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A Woman's Way West: In & Around Glacier National Park from 1925 to 1990
In honor of his wife Dana's great-aunt, Doris Huffine, John Fraley has given us this compelling human narrative of romance, determination, happiness, tragedy, failure and success. The theme centers on Doris' intriguing life from her birth in Iowa, 1901, to work in Glacier Park, 1925, to her death in Flathead County, 1990. It is a story of grizzlies, mountain hikes, hard work and hardy people, natives and Euroamerican alike, hooked on the spirit of powerful waters and massive mountains. And of a nation with foresight to protect the "Crown of the Continent" as Glacier Park. More than that, John's dedication to history and natural land speaks clearly through his descriptive writing and assembly of historical events in Glacier Country.
238 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 11, 2023
We visited Glacier National Park this past summer. A friend of mine visited the park with her family too this summer, and she had a copy of “A Woman’s Way West: In and Around Glacier National Park from 1925-1990” that she loaned me.
It was a fascinating book, covering the life of Doris Huffine. Doris was born in 1901 and had the typical tough life of the time. Her mom died when Doris was young and Doris had several siblings. Doris married young, but within a year her husband died. She married again, to Dan Huffine, and they lived around Glacier National Park in Montana. Dan wanted to be a park ranger but could never pass the required exams, probably due to his limited education. He quit school at 14 after his mom died.
The Huffines owned and ran a few different camping locations within the park, ran a museum, a store, etc. What really makes Doris stand out is her personality. She was quite a character; set in her ways, stubborn, you name it. She was not someone you would forget. She canned foods and insisted they were fine to eat, decades later. Once she got into trouble selling her homemade raspberry jam since the health department said she didn’t have a license. They finally told her she could sell until her current stock ran out. “Will it ever run out?” she mischievously asked her sister.
Doris was also a penny-pincher who drove a hard bargain. Once a man who owned a museum bought an antique Montana hearse from Doris. He offered a good price, and asked if Doris could include a whip with the hearse. She said no, even after he asked several times. Later though, Doris willed most all of her museum stock to this man’s museum.
Doris’ aunt had despaired over Doris’ mom having so many children, thinking that this led to her early death. This had quite an effect on Doris, and she never had children. However, the Huffines loved animals and took in several at their house, including a black bear, snakes, a mountain goat, and a 50-pound beaver named Willie that Doris carried around like a child.
While we visited Glacier National Park, there were so many signs warning of bears. Pretty much everyone visiting made the requisite purchase of a $50 can of bear spray. But in this book, the bears (at least the black ones; grizzlies were more scary) were generally not feared. Doris worked as a cook for the men building the park’s Going to the Sun Road, and they purposely threw out cooking scraps for the bears. Once a bear tore a hole into the cooking tent looking for food, etc. She seemed to shoo them away and take things in stride. No gory tales of bear attacks here! “‘The men would go into the raw timber behind the tents and just dump the garbage every day,’ remembered Doris. ‘We didn’t have to haul it away like people have to now. We didn’t have to fuss at all, we let the animals have it. There were lots and lots of black bears and they always fed on the garbage, day and night. We didn’t think anything of them. All they did was eat the garbage; they never bothered us around the tents at all.'” Interesting, since this is 180 degrees opposite from what is done today.
With their frugal, self-sufficient ways, it’s probably no surprise that the Huffines were conservative. “Johnson got back in for president with Humphrey as VP. Minnesota and Wisconsin people say he is a commie. Guess the voters were afraid of a conservative (Goldwater) for President, they like easy government money with no thought of who is going to pay,” Dan wrote. Ha, very relatable.
Dan died around 80, and Doris lived until 88. Dan was four years younger, and after marrying him Doris said she was born in 1905 (rather than 1901) since she didn’t want to be older. Sure enough, on her death the officials listed her age as 84. Those who had known Doris wouldn’t forget her; she liked things done her way, and was feisty and fought for her way until it usually happened.
Really interesting look at a memorable woman and the times she lived in. The author’s wife is Doris’ great niece.
It was a fascinating book, covering the life of Doris Huffine. Doris was born in 1901 and had the typical tough life of the time. Her mom died when Doris was young and Doris had several siblings. Doris married young, but within a year her husband died. She married again, to Dan Huffine, and they lived around Glacier National Park in Montana. Dan wanted to be a park ranger but could never pass the required exams, probably due to his limited education. He quit school at 14 after his mom died.
