Fay Poloson Haynes

Fay Poloson Haynes was born January 4, 1926 in Helena, Montana.

Fay’s mother, Annie Mae DesChamps Poloson, was born in Indian Territory, Mansfield, Arkansas, February 8, 1889. Mae came west by train in 1910 and homesteaded near Three Forks, Montana.

Fay’s father, Dan Poloson, was born October 26, 1896 near Porumbacu, Romania. Dan immigrated to the United States in 1916. He was working for the Herron Sheep Ranch near Wolf Creek when he and Mae were married March 2, 1922.

They bought the Rattlesnake Gulch Ranch in 1929. Fay was 3 years old when they moved, by train, from Wolf Creek, Montana, to the Lonepine-Niarada area ranch.

Fay went to school at Lonepine, Montana.

Fay was a woman of so many talents. She could sew beautifully making the most of her and Bill’s shirts, dress coats, and dress slacks. Embroidery and, even crewel, were skills she developed.

It took her almost 2 years to complete the Crewel of Bill on horseback.

Fay’s oil and pencil paintings are so well defined. She could make “melt in your mouth” pie crust too.

Fay knew good horses and rode many of them. Her very favorites were Pal and Night, and next was Jule Bar. Jule Bar and his son, Jumpy Jule took Fay all the way to the Montana Cowboy Hall Of Fame. She won so many Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and Western Show events over the years. She performed at the Calgary Stampede, Walla Walla, Grand Coulee, Washington, Lethbridge, Canada, and in most of Montana’s rodeos.

Fay’s rodeo life began when she was a teenager. She was chosen Rodeo Queen and held that title for several years at the Polson, Hot Springs, and Plains, Montana Rodeos.

She was Secretary for Jake Johnson’s rodeo events for close to 10 years. Fay knew rodeo stock and met many good cowboys over the years.

The cowboy she fell in love with was working as a judge at the Polson Rodeo. He had a wrist injury, so he wasn’t riding bulls, bareback horses, or bulldogging. Fay and he started talking and ended up married December 15, 1951.

They bought the Big Bend Ranch from Bud Lake and began their life of raising top quality horses and prize Angus cattle.

Fay was preceded in death by her husband Bill Haynes, her parents, brothers Fred and Bert, Sister Marie, Sisters-In-Law Grace, Betty, and Ann, Niece Robin and Nephew Dan.

Fay is survived by Nephew Russell Poloson, Niece Jeanne Poloson Bronec, Niece Alice Kranzler, and Niece Grace Larson, niece Shirley Jacobsen, and by so many that considered her Friend, Aunt, Grandmother. 

Services will be held at 10 a.m. at the Ronan Community Center with lunch following Fay’s Celebration of Life.

Pallbearers are Russell Poloson, Lonnie Metzger, Josh Senecal, Cory Symington, Roger Krauss, Shawn Krauss.