Monte Mix Funkhouser

On July 5, 2026, Monte Mix Funkhouser saddled his favorite horse, Jack, whistled for his loyal dog, Joe, and rode off into a beautiful Idaho sunset. There, he joined so many familiar faces waiting for him at one final roundup in the sky.

Monte was born on February 18, 1953, in Gooding, Idaho, the youngest of six children born to Charles Walton “Mix” Funkhouser and Wilma Florence (Salisbury) Funkhouser.

His father possessed a restless cowboy spirit that carried the family from place to place while Monte was growing up. But wherever they lived, one thing never changed. As soon as he was big enough to pull on a pair of boots, he was climbing onto a horse. Long before he was old enough to drive a pickup, he was riding his pony, Sour Dough, and trying to rope just about everything that moved.

Monte spent most of his school years between Fairfield and Gooding, Idaho. He loved sports, especially basketball. He may not have been the tallest player on the court, but no one questioned his heart. As a starter on the undefeated Gooding High School basketball team, he helped lead the Senators to back-to-back Idaho State Championships during his junior and senior years.

On November 8, 1975, Monte married Reva Jayo, and together they welcomed two children, Dustin and Cassie.

Never one to stay in one place for long, Monte and his young family moved to Wyoming in 1977, where he worked as a blaster at the Western Nuclear Uranium Mine on Green Mountain near Jeffrey City. The demanding work suited Monte’s grit and determination, and after only a few years he had earned enough to purchase his first herd of cattle and lease the Meadow Creek Ranch near Jordan Valley, Oregon.

That was Monte. If there was a mountain in front of him, he wasn’t content to admire it from below—he had to ride to the top just to see what was waiting on the other side.

Monte possessed a restless ambition. If he had a vision, there was no sitting around and no idling. He simply went to work.

Whether it was earning enough money to buy cattle, building one of three log homes with his own hands, starting another business, or chasing the next adventure, Monte believed dreams were earned through determination, grit, and hard work.

He was an adventurer, a builder, a cowboy, and one of the hardest-working men you’ll ever meet. Beneath an exterior as tough as bull hide was a heart of gold. Somehow, Monte managed to pack several lifetimes’ worth of experiences into just 73 years.

His work carried him across the American West. He operated a haying business that stretched from Arizona to Canada. He started quarter horse colts for Larry Mahan in Texas, packed and guided hunters through Idaho’s wilderness with Ray Seals, served as a rodeo pickup man for Jay Hogan, modeled for renowned western photographer David Stoecklein, shod elite hunter-jumper horses in Southern California, and roped wild cattle in Tonopah, Nevada, alongside Mark Lee.

Monte was also a gifted craftsman who built three log homes by hand. The first stood near Jeffrey City, Wyoming; the second at Meadow Creek Ranch near Jordan Valley, Oregon; and the third in Mackay, Idaho, while modeling for David Stoecklein. If Monte could picture it in his mind, he could build it with his hands.

But if you asked Monte what he loved most, the answer was simple: good horses.

He spent countless hours training, riding, and competing in reined cow horse events. Along the way, he formed lifelong friendships with many respected horsemen, eventually partnering with “World’s Greatest Horseman,” Ted Robinson.

While working on Chet Vogt’s Ranch in Elk Creek, California, Monte met the love of his life, Sherry Sexton. They shared a passion for open country, good horses, and fat cattle. They married on July 4, 2003, and built a life together that reflected everything they loved.

Together they moved to Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, to work on the Double Diamond Ranch before eventually returning to southern Idaho. There, Monte became the first cow boss for Camas Creek Ranch, helping build one of the region’s premier Black Angus cattle operations through his leadership, vision, and relentless work ethic.

In 2012, Monte and Sherry entered what they jokingly called “semi-retirement.” For most people, retirement means slowing down. For Monte, it meant running 500 cows, caring for a dozen horses, building their own ranch, spoiling two little grandsons—Campton and Kingston “Shorty” Sites—and eventually launching another business hauling livestock and hay.

When Colt joined the business in 2022, Monte and Colt spent countless miles together behind the wheel of their Peterbilt trucks, hauling cattle, hay, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Monte’s work ethic never left him. He believed every day was another opportunity to work hard, solve a problem, and build something worthwhile. Even in his final days, that determination remained.

Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Mix and Wilma Funkhouser; his brother, Pat Funkhouser; and his sisters, Sue Curtis and Renea Reay.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sherry Funkhouser; his son, Dustin Funkhouser (Rochelle); his daughter, Cassie Funkhouser (Weston); his stepchildren, John Hobbs (Jenn), Brian Hobbs, Colt Spencer (Courtney), and Ashly Hankins; his brother, Mike Funkhouser (LaPriel); his sister, Bobbi Wentworth (Tom); his grandsons, Campton and Kingston “Shorty” Sites; numerous other grandchildren; and a large extended family who will forever cherish his memory.

The miles he traveled, the cattle he worked, the horses he rode, the homes he built, and the lives he touched are all part of the legacy he leaves behind.

So today, rather than saying goodbye, we choose to picture Monte exactly where he’d want to be—riding Jack across endless green pastures, with Joe running faithfully alongside, surrounded by old friends and family, waiting patiently until it’s time for the rest of us to join that final roundup.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during a viewing on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

A funeral service celebrating Monte’s life will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Gooding County Fairgrounds. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Gooding.

Following the interment, family and friends are invited to a catered Cowboy Roundup. A meal, generously provided by Stampede Burger of Gooding, will be served as we gather for good food, fellowship, and the sharing of stories and memories celebrating Monte’s remarkable life. Guests who wish are welcome to bring a favorite potluck-style side dish or dessert to share. For those who have asked about making a contribution in Monte’s memory, donations will be gratefully accepted during the Cowboy Roundup.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

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