September 7, 2005 Kamp Katie Jordan Montata AFTERNOON

September 7, 2005
Kamp Katie
Jordan Montana
AFTERNOON

Awoke to wild turkeys in the yard!

Spent a wonderful morning with May Billing who owns Kamp Katie. Katie was her Mom and when it was time for the kids to start school Katie moved into town, from the family ranch, and started Kamp Katie. Now May runs the place in the summer and lives out on the ranch in the winter. The ranch is about 30 miles from town and May is doing it all on her own since her husband died. She had so many great stories about growing up in the area and how things use to be. She was a reported for the local paper and has written many articles on life in and around the Jordan farming community. She shared one of her many photo-writing albums with us. So many thoughts about the land and the folks who homesteaded there. We heard about PeePee Butte which was a must stop on their way to Mile City. Guess why… We passed PeePee Butte and found it all fenced and cross fenced in- besides today you could of gotten a ticket for using PeePee Rock.

She spoke so much about the old days and even though it was a lot harder it was so much better. The quality of life was what was what was important. Family, Life, Land and Spirit. There was always enough to get by or a neighbor who would help to tide you over.

Progress for May didn’t seem all that important and for all intent and purposes she is living much the way she did all her life on the Montana Plains.

welcome to Kamp Katie