Mary Rose Horn
August 26, 1910 ~ Havre, Montana
February 28, 2002 ~ Denver, Colorado
In Memoriam
God saw the road was getting rough
The hill was hard to climb
So he gently closed her loving eyes
and whispered
"Peace Be Thine"
It's easy enough to be pleasant
when life flows along like a song
But the man worthwhile is the one who will smile,
when everything goes wrong.
The test of the heart is trouble
and it always comes with the years.
The smile that is worth the treasures of the earth
is the smile that shines through the tears.
John Cestnik The Cestniks moved to the Coulee in 1911 to work in the mines. Their daughter Mary, who was born in Havre, MT, was six months old. John worked in the Washoe Mine. Their first house in the Coulee was the log house across the road from Vincent and his family. They lived in this house for about 10 years, sold the house to the Golubs and then bought the house down the road. Anne, Johnny and Frank were born in the Coulee. In 1916, John filed for ownership of a homestead located southwest on Mount Maurice and close to the Meetesee Trail. The family had to live on the ranch for one year to prove ownership and Mary who was 6 would wait a year to start school. John that year walked to Washoe to work. He batched in town during the week and spent week-ends on the ranch. Thereafter the family would live on the ranch from April to October and stay in their house in the Coulee for the winter. The winter of 1918, the schools were closed because of the Spanish Flu and the family did not move back to the Coulee. Helen was born on the homestead that winter. School restarted in January of 1919 and Mary boarded with her aunt and uncle in the Coulee because she had to go to school Saturdays for make-up. Margaret and Pauli were also born on the homestead. Mrs. Mourich delivered all of the kids except Mary and Margaret. When Margaret was born, something happened and the doctor from Washoe came to the ranch. In 1925 the family never went back to the ranch because it was too far for the kids to walk to Bearcreek High School. The ranch was sold about 1927 to Skipper Clark for $1400. The Washoe Mine was closed in December of 1943 and John would work for a while as a sheepherder for Frank Clark, and in the new Smith mine in the Coulee (the Lamport Mine). After retiring in 1949, he and Rose moved to Cody Wyoming where their daughter Helen was living. The house in the Coulee was sold and probably moved to Belfry. Remnants of the foundation to the cellar and Rose's lilac bushes are still at the site where the house was in the Coulee. John Cestnik Sr. John Sr. moved to the Coulee with his sons. He lived in a one room shack across the road from his son Vincent. He worked in the mines until there was a gun accident that crippled him in 1912 and after that he repaired shoes for a living. He died in 1921 and is buried in the Bearcreek cemetery. After he died the Golubs converted his house into a garage. Grandpa's Horse named Dick He just loved that horse!!!!! When Grandpa wanted to ride the horse, the horse stayed on the top of the hill and wouldn't come down and since Grandpa was crippled he sent the kids to get him. They would run all over the pasture chasing the horse and Dick was very frisky. When the kids finally caught up with the Dick, he could barely walk back to the barn to be harnessed. The grandkids would go with the horse (Dick of course) and buggy from the ranch past the reservoir to meet their father when he finished his work at the Washoe Mine. All the way to the ranch John Jr. would have to hollar at the horse. Mary says "this horse was a no good laziest ____!" (sorry can't put what else she says in writing). When John Sr. died the horse was willed to Mary and sold for $20 dollars. A new coat from Montgomery Ward in Washoe was ordered for Mary but the company made a mistake and sent 2 coats. Slovenian Hall It had a dance floor and a stage with curtains and in one corner there was a piano. There would be plays on the stage. Behind the stage there was a room where wine and whiskey was served. Later the Scots would come and get into fights and a policeman was brought in to keep the peace. The kids from Belfry would come to the dances and also to fight. One of the girls from Belfry came to the dances with a baseball bat. Famous rodeo rider Bill Linderman and his sister from Belfry used to come to the dances. Frank Planichek's dad used to tell him that the day after a dance, the sage brush would be lying flat from the guys fighting and all the Coulee kids would hunt around for any money that might have fallen out of the guys pockets. Since there was no church, the hall was also used as a place for weddings and funerals. When there was a death it was customary that the deceased was never left alone before the funeral. The men would come with