About

Doing some very basic blacksmithing
at the forge at Fort Union.

My name is Leif Halvorson. I'm a husband and father, elementary reading/computers/music teacher in a small school in Eastern Montana, near the Yellowstone river. I enjoy history, especially Fur Trade, Indian Wars, Montana Gold Rush and homesteading period. I'm also a General Class ham radio operator, callsign W7IOW.

The Montanan/Dakotan was inspired by friends like Isaac Walters (www.frenchinwisconsin.com) and others who do a fantastic job of explaining history and letting us in on their different projects related to it.  I wanted to be able to do likewise, to be able to share my experiences and to help others along the way who have ventured into this wonderful hobby.

My interest in these eras of history was probably started by my Montana History teachers Avis Hansen and Becky Kallevig, who introduced me to Lewis and Clark, Fort Union and Fort Buford.

I'm a member of the Fort Union Muzzleloaders Asscociation, Fort Buford 6th Infantry Regimental Association, Montana History Live!, a leader for 4-H Western Heritage Project and Bossloper, #2075, Fort Henry Party, in the American Mountain Men.