Ramona L Durham

Ramona Lou Herrick Durham, age 96, passed away peacefully on 03/24/2026 surrounded by the love of her family and the mountains of the Madison Valley she cherished all her life.

Born to Frank and Minnie Criswell Herrick on 02/08/1930 in a one-room cabin just east of the Bear Creek Schoolhouse at Cameron, she grew up and spent her entire life on the family ranch between Bear Creek and Indian Creek knowing and loving the land. She married Pete Durham in 1950 and together they built a life on the ranch.

She was a woman of grit and grace. Dependable and loyal with the quiet strength that held her family together. She believed in hard work, honesty, and showing up for the people you love - values she passed down through example and the way she lived each day. She had a service heart and was a tremendously helpful community oriented person volunteering at her church, the Madison Valley Historical Museum, blood drives, elections, the cattle womens association, and her beloved Bear Creek Schoolhouse/Community Club where she attended school until fourth grade and organized pinochle parties every March. She also had a wickedly funny and sarcastic sense of humor of which her family has many hilarious stories.

She is survived by her four children: Wade (Nancy) Durham, Todd Durham, Lisa (Mitch) Jensen, and Zane (Cary) Durham; seven grandchildren: Ashley (Aaron) Koss, Teelan Durham, Tori Pierson, Darby Forister, Anna Forister, Kyle Leys, and Raith (Brooke) Durham; four great grandchildren: Lily Koss, Brett Koss, Pryce Pierson, and Quin Forister. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and a community that will feel her absence deeply. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, her grandson Olin Durham, her sisters Ione Frisbie and June Ramer, and at 96 years old, most of her friends and extended family.

A service honoring her life will be held on Monday, March 30, at 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church in Ennis Montana. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution be made in her name to either the Bear Creek Schoolhouse or the Madison Valley History Museum.

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the wonderful people and staffs at Home Park Assisted Living in Sheridan Montana and the Madison Valley Manor in Ennis Montana. Your jobs are hard and we appreciate the outstanding care and kindness she received these past two years at these facilities.

Donations can be made to:

Bear Creek Schoolhouse
checks should be made to: Cameron Community Club, 636 Bear Creek Lp, Cameron MT 59720.

History museum
Madison Valley History Association, PO Box 474, Ennis MT 59729.