When we asked Brenda Guzman what coordinating the River Weed Rodeo for 20 years means to her she said, “Rivers have been such an important part of my life. I’m so grateful for all the amazing people and experiences I’ve had thanks to my time on the water. I know how important it is for me to do what I can to mitigate the negative impacts people have on this phenomenal place, and the positive energy generated from our outstanding river community has inspired me to keep working on this project for all these years.”

Gordon Ash, 67, of the Creston area of Kalispell, died July 1 after a short battle with cancer. Born in Oakland, California to Rod and June (Fischer) Ash, both strong advocates of conservation, Gordon developed a life-long passion for conservation, wilderness, and the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and the backcountry.

Gordon’s introduction to Montana began in the early 60’s with camping trips to the Glacier Creek area of the Swan Valley. In 1969 Gordon, his parents June and Rod and siblings David, Ellen, and James became summer residents in a one room cabin on Condon Loop Road. There began his love affair with Montana and the wild lands he would call his lifelong home.

He moved to Missoula in 1973 to attend the University of Montana and began his career in Forestry and Recreation. Gordon graduated from the University of Montana in 1979 and worked briefly with outfitters, before spending 25 years with the Flathead National Forest at the Spotted Bear Ranger Station. There he was the wilderness ranger at Big Prairie in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He met his wife and partner, Susan Kemper, at Big Prairie. Along with a busy and productive career of managing and maintaining trails and administering outfitter camps in the Bob, he explored many a trail with Susan and wetted more than his fair share of fly lines in the back country.

In 2006, Gordon and Susan moved to Twin Bridges where Gordon worked for both Dillon and Madison Districts on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Gordon retired in 2019, and in 2020, he and Susan returned to the Flathead Valley with their dogs, horses, and mule. Gordon continued to actively advocate for conservation and wilderness, serving on the Flathead Conservation District. Flathead Rivers Alliance had the honor of having Gordon as a volunteer and mentor 2021-2023.

Gordon never forgot a friend, and they never forgot him, from his beloved UM college friends, to many young workers in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to mentors, coworkers and to others he met on his life’s journey. All were greeted with a sincere bear hug, friendly banter, and a welcome to join him in whatever he was doing. Gordon had a rich life, well led through his love of friends, Grizzly football, camping, fishing, travel, his many beloved animals, and the backcountry. He was a lifelong steward of the land and land ethics. He is survived by Susan (wife of 30 years), his siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, and his four-legged family of dogs: Ramblin’ and Ziggy, horses: Summer, Merlin, and Jocco, and mule: Thumper.

Please join family and friends at a Gathering to celebrate a life well lived. September 23, 2023 at the Silver Bullet Bar (1700 MT Hwy 206) from 1400-1700. Please bring an hors d’oeuvre and stories to share to honor Gordon on his new trail.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to MT Public Radio, the Bob Marshall Foundation, Swan Valley Connections, or your own favorite charity.

For more of Gordon’s stories, check out the following links:

2016 interview with Bob Marshall Foundation: https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/stories-from-the-bob-gordon-ash/

May 2023 National Museum of Forest History interview with USFS Archivist:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a47Pz8XUtaAz0nIQ3pvtJ7oorazJViav/view?usp=sharing