South Phillips County Ranch Celebrates 125 years through five generations

Our story begins when Elinor Spihowa was born in Poland in February 1874. She then ventured to Montana with her aunt when she was just fourteen. She stayed with her brother Stanley in Zurich for awhile.

Elinor later went to work at the St. Paul's Mission in Hays assisting the Sisters at the boarding school. Elinor married Julius Wysoski who was also working .at the Mission, he had came there from Germany. They established a homestead on the south side of the Little Rocky Mountains, near Landusky.

Elinor and Julius had two children, a boy who died of whooping cough at only a few months old, and Frances, a daughter who was born February 22, 1894 at the homestead. When Frances was six-months-old, her father died of tuberculosis. Elinor was then left with a small baby and the ranch to care for.

Elinor then married John Kolczak. There were 10 children to this union, Joe, Annie, Maggie, Al, Mary, Emma, Eddie, twins, and a girl. The twins and the last little girl died at birth. When Eddie, the youngest child, was two years old, John was shot and killed in a saloon fight in 1908.

Elinor was alone again with eight children and a ranch to care for. Frances and Joe then had to take over ranch duties being they were the eldest of the children. They did the work of men, riding and farming until the others were old enough to help out.

Elinor then added a room on to the family home for her children to attend school. Neighbor children also attended the school. The last teacher to have taught at the Kolczak School was Vivian Mitchell's (father of Winston) sister Ruby Mitchell.

The Curry Gang was around at this time, and helped out gathering cattle and branding. The Indians that had been friends with Elinor most of her life also helped with ranching duties.

Frances then married Edgar Williams who was originally from Maine, and had moved to Great Falls as a boy, before then came to work in Landusky. He worked in the mining industry and moved to Landusky in 1906 to 1914. They married in Havre July 27,1912.

To this union five children were born. Mary, Frances(Sonny), Edgar Jr., Willie, and Raymond. Edgar and Frances then homesteaded on what is now owned by Charlie and Lorraine Schwenke.

Raymond then took ownership on the ranch. He and his brother Edgar Jr. were in the ranching business together and purchased many of the surrounding homesteads in the mountains, many of which were owned by his relatives. His brother Edgar was then killed in World War II, which in turn left Raymond with all of the ranch holdings.

Raymond then married Margaret Moore on October 27, 1942 in Glasgow. To this union six children were born, Ramona Kienenberger, Bonnie Lankford, Dannie, Gaylene Lalum, Gerry and Terry, the twins. In addition to ranching he was also part owner in the former Little Ben Mine, which his father had also been involved in.

Gerry was next to take ownership of the ranch. He married Lorri Durocher on December 22, 1978. To this union two children were born, Vicki Hofeldt and Brittany Santorno. Gerry continued on the ranching tradition, and he also broke more ground to acquire more farming on the ranch. He also bought land to add to the existing ranch. He was employed at the Pegasus Gold Mine for many years, carrying on the continued interest in the family for mining.

Dustin and Vicki Hofeldt now have the family ranch and have four children. Dustin is also a fifth generation rancher from Blaine County.

Through these 125-plus years there has been five generations of the family to attend the Landusky School, which is now closed. The family has also been active church members at St. Paul's Mission since the early 1890's.

We are having a ranch celebration on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the family ranch. It will begin with a BBQ at 4 p.m. and a dance to follow beginning at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome, hope to see you there.