a jug wine, stay with the deceased and play cards all night. Planichek Anne Planicheks parents, the Mouriches lived across the road. Blaz Planichek died in a mining accident. Tonch (Tony) and his brother Frank Planichek played for the dances in the hall. Tonch played the accordion and Frank played the banjo. The Planichek twins, Eddie and Davey were mechanical geniuses and built a car from scratch. Eddie was very shy. He and Pauline Cestnik were good friends. When they went to the show in Red Lodge, Pauli had to go in first and Eddie would follow about 15 minutes later because he didn't want to be seen with a girl. Frank Planichek: The kids used to call him Crank. He and Johnny (the kids called him Slivers) Cestnik were the same age and good friends. Frank had an old car (jalopy). When they could get the car to run, they went to school. When it wouldn't run they stayed home. Frank was never married. He died in a CCC camp. Ann married Joe Kotar. Joe was supposed to work the day of the Smith Mine disaster but had stayed home sick. Tonch went to the mine that morning to get his check. Henry Planicek died at home while working on his car. Linda Planichek writes, "Frank's dad Tonch, moved out of the Coulee in 1984, sold the house, but still had stuff in the garage. They moved to Belfry. In 1985, Virginia and Tonch went to Red Lodge, stopped in the Coulee to get something out of the garage & Tonch had a heart attack & died. So he was born in the Coulee & died just a little ways away from where he was born. He loved the Coulee, so it was a good place for him to leave this world." Rapajic He was a bachelor and lived in a shack by the reservoir. Everyone called him Mane (Croatian for Mike). He had a dog with blue eyes and the Cestnik kids would bring milk and he would pay 10 cents for a pail of milk. Ed Crtalic writes, "Our familys' picnic grounds was at the reservoir. We even dug up Manas potaoes, roasted them and asked him for salt." Mana eventually moved back to the Coulee and probably died there. Bizak John Bizak had red hair and mustache and always wore green velvet hat. He had a wife and kids in Europe. Wydits Mr. Wydits had a bad heart and couldn't work in the mines so he repaired shoes. The family eventually moved from the Coulee to Roundup and Mike Kotar would then live in their house. Werholtz Mrs. Werholtz could do anything with a needle and had a good needlecraft business. She sold her needlework in Washoe and in Bearcreek. She would walk every day from her house in the Coulee to her shop in Bearcreek. Eventually she moved to Red Lodge where she had a clothing shop. Auggie Werholtz was shot by the Japanese in the Phillipines. Golub The Golubs owned the only radio and camera in the Coulee. Mourich Ursula and Jacob (Mot and Otche) He was a cabinetmaker and built a house for each of his kids. Every morning he went to his shop to work. His shop was below the Mourich's and he built a cabinet for John Cestnik. The sign on the door to the shop said "Kep Vay" (Keep Away). Frank Mourich married Lula Knutilla and they lived in Bearcreek. Lulas brother Gus married Fannie Krivitz. Mrs. Mourich was the most beloved gentle woman. She always insisted on feeding anyone who came to her house. She always had a camp pot of thick coffee (it was like mud) on the stove and she served it coffee with lots of sugar. The family loved canned Chile Con carne. Mary always had heartburn after visiting Mot, but she never said anything because she never wanted to hurt Mot's feelings. She was a midwife and delivered most of the kids in the Coulee. Their daughter Anne married Blaze Planichek and they lived across the road. Frank and Jack Mourich were both killed in the Smith Mine Disaster. Frank was an electrician at the Smith mine and installed electricity for all the homes in the Coulee abt. 1919 Henry died in the Coulee. Jack and Luebs played the saxophone. Podobnick He was a miner and batched at one time in Washoe with Frank Padlinsek. He had a wife in the old country who never came to America. (He was never able to become a citizen.) Rasborscheks Fred Rasborshek He liked to fish. They had one daughter who died at a very young age. Mrs. Rasborshek was always taking flowers to her little girls' grave. Mrs. R died at the age of 42 of kidney disease. He advertised for a wife after she died. Mr. R. died in the Smith Mine explosion. Krivitz, Rudy and Frances They bought the house across the road from the Mayers and built a huge barn. Mr. Krivitz sold enough milk and wine to buy a ranch. When they bought their ranch located outside of Red Lodge the family lived on the ranch in the summer and in the Coulee during the winter. Their daughter Mary married Steve Puhek, who was killed in a mining accident. She then married Steve Naglich and eventually lived in Red Lodge. Rudy Krivitz died in