Duane Eugene Krowen: the man, the myth, the legend, passed away on September 15, 2026, at the age of 78 in Victor, Montana. Duane survived two plane crashes, an accidental electrocution, the Vietnam War, and many major health scares. He shockingly proved his mortality after a brief fight with cancer.
Born on June 5, 1948, in Plentywood, Montana to Margaret and Bennett Krowen, and raised in Westby, Montana, Duane was built from a rural farm work ethic that was fundamental to how he approached all tasks.
Duane attended University of Montana at the age of 17 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in geography. He met his wife Maxine while attending college and married on December 20, 1970, after being drafted into the Army and assigned as a military police dog handler in Vietnam. He obtained his master’s degree in special education at Montana State University Eastern. Duane and Maxine had 3 daughters while living in Canada for 13 years, and later raised their family in Klamath Falls, Oregon for 23 years until he and his wife Maxine Krowen retired to Victor, Montana for the last 15 years to a life of working with horses, mules, dogs, land, family, writing and contributing to the community.
Duane’s life entailed a neverending desire to learn and attain new skills at every turn. He worked in oil fields, as a spray plane pilot, a contractor in construction, taught in public schools for 29 years, and coached a state-winning women’s basketball and track team in the 1970s. He was the household cook, keeping his family well fed despite dietary specifications challenging his go-to recipes.
Family and friends counted on his listening ear, ease in lending a helping hand, and fast math calculations done in his head. In retirement, he joined local back country horsemen groups, packing horses and mules into the mountains to clear trails for the forest service. He loved to read fiction and the news, understood how to tell a good story, and was a writer of cowboy poetry. He approached life with curiosity and a desire to better understand. If the phrase “we’ll figure it out” were a person, it would be Duane Krowen. He is now gone, but his family and community will be stepping into his size 15 shoes to continue to “figure it out” together.
Duane is survived by:
His wife of 56 years Maxine Krowen of Victor Montana.
His children Terri Krowen and grandchild Taylor Shackleford of Victor Montana, Jaime [Russ] and grandchildren Parker and Addison Zakour of Klamath Falls Oregon and Jaclyn Krowen of Portland Oregon.
His Sister Diane Johnson and family of Stevensville Montana, Anchorage Alaska and Ashland Tennessee.
His Sister Connie Wolverton and family of Denham Springs, Louisiana.
Patient, steady, hilarious, strong, stubborn, smart, open and joyful–he will be deeply missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, please share your stories of Duane with his family, donate to the Selway-Pintler Wilderness Back Country Horsemen Group at SPWBCH PO Box 88, Hamilton, MT 59840, or a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held in Summer of 2027 with details to be determined.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
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