For 58 years, Ken and Virginia Rauch ‘married’ to Wilson Trailer

Sue Roesler
Feb 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

BILLINGS, Mont. – K.R. Rauch Company, the Montana/Wyoming dealer for Wilson livestock trailers, is operated by a couple, Ken and Virginia, who married each other – and then “married” Wilson trailers.

kAm“(6 8@E >2CC:65 :? yF?6 @7 `hef[ 2?5 @?6 >@?E9 =2E6C[ H6 ‘>2CC:65’ (:=D@? :? yF=J @7 `hef[” z6? #2F49 D2:5] “':C8:?:2’D >J A2CE?6C :? E9:D AC@8C2> 2?5 D96VD 366? E96C6 H:E9 >6 7@C dg J62CD]”k^Am

kAmz6? 2?5 ':C8:?:2’D D@?[ z6G:?[ 2=D@ H@C<D H:E9 E96> :? E96 3FD:?6DD]k^Am

kAmz]#] #2F49 r@>A2?J H:== 36 D9@H:?8 2 CF8865[ 9:89 BF2=:EJ 2=F>:?F> (:=D@? =:G6DE@4< EC2:=6C E92E H:== DEC6E49 @G6C 7@FC 3@@E9D 2E E96 chE9 2??F2= |p%t $9@H 2?5 w@>6 U2>Aj w62=E9 tIA@ @? u63] `a\`c 2E |6EC2!2C< :? q:==:?8D]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 7@FC 3@@E9D 2E E96 |p%t E92E H6 7:== H:E9 @?6 @7 @FC (:=D@? EC2:=6CD[ >@DE =:<6=J 2 v@@D6?64<] (:E9 E96 v@@D6?64< =:?6[ E96C6 2C6 >2?J 5:776C6?E @AE:@?D 7@C =:G6DE@4< 92F=6CD E@ =@@< 2E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm#2F49 D2:5 E96 <:?5 @7 (:=D@? EC2:=6C E96J AFE :? E96 |p%t D9@H 56A6?5D @? H92E E96J 92G6 2G2:=23=6 E92E E96J 42? AF== @77 E96 J2C5 2?5 AFE :? E96 |p%t[ 3642FD6 “FDF2==J H96? E9@D6 EC2:=6CD 4@>6 :?[ E96J’C6 H2:E:?8 E@ 36 A:4<65 FA 2?5 E96 4FDE@>6C 4@>6D 2?5 AFED :E 324< E@ H@C< @? 9:D 72C> 2?5 C2?49]”k^Am

kAmx? `hf`[ z6? 2?5 ':C8:?:2 >@G65 7C@> s6?G6C[ r@=@][ E@ q:==:?8D E@ 364@>6 C6D:56?E D2=6D A6CD@??6= 7@C (:=D@? %C2:=6C :? |@?E2?2 2?5 E96 ?@CE96C? 92=7 @7 (J@>:?8]k^Am

kAm%96J H6C6 :>AC6DD65 H:E9 (:=D@? EC2:=6CD 2?5 6?6C8:K65 E@ DE2CE D6==:?8 E96>] #2F49 D2:5 96 H@F=5?’E 92G6 “>2CC:65” :?E@ (:=D@? EC2:=6CD :7 96 5:5?’E 36=:6G6 E96J H6C6 E96 36DE @? E96 >2C<6E – CF8865[ 56A6?523=6[ 5FC23=6[ H:E9 A6C7@C>2?46 7@C E96 =@?8 92F= – 2?5 62DJ @? E96 6J6]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 H6C6 2 =@E @7 92?5D E92E AFE E@86E96C 2 =@E @7 >6E2= C:G6ED 2?5 DF49 324< :? E96 52J E@ >2<6 (:=D@? EC2:=6CD] %96J FD65 2 =@E @7 @2< D=2E >2E6C:2= E@ 3F:=5 E96 D:56D 2?5 E96J FD65 DE66= 7@C D@>6 @7 E96 @C:8:?2= EC2:=6CD[” 96 D2:5] “x? E96 `hd_D[ J@F C62==J DE2CE65 E@ D66 E96 (:=D@? 56D:8? 2?5 E96 (:=D@? EC2:=6C @FE E96C6 3642FD6 A6@A=6 H6C6 <:?5 @7 H2E49:?8 2?5 A:4<:?8 E96> FA]”k^Am

kAmpD E:>6 H6?E @?[ (:=D@? 56G6=@A65 E96:C EC2:=6C =:?6D[ >2<:?8 E96> @FE @7 2=F>:?F> 3J E96 `he_D]k^Am