Italy during WW2. Sometimes in the evenings, the boys would sneak out of the house and push the family car to the end of the road; then drive to Red Lodge. Tastovorsnik Mrs. Tastovorsnik: Mrs. Tastovorsnik washed clothes for the bachelors in the Coulee to support her family. There was Annie (who married a Davies and they lived in Red Lodge), Tonch and Frank (who was called Booster). Godina (Blaz and Julie) Mr. Godina worked in the mines and died early about 68 years old of Black Lung disease. Mrs. Godina lived to 96. She didn't like the delivery boy so she would walk to Bearcreek for her groceries and to pick up the mail even when she was in her 90's. She would have lived longer but there was a car accident. Their Great Grandson is Country singer Mitchell John, (Chistines' Grandson). His records have sold more than 50,000 copies. Bill Godinas grandson John is a world premier shot putter and set a world record in 1999. Crtalic Bill Crtalic is (date unknown) in the Montana High School Association's Atheletes Hall of Fame "It was Cralic and his team-mates effort at the 1939 State Basket ball Tournament in Billings that brought fame to tiny Bearcreek." Brother Edmond also was a member of the 1939 team. Danichek (Mary and Frank) Godinas' Daughter married their son. Mr. Danichek died of throat cancer. Mrs. Danichek eventually moved to Red Lodge where her kids were living. Linda Planichek writes: Frank says that when Danichek's moved out of their house, the Coulee kids went into the root cellar, found 2 gallons of wine & 'drank' it all-ended up being a "bunch" of 'sick' and 'drunk' kids! Lamport They had a large house by the creek and a large barn by the creek. They dammed up the creek making a large pond. There was ice in the winter and the kids would come up and skate on the frozen pond. Thomas Tom They spoke Croatian and he was a miner. Their house was on the edge of the hill. There was a room in the basement. Their son Nick had a collection of Zane Grey books on a shelf there. He would let Mary borrow one book at a time. As soon as a son was old enough he would go and work in the mines. Nick was killed in the Washoe Mine age 24. Their daughter Jenny married and had 6 kids and they lived in Washington. When the Thomas's got old they moved to Washington to live with their daughter. They are buried in the Bearcreek Cemetery. Naglich Kids: Steve and Amanda The Naglichs came to the Coulee because of the Coal Mines. Steve was 17 years old when he came to America. Amanda married Frank Hemovich who was boarding at the Naglich house. Scotch Coulee Tidbits and pieces The Anaconda mining company owned the land in the Coulee. The residents owned their houses and had to pay $8.00 a year ground rent to the company. The company paid a widow $10,000 workers compensation and each child received a stipend until they were 18. The post office was in Washoe and when it closed the residents had to go to Bearcreek to get the mail. (It cost 2 cents to mail a letter.) There was no T.V. no radio. The families made ice up at Lamports. There was jello only in the winter. The kids were tough and could put up a "mean fist". The kids walked all over the hills and knew the hills like the back of their hands. (And there were Rattlesnakes in those hills.) Mary says she "never saw a rattlesnake." Uncle Hank says he walked "barefoot"! They picked agates at the teepee rings. There were 10 boys from the Coulee who were in World War 2. Everyone worked for Frank Clark at one time. The boys were all over the hills herding his sheep. He had 1000 sheep at one time and paid $1.00 for 3 days of work. Sometimes he would bring bags of pinto beans for the residents in the Coulee. He (Frank Clark) bought all of the homesteads in the area. The Clark Ranch was located north of Cody on the Wyoming/Montana Border. Ed Crtalic writes "As kids we had fun in the Coulee. Our playground was between the Cestniks and the Golubs. We roasted corn over a fire at night. We had several swimming ponds in the Coulee. I remember John Cestnik's pond at times when we swam, you could cut the water with a knife, (muddy water). The bathing suits were overalls cut and when we bent over, everything showed. There was the time when we stacked 15 tires on top of one another and watched them burn.)