Saving stories from the saddle

MEDORA -- Fran Armstrong grew up on a ranch on the Fort Worth Indian reservation in North Dakota and has been surrounded by cowboys her entire life.

Wife of the late Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Dean Armstrong, she uses her life experience and words to preserve what she feels is a very important part of American history. From that comes poems, books and most recently, a CD.

Dean spent his young years on a 1,200-acre ranch south of Medora, which Fran now runs as a bed and breakfast.

Dean was a member of the original Six Pack, said Kathy Miller manager of the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora. They were six rodeo cowboys who dominated the national finals rodeos in the 50s and 60s and Dean won a lot of titles, she said.

After Fran met Dean she heard many stories from the cowboys.

"I felt it had to be put down," Fran said. "These are the things that will be lost. Anecdotal material is very important."

Fran feels that the cowboys have great stories and these stories have a lot of human interest and portray a lot of what life is like for the cowboys of the past and today's cowboy.

Her cowboy poem "Grieven' on Leavin'" is an example of how her words express those of the cowboys.

"This poem speaks to all those people that love the way of ranching and the life, but that in today's world they really can't make a living out of it," she said. "However, it will always be in their hearts and souls."

Fran has spent a lot of time researching cowboy poetry. Her master's thesis was written on cowboy poetry and how it was developed and how it became such a popular and valid way of storytelling and a way of preserving the history of the ranchers and cowboys. Fran's words are meant to speak directly to the cowboys and ranch life, she says. Out of her thesis came her book, "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys."

Doug Ellison, owner of The Western Edge bookstore in Medora, said Fran's book is one of his best sellers. The book not only tells stories but contains a lot of area history, he said.

"This really was a labor of love for her not only is it full of information and stories but it also is a biography of her husband and his pals," Ellison said.

Before Fran published "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," she had self published two books of cowboy poetry.

Miller has seen her perform her poems and says "This little lady packs quite a punch. She dresses up and brings props. She is very entertaining."

Most recently Fran has finished a CD, "Franny's Tellin' Stories Again," which features her reciting her poems backed by Bob Peterman from Wibaux who plays guitar on the album. The CD is a combination of cowboy poetry and Bible stories. Fran will donate proceeds from the album to an organization such as the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys or to help hospitalized veterans.

When Fran is not writing, she spends half the year at her secluded bed and breakfast, The Diamond Bar Ranch. "People wonder how I can be out here by myself after Dean died. But I feel embraced by this place," she said. "I love the land; I ride in it all the time. I strive by it and love it.

"I've been a cowgirl my entire life and a cowgirl poet by compulsion."

Grieven' on Leavin' by Fran Armstrong

Oh so long to my callin'

Still can hear those doggies bawlin'

Still can smell the branding irons from the fire

Still can hear my belly grumble

and can feel my pony stumble

After riding, checking cows or stretching wire.

Oh so long to life worth livin'

Seems I'll always feel I'm givin up

The best of life I've ever known

As I shift down this 18 wheeler

Say goodbye to my blue heeler

A misplaced cowboy on the road

And all alone

Passing through those city's byways

On U.S. of A's fine highways

Changing plans and dreams

and ever shifting gears

I look out at cattle grazin'

Where I see some drifter lazin'

and I think of time a passin'

and the years.

Looking back to old Dakota

To the Badlands or the hills of the Lakota

To a way of life I still am searching for

These wheels just keep on rollin'

For me no spring time with its fowlin'

Got to make a livin'

Got to keep on rollin' evermore

Oh so long to my callin'

Still can hear those doggies bawlin'

Still can smell the branding irons from the fire

Still can feel my pony stumble and can hear my belly grumble

After riding, checking cows or streching wire

As the concrete greets the slappin' of my tire.