The Huffines owned and ran a few different camping locations within the park, ran a museum, a store, etc. What really makes Doris stand out is her personality. She was quite a character; set in her ways, stubborn, you name it. She was not someone you would forget. She canned foods and insisted they were fine to eat, decades later. Once she got into trouble selling her homemade raspberry jam since the health department said she didn’t have a license. They finally told her she could sell until her current stock ran out. “Will it ever run out?” she mischievously asked her sister.
Doris was also a penny-pincher who drove a hard bargain. Once a man who owned a museum bought an antique Montana hearse from Doris. He offered a good price, and asked if Doris could include a whip with the hearse. She said no, even after he asked several times. Later though, Doris willed most all of her museum stock to this man’s museum.
Doris’ aunt had despaired over Doris’ mom having so many children, thinking that this led to her early death. This had quite an effect on Doris, and she never had children. However, the Huffines loved animals and took in several at their house, including a black bear, snakes, a mountain goat, and a 50-pound beaver named Willie that Doris carried around like a child.
While we visited Glacier National Park, there were so many signs warning of bears. Pretty much everyone visiting made the requisite purchase of a $50 can of bear spray. But in this book, the bears (at least the black ones; grizzlies were more scary) were generally not feared. Doris worked as a cook for the men building the park’s Going to the Sun Road, and they purposely threw out cooking scraps for the bears. Once a bear tore a hole into the cooking tent looking for food, etc. She seemed to shoo them away and take things in stride. No gory tales of bear attacks here! “‘The men would go into the raw timber behind the tents and just dump the garbage every day,’ remembered Doris. ‘We didn’t have to haul it away like people have to now. We didn’t have to fuss at all, we let the animals have it. There were lots and lots of black bears and they always fed on the garbage, day and night. We didn’t think anything of them. All they did was eat the garbage; they never bothered us around the tents at all.'” Interesting, since this is 180 degrees opposite from what is done today.
With their frugal, self-sufficient ways, it’s probably no surprise that the Huffines were conservative. “Johnson got back in for president with Humphrey as VP. Minnesota and Wisconsin people say he is a commie. Guess the voters were afraid of a conservative (Goldwater) for President, they like easy government money with no thought of who is going to pay,” Dan wrote. Ha, very relatable.
Dan died around 80, and Doris lived until 88. Dan was four years younger, and after marrying him Doris said she was born in 1905 (rather than 1901) since she didn’t want to be older. Sure enough, on her death the officials listed her age as 84. Those who had known Doris wouldn’t forget her; she liked things done her way, and was feisty and fought for her way until it usually happened.
Really interesting look at a memorable woman and the times she lived in. The author’s wife is Doris’ great niece.
October 3, 2024
As a native Montanan, this book was not only a joy to read, but very informative about the
early years of Glacier Park. Those who lived in the area were truly pioneers and innovators!
They had to be to survive. Their perseverance is admirable.
In many ways, Doris and her husband Dan, reminded me of my grandparents and their
friends and relatives. The stories, the way they lived, the way they brought everything they
had experienced and learned from the past, into the present. Reading the book was almost
like visiting family and hearing stories I had not heard for a long time.
Thank you John Fraely. You wrote a wonderful book honoring an amazing woman and her
family in an amazing time.
early years of Glacier Park. Those who lived in the area were truly pioneers and innovators!
They had to be to survive. Their perseverance is admirable.
In many ways, Doris and her husband Dan, reminded me of my grandparents and their
friends and relatives. The stories, the way they lived, the way they brought everything they
had experienced and learned from the past, into the present. Reading the book was almost
like visiting family and hearing stories I had not heard for a long time.
Thank you John Fraely. You wrote a wonderful book honoring an amazing woman and her
family in an amazing time.
July 10, 2025
A great book to read while on vacation in Glacier National Park
Read
July 13, 2025what an inspiration to the world and the women that now recreate in glacier. Doris spunk and lust for life is a legacy!
March 18, 2016
life story of Doris, who lived in Montana, in and around Glacier National Park.
she was a strong willed woman. I liked her story but it got a little dull at times; reading someone's diary of how much things cost, and such.
she was a strong willed woman. I liked her story but it got a little dull at times; reading someone's diary of how much things cost, and such.
July 23, 2008
the glacier association bookstore is a good place for me to remember how to read. i love my little part time job. this book is told from little old lady stories. it doesn't get much better.
June 29, 2023
Fascinating for its history of Glacier National Park and the area around it, but also from a broader cultural and more specific, individual perspective.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews