Dorine P. (Graham) Rate

Dorine Rate passed away at home May 4, 2021 in the arms of her immediate family, as her two daughters played and sang country gospel. She was born January 11, 1937 in Miles City to Doris Bean.A sister (Myrna) arrived later in the year. Soon thereafter, Doris and her husband divorced. Dorine and Myrna were raised during their early years in the home of their grandparents, Hiram and Jessie Bean, who homesteaded on Moon Creek. Hiram and Jessie moved the family to Gardiner where he had the first year-round contract driving the mail to Cooke City. Doris met and married Robert (Rob) Graham in Cooke. Rob formally adopted Dorine and Myrna. He skied the mail from Cooke to Daisy Pass and was the son of an outfitter (Grandpa George Graham). During World War II, the family lived and worked at several mines, including Mouat and BenBow on the Stillwater. Grandpa George bought a ranch on Fiddler Creek, a tributary of the Stillwater. Dorine and Myrna rode horseback to the West Rosebud School, near Roscoe. A brother (Bob) was born while the family lived at the ranch.Rob started working for COP construction (heavy equipment operator), built a home and moved his family to Billings. Dorine and Myrna graduated from Billings Senior High. Summers were spent in the Stillwater and Slough Creek drainages helping in Grandpa George's hunting camps and working at the Silver Tip Ranch and in Cooke City.After graduation, Dorine attended Billings Business College. She then went to work at the Billings State Bank. It was this time that she met Hank Rate at a square dance class. Hank was a junior forester with the National Forest Service (FS). They were married April 22, 1961 in Red Lodge, and they observed their 60th wedding anniversary in April 2021. Dorine accompanied Hank down many roads and trails. They lived at the Fleecer Guard Station out of Butte (FS) their first year of marriage. They then lived at the Meyers Creek Ranger Station (FS) near Nye for 4 years. She was (among other activities) the substitute cook at Impasse Falls as the FS completed the East Rosebud Trail to Cooke, now called the "Beaten Path". Becky (Rebecca) was born at Meyers Creek. They left the Forest Service in 1965 and moved to the N Bar Ranch on Flat Willow Creek, where she was again frequently conscripted at the cook-house, garden, milk house, etc. Wendy was born on the N Bar Ranch. They bought a small place at the mouth of Cedar Creek in 1968 and have lived in the old Cedar Creek schoolhouse for the past 53 years. They raised and put their two daughters through Gardiner School. She helped in several of Hank's efforts to support the family, including raising livestock and land surveying.The family took annual summer pack trips into the Beartooth Mountains which she loved. She was active in the successful battle to classify the Absaroka-Beartooth as Wilderness (1972 -1978). She thrilled to her daughters' and grandchildrens' athletics. Two of her granddaughters played on a team that won three consecutive state volleyball championships, plus a state basketball championship. She never missed a game.Dorine was a devout Christian and was active in the upgrade of the Gardiner Community Church. She always helped organize a Bible study group. She made close friends every place they lived and was loved by all. She was always ready to provide comfort, solace, inspiration, or to hold a dying hand.Dorine is survived by her husband, Hank; daughters Becky (dear friend Lloyd) Johnson of Gardiner/Jardine, and Wendy (Jerry) Thomas of Gardiner; grandchildren Tess Thomas of Clyde Park, Patricia Jean (PJ) (Michael Dasalla) Thomas - 14H in the U.S. Army stationed in Camp Carroll, South Korea, Clancy Thomas, and Josie Thomas of Gardiner; sister, Myrna Conrad, of Laurel; brother, Bob Graham, of Columbus; and several nieces and nephews.If interested in more of Dorine's story, read the essay "Around the Beartooth in 80 Years" in the 2019 book Voices of Yellowstone's Capstone - edited by Traute Parrie and Jesse Logan: a celebration of the creation of the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness. At Dorine's wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are planned. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements. To view the tribute page or share condolences, visit www.franzen-davis.com.