Vera Mae Florence (Wells) Montgomery was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on June 22, 1926, to David Elmer and Florence (Fasbender) Wells, the only girl and five brothers. She passed away December 19, 2025.

Her father, Elmer, worked for Burlington Northern in the railroad roundhouse in Sheridan, until they moved back to the Wells family ranch in the Bear Lodge west of Sundance.

Vera attended grade school at the rural Oak Creek School and graduated from Sundance High School in 1945. She and James Arthur Montgomery were married in Hulett on March 4, 1946. For a while they ranched with Jim’s parents, Art and Juanita, on their Miller Creek place. Their son, Jimmy (James Francis) was born January 12, 1950, in Sundance.

That June, they moved to a ranch ten miles from Vananda, Montana.

Their son, Terry (Terrence Eugene), was born on January 31, 1952.

In 1959, they moved to a ranch at Melville, Montana. They lived near Beehive, Montana,  then moved back to Vananda. In 1964, they moved to a ranch on the Yellowstone River east of Forsyth. After the boys graduated from high school, in 1971 they bought the Currant Creek Ranch forty miles south and west of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Vera was always a rancher, not a “rancher’s wife.” She worked side by side with her husband raising cattle and hay until he passed away in 1978. She loved ranch life, the animals, especially horses, and she loved books and reading. Vera enjoyed drawing and taking photos on the ranch. She was an accomplished cowboy poet. One of her favorite poems was about looking out her kitchen window at the ranch, which was her version of “outside TV.”

She enjoyed playing the accordion and loved to dance.

After the ranch was sold in 1984, Vera moved to Sheridan to be closer to her mother, Florence. Vera was a member of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and secretary for the group. She enjoyed the dances and the friendships.

She later moved into her mother’s house. Vera spent many happy days in her recliner in her south sun porch. She had her cats and her plants, a garden and flowers outside in the summer time. She loved watching the birds, squirrels, rabbits, and mule deer families in her back yard.

In January 2024, Vera moved into Sheridan Green House. When she turned 99 on June 22, 2025, her birthday wish was to ride a horse. Local rancher and musician Dave Munsick, his wife Trudy, and their palomino horse, Uno, made Vera’s birthday wish came true.

Vera is survived by her friend and companion, Leslie (Mark) Baltz of Sheridan, as well as her son, Jim Montgomery, Billings, Montana; son, Terry (Pat) Montgomery, Laurel, Montana; granddaughter, Terrilynn Mae James (Paul), great-grandson, Logan James, and great-granddaughter, London James, Billings, Montana. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her parents, and her Wells brothers––David, Edwin, Donald, Forrest, and Francis.

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No services are planned at this time.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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