"The light you have, is all you need to know"

Back in the olden days, two great boxers were scheduled to fight for the championship of the world. Because of their contrasting styles, sports pundits described the upcoming bout as "The irresistible force meets the immovable object." The late Craig Winterburn, one of the area’s most memorable cowboy personalities, embodied both of those characteristics.

Craig was a successful ranch owner and operator. The ultimate multi-tasker, he had an obsessive zest for life, paired with an indefatigable energy to squeeze as much out of every waking moment possible, and impossible, sometimes. Craig was driven to accomplish the goals he set for himself, and he possessed the horse-sense, self-confidence and stubbornness it took to achieve them. A masterful cattleman and horseman he was also an excellent mechanic and could fix anything. Craig had an analytical mind, bordering on genius. A Type-A perfectionist, he was known for his immaculate bookkeeping records...everything in triplicate.

He had a quick wit and an entertaining personality. Craig was also a family man and a gentleman, and had a thoughtful, caring side to him. Was he perfect? No. But You couldn’t help but love him.

Craig Winterburn was born on August 9, 1939, in Los Angeles, and died on August 21, 2026, at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls. He was 87 years old. Craig was the second child of Read and Dorothy (Millen) Winterburn's three children, between sisters Ann and Julie. He grew up in South Pasadena, California, graduating from South Pasadena High School in 1956.

Read was a geologist for the Union Pacific Railroad and took Craig on assignment in Wyoming. During those summers, Craig accompanied his dad up north where he found work on various ranches, including the storied Barlow Ranch. Craig made the acquaintance of Read's contact Garvin Taylor, and when he and his wife Frances (Selery Taylor) bought a ranch near White Sulphur Springs, they hired young Winterburn as a ranch-hand. He attended Colorado State University for a year, studying Animal Husbandry then went back WSS and leased the Red Rader ranch at just 19 years of age.

Upon his return to WSS, he met Rosana Hurwitz. Never a slave to fashion or concerned about first impressions, Rosana recalled that on their first date, he didn't bother changing out of his work clothes. But apparently love trumped the wardrobe, and Craig and Rosana were married in 1961.

Craig worked for Rosana's father Burt Hurwitz's Lazy BH Ranch, and then returned for another college stint at Montana State, while Rosana taught school in Manhattan. They lived at "The Jake Bair Place" on the Smith River. In 1963 the couple partnered with the Lazy BH Ranch, purchasing property at the El Dorado Bar on the Missouri River, in addition to the high-country area for cattle at Jim Ball Basin. They founded the El Dorado Sapphire Mine in 1966, which became a popular destination for rockhounds far and wide. It was during this era that Craig and Rosana's first two children, David and Amy, were born.

In 1970, the couple teamed with Lazy BH to obtain the Brian O'Connell ranch in the East Helena Valley, at the end of Wylie Drive between York Road and Lake Helena. They moved onto the property in 1971, where daughter Sara was born. In 1975, the Winterburns bought out Lazy BH and incorporated the Running W Cattle Company. Beginning at El Dorado/Jim Ball and then in the valley, over the course of five decades, hundreds of local teenage boys trained every summer to become young men. The hard work of ranch life - bucking bales, branding calves, cattle drives - was a boot camp for maturity.

Late in the 70s Craig and family began exporting live cattle to Japan. This expanded to live sheep and cattle. "The irresistible force meets the immovable object" when Craig and Rosana divorced in the early 80s. Then In 1987, as part of Montana International Livestock, Running W promoted about 6800 pounds of “Certified Montana Beef” — highly marbled and appealing to Japanese tastes — as part of a state-sponsored trade mission to expand Montana beef exports. The product was fed a special diet in statewide feedlots to meet Japanese preferences. Winterburn made 17 trips across the pond, selling Treasure State cattle to Zen-Noh all over Japan, in addition to hosting multiple visits on the ranch for Japanese dignitaries.

