Rodeo clown/cowboy poet Lee Bellows touched every one he met over his 70-plus years.
His loss brought tough macho cowboys to tears at the celebration of Lee’s life. The cowboy code is “don’t cry, suck it up, don’t let anybody see weakness.”
Choked voices - near sobbing cowboys at this event fondly remembered Lee as they broke the unwritten code to grieve this universally beloved, respected and trusted member of the tightly knit rodeo fraternity.
A self-confessed rodeo addict Bellows promoted rodeo wherever he went.
Life for Lee started on the Matador Ranch where his father worked. When school time came they moved to Moose Jaw.
That wasn’t the end of his cowboy career. From age 12 Lee spent summers riding the range at the Valjean community pasture. By age 19 he had become a full-time range rider.
While learning the cowboy trade Lee hung around a rodeo clown, eventually becoming part of his act.
A bullfighter for 15 years Lee turned to the safer job of rodeo clown.
During these times, he juggled being a single father with his demanding brand inspector job and rodeo clown gigs.
Wherever Lee went, he brightened your day with his impish grin and his enthusiastic frank personality.
He bore an uncanny resemblance to Hollywood actor Wilford Brimley —something he used as a prank. When being introduced he would often identify as Wilford Brimley
Once I caught a ride with Lee to Saskatoon for a Western Canada Fairs convention.
I think he thought I was another smart-ass city slicker. I thought he was a wannabe-cowboy.
He didn’t know I grew up in the antelope country of southern Alberta. I didn’t know his past. We learned a thing or two.
The truck was nearing Saskatoon when Lee said: “This has been interesting. You know we ain’t all that different.”
Always there to volunteer without being asked, Lee was the auctioneer for a pie auction fund-raiser.
Standing on a chair, he encouraged bidding as only Lee could.
“20 here, come 30, 20 come 30. Come on. biddy biddy biddy!’’
The crowd roared. Bids flew in and over $1,000 was raised in a few minutes.
On some of those long drives home from rodeo gigs Lee put together phrases and words for his poems. He once told me: “I’m just one wreck away from retiring.”
The cowboy poetry was to be his next gig when he hung up the baggy overalls.
Lee’s former postman attended the celebration of life saying: “He let me come in and warm up when it was really cold.” That was Lee.
Seeing the ranks of bronc riders thinning out, Lee founded the Moose Jaw Rodeo School. Running every May for 16 years the school gives new riders a learning opportunity, old ones get refresher hints and it produced a number of circuit riders.
Lee never forgot the clown who took him under his wing. Many of today’s rodeo clowns and bullfighters apprenticed under his encouraging ways.
Somewhere in that big Rodeo Arena up there, Lee is entertaining folks and sporting a big belt buckle inscribed: “All-Around Person.”
Long time friend and exhibition volunteer Ross Smith put it aptly. “Lee was as good as it gets.”
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Thanks to those attending my surprise 80th birthday event. Special thanks to organizers/helpers: Joyce, Denise, Wanda, Tammy, Deanne, George and Marlene, and nieces and nephews.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