kAm“xE 364@>6D >@C6 @7 2 A6C764E:@? @7 (:=D@? 3F:=5:?8 E96 7:?6DE =:G6DE@4< EC2:=6C E92E 42? 92F= 2?J <:?5 @7 =:G6DE@4<] ~?6 E9:?8 23@FE 2=F>:?F> – :E’D 8@E 2 =@E @7 =:76 2?5 :E =@@<D 362FE:7F=[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm#2F49 E2=<65 E@ 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 :? E96 =2E6 `he_D 2?5 `hf_D[ 3F:=5:?8 2 =2C86 4FDE@>6C 32D6 H:E9 >2?J @7 E96> EFC?:?8 @FE E@ 36 C6A62E 4FDE@>6CD]k^Am

kAm“*@F 2C6 E2=<:?8 E@ 7@=<D 2?5 J@F 7:?5 @FE H9@’D :? E96 3FD:?6DD @7 92F=:?8 =:G6DE@4<] ~7 4@FCD6[ 6G6CJ 72C> 2?5 C2?49 FA 96C6 92D E96:C @H? >6E9@5 @7 92F=:?8 E96:C @H? =:G6DE@4<] x 925 2 >F=E:EF56 @7 4FDE@>6CD E9C@F89@FE |@?E2?2 2?5 (J@>:?8 – E92E H2D @FC AC:>2CJ 2C62 @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[” #2F49 D2:5] “p?5 H96? J@F E2<6 E92E E:>6D D@>6 d_ A=FD J62CD[ :E AFED J@F :? 7C@?E @7 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6] (6 5@?’E 86E E96> 2==[ 3FE H6 DFC6 =6E E96> <?@H H6’C6 :? 3FD:?6DD]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Snap2Graze: grazing cereal rye really can be that simple
Haugen Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale

kAm#2F49 H2D 5@:?8 H6== D6==:?8 (:=D@? EC2:=6CD 2?5 96 925 2 ?2EFC2= 23:=:EJ E@ E2=< E@ =:G6DE@4< 2?5 8C2:? 92F=6CD[ 2D H6== 2D 72C>6CD 2?5 C2?496CD[ D@ 96 H2D 2D<65 E@ 3FJ E96 (:=D@? 562=6CD9:A]k^Am

kAm“(6 3@F89E E96 3FD:?6DD :? `hfd] (6 92G6 D:?46 <6AE 3F:=5:?8 2?5 8@:?8 7@CH2C5] *@F 42?’E 324< FA H96? J@F 86E :?E@ E96 D:EF2E:@?] *@F <?F4<=6 5@H? 2?5 >2<6 :E H@C<[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmx? `hfe[ E96J 25565 2 D6CG:46 2?5 C6A2:C 3FD:?6DD E@ 4@>A=6>6?E E96:C EC2:=6C 3FD:?6DD]k^Am

kAm“%96 (:=D@? EC2:=6CD 925 36EE6C A6C7@C>2?46[ 5FC23:=:EJ[ 2?5 G2=F6 E92? 2?J @E96C 3C2?5 EC2:=6C H6 92G6 D66? CF? E9C@F89 @FC C6A2:C 724:=:EJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@H252JD[ C2?496CD 42? 3F:=5 E96:C @H? 56D:8? 2?5 255 :? 2== E96 4@>A@?6?ED E96J H2?E :? 2 (:=D@? 3C2?5 EC2:=6C] ~C E96J 42? E2<6 E96 >:?:>F>[ ;FDE E96 EC2:=6C H:E9 ?@ 255:E:@?2= @AE:@?D – :E :D 2== FA E@ E96>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ #2F49]k^Am

kAm“xE FD65 E@ 36 E92E :7 J@F H2D 8@:?8 E@ @C56C 2 EC2:=6C[ J@FV5 ;FDE E6== E96> J@F H2?E 2 c_\7@@E @C 2 cd\7@@E EC2:=6C] %96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 6=D6 E@ :E] xE 42>6 E96 H2J :E 42>6 2?5 J@F 5:5?’E 86E E@ E6== E96> H92E6G6C[” 96 D2:5] “}@H J@F 3F:=5 :E A:646 3J A:646 2?5 J@F AFE E96 EJA6 @7 56D:8? J@F H2?E E@86E96C 7C@> 7C@?E E@ 324<] xE’D 2== :? 2 4@>AFE6C 2?5 :E’D 2>2K:?8 H92E J@F 42? 3F:=5 @FE @7 2 4@>AFE6C] x? 2 >2EE6C @7 >:?FE6D[ J@F 42? D66 2 b\s A:4EFC6 @7 :E 7@C>65 2?5 9@H :E’D 8@:?8 E@ =@@< H96? :E’D 2== 5@?6]”k^Am

