SHERIDAN - Graveside services for Jerry Belle Allen, 90, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Sheridan Elks Cemetery, with Kevin Jones officiating.  Cremation has taken place.

She died June 9, 2001, at Heritage Acres nursing home in Hardin, Mont.

She was born Nov. 26, 1910, in a log cabin near Hulett, the daughter of Robert and Erma Tate.  She grew up on a ranch near Hulett until she was 15 years old, when her family moved to Sheridan with 20 head of horses, a wagon and two cars.  The family settled near Ranchester, where they trained and sold horses, dealing mostly in pleasure, polo and remount horses.

During her high school years, she rode racehorses for some of the prominent horse breeders in the Bighorn area and became an accomplished trick rider.  She graduated from Sheridan High School and then took a year of normal training to become a teacher.  She then worked at a one-room country school at Beckton, where she taught grades 1 through 8.  She laid down the law the first day she was there by bringing her bullwhip and pistol, which supposedly was to "discipline the horses" that children had ridden there.  She had no problems in the five years that she taught at Beckton.

While there, she boarded with the Allens, where she met Howard Allen.  They were married in 1935 in Sheridan.  They lived in a small home in Sheridan while she worked at saddle shops, applying her skill in sewing, making shirts and leather outfits; including those for the Sheridan Rodeo queens.

In 1947, the family moved to Otter Creek, Mont., to help her parents on the ranch.  After the ranch was sold, they bought 12 acres outside of Ashland, Mont., where they lived for 16 years.  She worked at the Electric Cooperative and spent much of her time in her garden and yard; playing cards with friends and enjoying art.

In 1983, they returned to Sheridan, where they took much pride in their yard and their grandchildren.  She spent her time painting, tending to her yard and spoiling her grandchildren.

Her husband died in 1996, after 61 years of marriage.  She then moved to her son Harry's ranch near Custer, Mont., then to a retirement home in Hardin.

Survivors include her son and his wife; four grandchildren; a brother, Bob Allen, and his wife; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Erma, and a sister, Naomi Penton.

Memorials may be made to the donor's choice, in care of Mary Ann Rector, Ranchester State Bank, P.O. Box 789, Ranchester 82839.

Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.