reunion to honor everyone who contributed to the lodge’s legacy and to reconnect across generations. I reached out to Louie, who was living near Great Falls by then, and he expressed his eagerness to attend—provided he could bring his daughter and son-in-law along for support. I was thrilled to do this for him.

Unfortunately, as we all know, COVID-19 disrupted our plans, and we were unable to gather. Louie and I continued to chat over the phone, both hoping to see one another again soon.

Tragically, I learned in 2021 that Louie passed away. There are certain individuals who touch our lives in profound ways, and Louie was undoubtedly one of those rare jewels that I will carry in my heart forever.

Contributed by Jodi Peterson