1925-2014 2013 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee
Raymond W. “Rib” Gustafson was born on May 1, 1925. As a young man, he helped the family earn extra income by capturing wild horses turned loose by broke homesteaders. He and his brothers broke these horses to ride, kept some for use on the ranch and sold the extras. Rib also worked at several dude ranches where he wrangled horses, played guitar and sang cowboy songs to entertain the guests.
In 1939, Rib and his brothers traveled to Marfa, Texas, and brought back high-quality horses that became the progenitors of American Quarter Horses in Montana. Rib went on to raise and train American Quarter Horses for the rest of his life. His horses were used widely on the ranch and had great success in the rodeo arena, on the race track, and on numerous ranches throughout Montana.
Rib served as a Naval Pilot from 1943-1947. After World War II, he took advantage of the GI Bill and attended Colorado A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. He graduated in 1951 and moved to Shelby, Montana, where he ran the stockyards and began his veterinary practice. In 1952 he moved to Conrad, Montana, and built the Conrad Veterinary Hospital. For many years he was the only veterinarian serving a vast geographic area that included Conrad, Choteau, Browning, Shelby, and Big Sandy. Most years he put at least 100,000 miles on his car.
Rib married Pat Galt in 1953 and they had five children. In 1962, they bought Aldrich Springs near Conrad.
This was the center of their yearling operation. In 1971, they bought a ranch they named Gustafson +3 Ranch, located on the Two Medicine River south of Browning, Montana. They increased their cattle operation to include yearlings and pairs. Rib continued to practice veterinary medicine from both locations.
Rib sold the Conrad Veterinary Hospital in 1977 to devote more time to the ranch. He semi-retired from the ranch in 1998 when he sold it to his son and daughter-in-law.
Rib served as president of the Montana Veterinary Association in 1956 and president of the Montana Quarter Horse Association in 1962, was a sanctioned AQHA and cutting judge for thirty-five years, served in the Montana Legislature in 1962, and served as chairman of the Montana Board of Health and Environmental Sciences during Governor Marc Racicot’s administration. Rib was a well-known entertainer who sang, played the guitar, and regaled his audiences with his cowboy stories, as well as being the author of five books.