Waltraude Hanna Hildreth

Waltraude "Trudy" Hildreth, 90, of Dillon, passed away on February 28, 2026.

Trudy was born March 17, 1935, in Weinheim, Germany, to Heinrich and Sophie Krieger. She was raised with proper old-world values for doing things well and carried them with her all her life. She was the kind of person whose love showed up in practical ways: a well-run home, home-cooked meals everyone looked forward to, clean clothes, ironed shirts, and the comfort of things done right.

On April 7, 1956, Trudy arrived in the United States. When she flew into New York, her sister Gisela and brother-in-law Bill Hildreth met her and brought her to Armstead, Montana. Trudy took one look around and said, "This is it?"

Gisela and Bill brought Trudy to the Lower Hildreth Ranch in Armstead and introduced her to the Hildreth family. Ranch work was new to her, but Trudy was never afraid of real work, and she and Pat soon found themselves working together-first on the Lower ranch and then up at the Upper ranch. Somewhere in all that day-to-day doing, Trudy started to matter to Pat more than she realized.

On May 16, 1956, Pat asked Trudy to go to town with him to get feed in the 6x6. Trudy-always well put-together-rode along wearing a light-colored dress, a hat, and white gloves. One of their stops was the jewelry store. Pat said he needed a new watch band and asked Trudy to come inside. Trudy thought, "Can't he pick his own watch band?" In front of her was a tray of wedding rings. Trudy didn't even know Pat liked her. She picked the one she liked-and that was the proposal, an engagement story people still smile about.

On June 28, 1956, Pat's birthday, Trudy married Henry D. "Pat" Hildreth in Dillon. Together they built a life on the Medicine Lodge ranch. Four children were born to this couple: Henry, Dalton, Van, and Donna. Pat was the love of her life, and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren meant the world to her.

In 1961, Trudy became a United States citizen-an achievement she was deeply proud of and honored throughout her life. She also treasured opportunities to travel back to Germany to see family.

When the kids were in school in Grant, Trudy did whatever it took to make it work-often making the long daily drive and sometimes leaning on good neighbors who helped carry the load. She put education first, even when it meant being away from the ranch and away from Pat, with Pat holding down the ranch work at home. During the grade school years, she also rented an apartment above the, and eventually Pat and Trudy purchased a home in Dillon to keep the kids close to school.

One of Trudy's special projects was the family Guest Ranch, where she took great pride in making the guest houses comfortable for summer and fall guests. She made everyone welcome with her hospitality and excellent home-cooked meals. Many guests came as strangers and left as lifelong friends.

Trudy took her flowers seriously. During the summer months, her landscape was bright with petunias-hanging baskets, pots, planters, and color everywhere she could fit it. Even with high-elevation cold nights, she faithfully covered them every evening, and she did her best to keep the deer from helping themselves.

Trudy is survived by her children, Henry L. (Teri) of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Van (Connie) of Billings, Montana; and Donna (Charles) of the Medicine Lodge Valley; her grandchildren Kendra, Tara, Andrea, and Lane; and two great-grandsons, Jack and Henry. She is also survived by her sister Gisela Hildreth; her sister-in-law Darlene Hildreth; and her brother-in-law Ed Hildreth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry D. "Pat" Hildreth; her son Dalton; and her grandsons Tyler, Calvin, and John.

A viewing will be held March 6, 2026 Friday at 12 p.m. at the Brundage Funeral Home, Dillon, Montana. Funeral services will follow, at 1 p.m. at Brundage Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House in Billings, Montana.