Surrounded by his family, Henry passed away June 19th at his home after a brave battle with cancer. He was laid to rest on June 25th at Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon.
Henry - a lifelong, third generation Medicine Lodge Valley, Beaverhead County(Montana) sheep, horse and cattle rancher - was born June 28, 1925, to E.W. "Bob" and Bessie (Olsen) Hildreth.
From a young age Henry raised and herded the family's large bands of sheep. He also logged, and was a gunsmith and marksman. Henry was drafted into the Army in 1945 and served in the Philippines. His love for horses, flying and heavy equipment was exceptional. He became a certified horse trainer in the later 1940s. Henry trained horses to be his best friends and to instill great trust and did so until he no longer could venture out to see them. Planes became his flying saddle horse in the 1940s, checking the livestock on the range and also his main transportation from the ranch to town, and to the farm in Armstead. He became the owner of the first Piper Super Cub in Montana.

Henry was a licensed contractor, formed Hildreth Construction in the 1960s, built houses and roads in Montana. Henry started logging with horses at a young age and later moved up to heavy equipment. A firm believer in the Constitution, Henry was active in politics. He had a brilliance for engineering, mechanics, inventions and electronics...even into this computer age. Henry raised Rambouillet and the hybrid sheep breed called Targhee until the coyote population became too great. Hildreth Livestock Co. then became strictly a cattle operation for the first time since 1893. He knew hybrid sheep and cattle brought out more desired traits and advanced into Chiangus cattle.

While on the ranch, he met his future wife and love of his life, Waltraude "Trudy," in April 1956. Henry married Trudy on June 28, 1956, in Dillon. She stood by him happily for all of their 49 years of marriage. He leaves behind invaluable memories to anyone who has known him. He was always a fair and honest man, who gave a helping hand to anyone.
Henry was preceded in death by his son Dalton, parents, and two nieces. He is survived by his wife, Trudy; sons, Henry L. of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Van of Helena; daughter, Donna of the Medicine Lodge Valley; three grandchildren; five brothers, Robert, Eugene, Lowell, Raymond and Edward (also known as Bill, Gene, Scotch, Ray and Barton); 20 nephews and nieces.