Evelyn Grace (Kennedy) Brainard, 95, passed away peacefully Oct. 23, 2020. She was born Oct. 13, 1925, at home in Rosebud County, Mont., to Joe and Gladys (Noyes) Kennedy, joining two brothers, James and Eugene. She grew up on the family ranch on the Rosebud Creek in Eastern Montana and attended rural elementary schools until the family moved to Manhattan in 1936. After graduating from Manhattan High School in 1943, Evelyn attended Dillon Normal School (Western Montana College, Dillon), obtaining a teaching certificate. She then taught third grade in Belgrade, Mont..
Evelyn married Bill Don Brainard on Jan. 7, 1948. They started their life of cattle ranching and raising quarter horses on the Brainard Ranch located five miles south of Maudlow. All five children were raised there and on the ranch; they moved to east of Manhattan in 1963. Evelyn was a great ranch wife and mother. She provided countless meals for work crews and hungry kids. Evelyn was a substitute teacher in Manhattan a