Gene Eldon Litton

Gene Eldon Litton

Gene Eldon Litton, 84, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Mesa View Regional Hospital. He was born April 24, 1929 in Clarkston, Washington to Gile and Lola Pierce Litton.

Gene was raised in Sarpy Creek and Hardin, Montana. He attended school in Hardin when they could keep him there. He always left during recess to the park across the street. Lois, his sister, was always sent to bring him back always in protest that "he had already been there for two or three hours" and besides that he already knew everything! This also continued throughout his high school education, only attending a few weeks at a time. Because he was out being a ranch hand.

He married Alma Spittzer in 1951. Together they raised four children; Connie, Kirk, Greg, and Todd. He worked road construction running heavy equipment at Homestead Mine in Butte, Montana. In the later years he moved to Iowa to work for Best Foods Poultry Division and became a Chicken Farmer. He was elected as the director for NHSRA from Iowa. He later moved back to Edgar, Montana to manage the family ranch along with his father. At that time he also became Executive Secretary of NHSR Association in early 70's.

Gene and Pat met in 1975 through a High School Rodeo and were married in 1980 in Gillette, Wyoming. At that time the office for NHSR was then moved to the ranch where he continued to be the NHSR Secretary until 1982 when he retired.

One of his many accomplishments was bringing NHSR Finals and College Rodeo Finals into the computer age with the first computerized rodeo. Gene signed the Articles of Incorporation in Rapid City, South Dakota helping to form the NHSR Foundation serving on the Executive Board until the present. In 1975 Gene was honored as NHSRA Man of The Year. He was a bare back rider, bull rider, steer stopper, calf roper, and team roper during his rodeo career. When he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he always answered, "A Cowboy."

Gene’s goal was to learn a little bit about everything and he accomplished it. He won many awards for his Fiddle contests and Dog trials. He served in many boards and was a member of a lot of associations; Campbell County Airport Board, Wyoming Stock Dog Association, Wyoming Livestock Board, Edgar Mt. School Board, Wright Area Chamber of Commerce, Coal Country Fiddle Contest Organizer, American Boarder Collie Association, AQHA, RCA, WSRA, PRCA Cowboy Alumni, Wyoming Wool Growers Association, and Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

Gene had a couple of passions in life. They were his music, which you could almost always find him at night with his favorite fiddle in his chair. Another was flying, he loved to be up in his plane flying over the ranch checking on the water and livestock.

One of his passions later in life was working and training his stock dogs and competing in local and national trials with his favorite dog, Nip. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren in sporting events.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; sister, Lois; brother, Roger; daughter, Connie (Tim) Wyman; sons, Kirk (Bess) Litton, Greg (Lisa) Litton, Todd (Erin) Litton; step-son, Lee(Peg) Isenberger; grandchildren, Lonnie (Andi) Trenary, Matt Trenary, Jolynne (Bill) Miller, Scotty (Sarah) Litton, Matthew (Dee) Ogden, Breanna (Rob) Rismoen, Lee (Heather) Simpson, Jason, Ryan, Christian Litton, Jeremy, Mariah, Thomas Litton, Bob (Holly) Isenberger, Chris (Jackie) Isenberger, Jessica (Ray) Fertig, 19 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ron and sisters, Betty Joann and Vivian.

Memorials can be made to National High School Rodeo Foundation, Wyoming Stockdog Association, Gillette College and Rodeo Building Fund.

Services will be held at the Family Life Church on 4-J Road in Gillette, Wyoming, Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Refreshment will follow the service provided by the Thunder Basin Belles