It was in 1987 that Craig married Diann "Dee" Seymour, whom he'd first met in 1984 (and later fell in love with) while filming an auto dealership TV commercial. This union lasted 39 years, until his passing. Dee's young son Ben Seymour became part of the Winterburn family, as well, spending a good portion of his formative years with Craig as a second father.

Despite the insanely hectic schedule of operating a ranch at two locations (high country and valley), plus the overseas operation, Craig volunteered in multiple community organizations for many years. He served on the Lewis & Clark Planning Board (chairman), Helena Irrigation Planning Board, Montana Stockgrowers Association, and as an advisor to the University of Montana's Business Department board. And he was a proud member of Alpha Gamma Rho.

Additionally, Craig played as hard as he worked, making recreational time for horseback trail rides, snow skiing, snowmobiling, boating, mountaineering, poker games, and an occasional session on the pool table with the "Cow Pucky Cup" at stake. Another favorite was the "glassy deal"...slalom water skiing at Lakeside at 6 a.m. when the lake was as smooth as glass.

Craig's other passions included putting out salt, grading the road and coordinating and hosting social events; he hated to miss a good party. Once he was the lone cattleman among a gathering of vegetarians winning the group over with his wit and charm. For the last 15-plus years, a favorite event has been the annual week-long family reunions in San Clemente, California.

His prize horses were Banjo, Sage and Pal, and one of his favorite dogs was his "fraternity brother," Max. In Max's declining years, he broke his leg and needed an expensive surgery. "Save his leg, Doc," Craig told the vet, “He’d do it for me." As for humans, his "friends list" numbers in the hundreds, but a few of his favorites (the rest know who you are) were guys like cousin Bill Winterburn, the brother he never had; ranch manager Buzz Short, who steadfastly stuck by Craig on the place through thick and thin for 45 years; and David Hooper, whom Craig and Rosana took under their wing as a teenager and who became a member of the family.

Also, there were Bill Berrigan and Scotty Truscott, who went to school with Craig's sister Julie in South Pasadena; longtime buddy Bill Doggett; John Wilkinson; and the Koehler brothers. And who could ever forget the Three Amigos - Craig Winterburn, Wes Synness and Norm Brighton.

Dozens of exclusive "Craigisms" exist, but a couple of his favorite mantras were, "It's gotta work for everybody and it's gotta be fun" and "The impossible just takes a little longer."

Although Craig owned several expansive pieces of real estate, he never viewed himself as a "landowner" per se, instead working hard to protect the property, "keeping it good." His memorial plaque will read "It was my privilege to steward this land."

He spent the last few weeks of his life at Great Falls' Benefis Peace Hospice where he celebrated his 87th birthday on August 9, with a slice of Penny Koehler's "outstanding" chocolate cake, and a live visit in the hospital room from Sara's horse Cadilac. Craig Winterburn died on August 21st, 10 minutes past midnight, so that he could "live one more day."

Craig was predeceased in death by his mother and father, and sister Julie De Koning.

He is survived by his wife Dee (Seymour) Winterburn; sister Ann Tierney; his first wife Rosana Skelton; son David Winterburn; daughters Amy Goyins (Mike) and Sara Winterburn Stevenson (Darrell); son Ben Seymour (Trista Wahl) and David Hooper. Also grandchildren Lenny, Kaleb, Aidan and Walker Winterburn; Sam Park and Andrea Wiebe (Corie); Craig Stevenson and Claire Stevenson DeMello (Avery); Brooks and Wesley Seymour; and great grandchild Dawson. Also cousins Bill and David Winterburn, and extended families; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Like Charlie Russsell states, "Any man that can make a living doing what he likes is lucky, and I am That. Any time I cash-in now, I win." Craig was Lucky!!!!

Craig Winterburn's celebration of life is scheduled for February 2027, at a place yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, Memorials can be sent to Montana Stockgrowers Foundation at 420 North California Street, Helena MT 59601 or Benefis Peace Hospice of Montana 1101 26 Street South, Great Falls Mt 59405.

The family would like to extend heart-filled thank yous to the staff of Benefis ICU and the Benefis Hospice for their extraordinary care, compassion and guidance.