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Johnny France

“Dad was consecutive Montana Rodeo Association all around champion in 1966 and 1967,” recalled Johnny’s daughter Kathy DeRuwe. PHOTO COURTESY KATHY DERUWE

End of a rough string

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 10:36am

For the first time since the 1950s, the Fourth of July Rodeo in Ennis will go on without Johnny France. The legendary cowboy and lawman passed away on April 20, leaving behind a priceless collection of “only in Madison County” stories. 

FROM L TO R: Chris DiMichele, Nikki DiMichele, Johnny France and Sue France. PHOTO BY SAM DIMICHELE

The Bottle Barn

Wed, 05/13/2020 - 9:15am

Kari Swenson, a biathlete, was kidnapped at gunpoint by two ‘mountain men’ while on a training run in the Spanish Peaks. FBI teams, helicopters, and multiple facets of law enforcement searched for Swenson for months. Local sheriff, Johnny France, was the man who apprehended the captors.

More Information

The Madisonian

65 N. MT Hwy 287
Ennis, MT 59729
406-682-7755
www.madisoniannews.com

Cori Koenig, editor: editor@madisoniannews.com
Susanne Hill, billing: s.hill@madisoniannews.com 
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