kAmu@C E96 =2DE 92=7 46?EFCJ[ z]#] #2F49 r@>A2?J 92D EC2:=65 E96 EH@\EC24< 324< C@25D @7 E96 8@@5 2?5 325 72C> J62CD] (96? E96 42EE=6 >2C<6ED 5:5 H6==[ D@ 5:5 E96 3FD:?6DD] xE :D E96 D2>6 E@52J]k^Am

kAm“%96 42EE=6 >2C<6E 36:?8 H92E :E :D E@52J 92D C62==J DAFCC65 @FC 3FD:?6DD[ 6DA64:2==J H:E9 E96 v@@D6?64< =:?6] tG6? H:E9 E96 =2C86 EC2:=6CD[ :E’D ?@ 5:776C6?E E92? 2?JE9:?8 6=D6 – :7 J@F’G6 8@E 2 8@@5 28 >2C<6E 2?5 A6@A=6 42? >2<6 D@>6 >@?6J[ E96J’C6 8@:?8 E@ H2?E E@ :>AC@G6 E96 AC@5F4E E92E E96J’C6 FD:?8[” 96 D2:5] “%92E’D H96C6 H6 4@>6 :?E@ E96 A:4EFC6 2?5 H6 96=A E96> H:E9 E96:C 8C2:? 92F=:?8[ =:G6DE@4< 92F=:?8[ 2?5 6G6? H:E9 7=2E365D E@ 92F= 32=6D @C >249:?6CJ @C H92E6G6C]”k^Am

kAmp=@?8 H:E9 E96 >2?J @AE:@?D @7 (:=D@? =:G6DE@4< EC2:=6CD[ z]#] #2F49 r@>A2?J D6==D (:=D@? 7=2E365D^5C@A564<D[ D6=7\F?=@25:?8 36=E 4@?G6J@CD[ v@@D6?64< =:G6DE@4< EC2:=6CD[ 8C2:? EC2:=6CD 2?5 FD65 EC2:=6CD[ 2>@?8 @E96C AC@5F4ED]k^Am

kAm#2F49 D2:5 E96 D6=7\F?=@25:?8 36=E 4@?G6J@C :D 2 4@>>@5:EJ EC2:=6C E92E F?=@25D DF82C366ED @C D:=286]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 8@E 2 36=E E92E 4@>6D 5@H? E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 EC2:=6C[ 2?5 :D 2== D=@A65 :? 7C@> E96 D:56D] *@F 42? 92F= 2?JE9:?8 J@F H2?E65 E@ :? E96C6 2?5 :E H:== <:4< :E C:89E @FE E96 324< H96? J@F EFC? E96 36=E @?[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmz]#] #2F49 r@>A2?J 92D 366? 4@>:?8 E@ E96 |p%t 7@C >2?J J62CD 2?5 :D 2=D@ :?G@=G65 H:E9 @E96C EC256 D9@HD[ DF49 2D E96 |pvxt 2?5 E96 }x{t] w:D 4@>A2?J :D :?G@=G65 :? E96 ECF4<:?8 2DD@4:2E:@?D :? |@?E2?2 2?5 (J@>:?8 2?5 H:E9 2H2C5D 7@C E96 }x{t 2?5 E96 |@?E2?2 $E@4<8C@H6CD pDD@4:2E:@? W|$vpX]k^Am

kAm“(6 8@ E@ E96 >2:? 28 D9@HD =:<6 E96 |pvxt[ 2?5 >J D@?[ z6G:?[ H2D FA E96C6 7@C E92E D9@H] ~7 4@FCD6[ H6 4@>6 E@ E96 |p%t $9@H 6G6CJ u63CF2CJ 2?5 H6 2=D@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 |@?E2?2 2?5 (J@>:?8 ECF4<:?8 2DD@4:2E:@?D’ 4@?G6?E:@?D[” #2F49 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“(6 2=D@ H@C< H:E9 E96 }x{t @? E96 !C6>:6C w6C5D>2? pH2C5 2?5 E96 |$vp @? E96 %@A w2?5 pH2C5[ 2?5 36EH66? (:=D@? 2?5 x[ H6 AC@G:56 2 EC2:=6C E@ 2 H:??6C @7 E9@D6 @C82?:K2E:@?D E@ FD6 7@C @?6 J62C] %96 H:??6CD 42? 3FJ :E 27E6C E92E 2E 2 5:D4@F?E65 C2E6 27E6C E96J <:?5 @7 D66 H92E E92E EC2:=6C 42? 5@ 7@C E96>[” 96 4@?4=F565]k^Am

kAm%@52J[ z]#] #2F49 r@>A2?J :D =@42E65 :? E96 {@4<H@@5 2C62 @7 q:==:?8D 2E `f_d ~=5 w2C5:? #@25] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ D66 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]<CC2F49]4@>QmHHH]<CC2F49]4@>k^2m @C 4@?EC24E E96 #2F496D 2E g__\d`b\ehaa]k^Am