On my model railroad I have a representation of the small stockyard located behind the fairgrounds. This is not the larger NP stockyards further west, but the one at or near the entrance to Spotted Eagle.
I think I remember from the '50s the name 'Lyle Devine Cattle Company' on the fence. And I think I remember that Mr. Devine lived on Stower across from our house. My father described him as a 'cattle buyer' which always seemed strange since I understood that you made money by selling.
Anyway, can any of you provide confirmation, or more information about the company, just for my amazement, before I put the name on the model fence?
Ken Ziebarth

That's the way I remember it... but I'd wait for a second opinion from those who are older than me.

I'll send this email to his grandson in Great Falls. His wife was the former Jean Millegan. They lived in the turquise house kitty corner from the old Clark-Birdwell house on the Stower and Jordan intersection.

I found an interesting picture in a junk shop in Broadus one day. It is an aerial shot of the area just east of the bridge coming from Spotted Eagle. North sise of the road. The area is pretty much taken up by a ball field next to the road now. Then is is all stock pens. I dont remember them being there when I was a kid so it must be late 40's or early 50's. My dad was a trucker and I remember going to a small shack just across the Spotted Eagle crossing and off to the right. I think the old gentleman he visited there was a Pistol Undem. The picture actually shows a lot of Miles City and different areas are numbered so it must have been for some purpose than esthetics.

The house location mentioned is what I remembered. We lived on the corner of Stower and Merriam, first owners of what is probably now known as the Worrall house since that family had owned it for most of the time since we moved in the '50s.
Ken Z

John Riggs has a book about Jim Devine, whom I think was Lyle's father, and also a cattle buyer.

The ball field you are referring to was the old Miles City Saleyards back in the 1940's as I used to go there with my Dad. If we came to town and there was a sale we went there. Especially the horse sales.
Jim Devine was Lyle Devine's son, and just passed away a couple years ago. I remember Lyle and Jean Devine very well, but both have been gone for sometime.

Lyle was Jim Devine's father and Jim passed away December of 2009.

Dee, I'm sorry, I didn't think of you first as a reference for this gentleman. I haven't heard from Great Falls family. I know they were going to Italy with Heidi and family towards the end of Sept.

His oldest grandson thinks the sign would have said Lyle Devine and Son. No cattle company as he was a commercial buyer for Hormel etc. He used the lot to fatten the cattle before he resold them. Maybe Dee can correct this.

If you are interested in how my model representing the Lyle Devine stockyard came out, and a little about how I made it, have a look at http://model-railroad-hob.../node/7575
Ken Ziebarth

That is pretty cool, Ken.

That turned out great!

That is cool.

Lyle Devine was my uncle. He owned 2 ranches near Miles City, the Tongue River and Moon Creek. He bought and sold cattle, often coming to South Saint Paul, MN Stockyards for auctions. He and his son Jim had a thriving cattle business along with raising Quarter horses and Appaloosa's. I have many fond memories of Lyle's visits to our home in So St Paul and the silver dollars he always gave me to help him take off his boots. His father also named Lyle was the president of the Stockyards Exchange in So St Paul, which at the time was the largest in the country. He was a stand up guy and did a lot along with his wife Jean for the city of Miles City.

Jim's son Bill, is alive and living in Billings the last I knew. I believe he too, is engaged in buying/selling livestock. Fine young man though in his 50s now.