." Louie Cestnik used to talk about the swimming holes they made. He said they "could go from hole to hole down the whole Coulee. In August, it was all dried up." The Reservoir (The families picnic ground) The men would go up the night before with their bottles and set up the barbecue. The women would come up the next day with their goodies. The Creek (Bearcreek) The creek in the coulee comes from from a spring on the mountain west of the Cestnik Ranch. From the reservoir, it goes left toward Mt. Maurice, and the family followed the creek to the John Cestnik Homestead. The road across the creek from the Cestniks goes to Wyoming and is part of the old "Meetessee Trail". Liquor flowed through the Coulee like a river. There was always lots of wine. Everyone had 2 to 3 large five-gallon vats of wine at their house. The women did not drink and liquor was never offered to the kids. There were stills in the Coulee, on the mountain and on the Clarks Fork. Frank Planichek remembers his "Dad talking about "all" the stills in the Coulee. There must have been a bunch. He tells the story about a cow eating too much of the 'mash' and falling down the stairs that go to the basement in Mary Mourich's house. He said the chickens would walk around 'drunk' too." (Uncle Hank tells a similary story --- Terry) John Cestnik Mary Cestnik learned English when she started school. She went to the little white schoolhouse in Washoe that was there before the red brick school. Her uncle John Gazewood taught her to read Slovenian. She was the first kid from the Coulee to graduate from Bearcreek High School and she was the Salutatorian of her class. The family moved back to the house in the Coulee when Mary was 7 so Mary could go to school. In April when the family moved back to the ranch, Mary lived with her father in the house in the Coulee until school was out. In the mornings she would go across the road and Lisa braided her hair and then she went to school with the other kids. On Friday she went with her father back to the ranch by horse and buggy and back to the Coulee Sunday evening. When Anne turned 6, Mary and Anne walked to school from the ranch about 3 miles with Shep the dog. When they got back to the reservoir, they would send Shep home. Kids had to go to school until the 8th grade or age 16. Lots of kids didn't finish school because of the language barrier or they had to work. Helen (everyone called her Lench). She would rather carry coal from the mine across the creek than do housework. She was very athletic and a good basketball player and loved playing basketball with cousins Eddie and Louie. Johnny (Slivers) It took him a while to graduate from high school because he cut classes all the time. He could play the guitar and the harmonica at the same time!! His father John Sr. also played the harmonica and the accordian and now Ronny Cestnik is learning to play the harmonica. Must be in the blood!! Frank (Bluebird). He was the perfect Cowboy and loved horses. Steve Puhek writes "He remembers Frank riding his horse up and down the Coulee. Frank was my idol"!! Pauline Cestnik wrote the following in Mary's High School class autograph book: July 7, 1930 Dear Sister: I love you from my heart I love you from my liver If I had you in my mouth I'd spit you in the river. Your little sister, Pauline Vincent Cestnik Vincent probably worked in the mines in Gladbeck, Germany and would travel to Liverpool England looking for work. He also spoke of traveling through Switzerland and how beautiful the countryside was. He came to the Coulee with his father and brother and worked in the Brophy mine. Lisa followed her brothers and sisters to America from Beljak (Villach), Austria. She came to Red Lodge because she knew a Mrs. Kolarič who lived there. Vince and Lisa were married in 1915 and brother John and the guys in the Coulee built their house. There was a room in the back. The garden was on the right side and the kids would walk up the hill past the house to Washoe. And Speaking of cars: There were only three automobiles in the Coulee. The first a Morman was purchased by John Krivitz. The second was owned by Vincent and was the first 1928 Chevrolet to be sold in Carbon County. Two years later, Vince sold that auto and bought a new 1930 Essex. He used to drive his car to the Brophy mine. He would give the other miners a ride to work and they would pay him 25 cents. His brother John owned a pickup but never learned to drive. The pickup just sat by John and Rose's house and the kids used to play in it. Lisa Cestnik would have the first Maytag washing machine in the Coulee. Vincent worked as a coal loader at the Brophy mine. In 1936, he died from a mining accident and is buried in the Bearcreek Cemetery next to his father. Lisa also known as "Teta" (Slovenian for Aunt) moved to Red Lodge in 1940. Hank Cestnik's best memory of the Coulee is "walking the hills and tending Frank Clark's sheep. He could get food." Hank was working outside the Smith Mine the day of the explosion, February 27, 1943. He would spend the next few days helping to bring up the bodies. Hank would walk to Red Lodge (It took one hour to walk over the hill) and pick beans for the cannery. (He was paid 1 penny/pound.) Betty was five years old when her father died. She remembers that her father always had candy in his pocket for her when he came home from work.