Lester Mark Braach

If the Good Lord has cattle on a thousand hills as the Good Book says, then His cowboys should have plenty of work. Another Ruby Valley hand was added to the crew early Friday morning, July 18, 2025 with the passing of Lester Braach.

Lester Mark Braach was born December 17, 1929 at the family ranch in Brandon, Montana to parents, Walter "Chuck" and Miriam Braach. An example of the hard work it takes to be a rancher in Montana, he started early with jobs like trailing sheep at the age of 12 to the upper Ruby on foot. He saved money picking rocks from the Ellinghouse hay fields to pay for a nice saddle he would use for years, working the ranch and jobs around the valley for folks like Jay Barnosky and the Hansen brothers. Lester joined the Army in 1951 as an anti-aircraft gunner, and later vehicle maintenance. In 1952 he was transferred from active duty to active reserves following his dad's heart attack, and took over the day to day operations of the family ranch. He met Carol McKenzie when she was a nurse at the Ruby Valley Hospital in 1968. They courted and were married April 12th, 1969. Their daughter, Kari, was born in March of 1971, and son Chris came in March of 1974. He became an active member of Bethel UMC in 1990, serving on several committees and being a leader in the men's group. Lester worked the family place until turning it over to Kari and her husband Dave in 2008 and moved to Sheridan, though never really retiring from how things were going on the ranch.

Lester is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Miriam Braach, his brother Donald Braach, sister Mary Jo and her husband Keith Flint, sister Carolyn Tintinger and her husband Don, and brother Walter "Guy" Braach and his wife Irene.

He is survived by wife Carol, daughter Kari and her husband Dave Reintsma, and son Chris and his wife Angela. Grandchildren Samantha and her husband Caleb Purdie, Alex Jarrell and his wife Morgan, and Andrew Mark Braach. Great Grandchildren Amelia, Sawyer and Jedidiah Purdie, and Wyatt and Paislee Jarrell.

He was well loved by many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends who always looked forward to visiting "Uncle Lester" on the ranch. The great grandkids thought Pa Lester and John Wayne were one in the same. Waitresses and nurses were on their toes around him; his reputation for mischief preceded him. Locals knew they could count on him to help if they needed a hand with anything, or if they just wanted to kill a couple hours BSing.

His last years were a challenge as he fought cancer and COPD. No words can express the family's appreciation for the supportive care giving from Wendy Grow and the comfort care from the Honeybee Hospice group. Thank you so much!!

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Legion Anderson-Simpson Post 89, the Honeybee Hospice in Dillon or the memorial of your choice.

Celebration of Life will be Friday, July 25th at Bethel UMC in Sheridan at 11am; grave side and reception to follow.