Herman Edward Gee, 95, Passed Away on November 1, 2026

Raised in a farmhouse west of Belgrade, Montana, Herman Edward Gee spent time working on the family homestead and at the Martin McCloud Ranches before beginning a journey that touched communities across the state.

Herman Edward Gee passed away on November 1, 2026, at the age of 95. Born on June 16, 1931, alongside ten brothers and sisters, he grew up on a farm in Reese Creek where he attended school.

After working at the Martin McCloud Ranches, Gee joined the United States Navy. His active duty spanned the years 1951 to 1954, holding the rank of Boatswain’s Mate Third Class while stationed on the USS Monongahela, and he was honorably discharged in Washington, D.C.

His military service took him across the globe. During his time in uniform, he received a citation in Naples, Italy, earned a certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle, and traveled through the Panama Canal while visiting Cuba, Newfoundland, Greenland, and the Mediterranean.

Upon returning to civilian life, Gee met the love of his life at Gerdy’s Cafe. They married in September 1955 and settled in Helena to raise their two daughters, spending weekends at omoksees and local racetracks.

The family returned to the Gallatin Valley in 1986 to raise and breed Paint horses. Professionally, Gee dedicated hard work to local industries, spending 33 years at Pacific Steel & Recycling and another 10 years with B&A Trucking before retiring in 2002.

Following his retirement, Gee and his wife moved to Townsend and later returned to Gallatin Gateway in 2008 to be closer to family. The couple shared 54 years of marriage before her passing in 2009 after a battle with cancer.

In his later years, Gee became a fixture at youth sporting events. Rain, snow, or shine, he attended high school rodeos to support his grandchildren, affectionately becoming “Grandpa” to everyone he met along the way.

Gee spent the final four years of his life in Power, Montana, enjoying visits from family while watching Dani’s horses graze through his living room window.

His passing followed the deaths of his parents, James and Lena (Dwight); his wife, Patricia (Wilson); his sisters, June, Zella, Betty, and Marlene; and his brothers, Conrad, Floyd, Kenneth, Ernest, and George.

His survivors include his brother Toby and wife Sarah, his sister-in-law Fern, his daughters Nina (along with her husband Denny) and Deb, his grandchildren Josh, Dustin, and Danielle, his great-grandchildren Dawson, Renn, Jay, Kenna, and Embri, alongside a multitude of relatives, friends, and cherished loved ones.

Known for telling a good story, Gee left behind words that family and friends now remember for one final goodbye: “Take your time going and hurry back, but don’t take any wooden nickels along the way.”