John Hoiland Obituary

There will be a memorial picnic in John Hoiland’s honor on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the West Boulder Reserve, starting at noon. The picnic will be catered. Feel free to bring any food you want to share. All friends and neighbors are welcome. Please bring lawn chairs. The picnic will be family friendly, no alcohol.

John W. Hoiland was born on May 24, 1927, in Big Timber, MT. His parents were Emanuel and Elsie Hoiland. He also had a sister, Mary (Hoiland) Busby who is deceased. John was a rancher who lived on the West Boulder his entire life, except for the last 18 months where he lived at Highgate Senior Living in Bozeman. He never married or had children, but he did have several girlfriends. John loved to hunt, play the accordion, and travel. He traveled to Europe, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on a paddlewheel boat, and attended Bannock Days several times. He also served on a local school board for a time. John starred in the videos “John The Last Cowboy," “For Love of the Land,” and “Where Home Has Always Been” that showcased his primitive lifestyle. He also appeared in a Chevrolet truck commercial, the BlackHawk music video “There You Have It,” in an article in the Big Sky Journal, on the cover of Viking Magazine and Montana Crossroads Magazine, and in photographs by Cynthia Matty-Huber, Robert Osborn, Bruce Weber and others. He was featured in a magazine article “The Cowboy Who Rejected Brooke Shields.” Brooke tried to buy John’s ranch but he refused to sell. John was a voting member of the Screen Actors Guild. 

John passed away at the age of 97 on August 10, 2024, from COVID. He is survived by his nephews Ken and Gary Busby.

The recommended route to the memorial picnic is the Main Boulder Road starting from Big Timber to the West Boulder Road (about one mile south of McLeod). Follow the West Boulder Road for nine miles and take the turnoff (through John’s ranch, about 1/4 mile before the bridge over the West Boulder River) and travel five miles south to the West Boulder Reserve.  The bridge is under construction and impassible. Access from Livingston on Swingley Road depends on a detour through private property. Check local conditions before using Swingley Road.