Gregory Allan Disney

February 23, 1955 – July 7, 2026

Gregory Allan Disney, 71, passed away peacefully with family at his side on July 7, 2026, at the Hospice House in Rapid City, South Dakota, following a brave battle with cancer.

Greg was born on February 23, 1955, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to Lila (née Lidgett) and Keppel Disney. His early years were spent traveling across the open country of Western Canada, living in Fort Qu'Appelle, Medicine Hat, Gleichen, Redcliff, Lethbridge, and various other towns across southern Saskatchewan. In the winter of 1958, his family moved to the Disney homestead in Killdeer, followed by a move to the Lidgett homestead in Fir Mountain the following spring. He attended a two-room schoolhouse in Fir Mountain for grades 1 through 7, and later went to high school in Glentworth for grades 8 and 9.

A true man of the outdoors with a deep love for animals, Greg was quiet and reserved, yet possessed a genuine warmth that allowed him to strike up a conversation with absolutely anyone. His legendary work ethic started early; he began breaking Shetland ponies for local farmers at just 9 years old. By age 13 or 14, he was custom combining down south in Texas and Oklahoma. Forging an independent path, he left home at around 15. He worked as a farmhand for Frank Linthicum and Donny Gillespie in southern Saskatchewan, spent winters racing sleds for the Yamaha factory, worked government contract well-drilling for Anderson Drilling out of Assiniboia, and served as a brand inspector for the Saskatchewan Pool Livestock in Regina.

In the late 1970s, Greg moved to Central Montana, working for Garth Bascomb on a ranch near Grass Range. It was during this time that he met Debbie at a roping event in 1978; they were married in 1982. Together, they raised two children: a son, Clay, born in 1986, and a daughter, Amber, born in 1991.

Greg’s life in Montana was marked by a determination to constantly grow. He attended the Oklahoma School of Horseshoeing, shoeing horses while working several local ranches. He transitioned into automotive sales in the Lewistown area and managed the Central Montana Fair for several years. While working in the car business, he sold a vehicle to a retired teacher, Hannah Bragg, who recognized his potential and convinced him to earn his GED.

Driven to succeed, Greg enrolled at Montana State University-Northern. He balanced the immense demands of a full-time job and raising a young family to graduate with a four-year degree in Business and Marketing. Greg took immense pride in this achievement, as well as the fact that both of his children went on to complete college.

Armed with his degree, Greg went to work for the Montana Unified School Trust (MUST)—relocating to Columbus in 2008 and later to Billings—and eventually marketed health insurance for the Joint Powers Trust (JPT). He remained a dedicated employee at JPT until his illness forced his retirement in 2025, at which time he and Debbie moved to Summerset, South Dakota.

Greg remained a cowboy at heart throughout his entire life. He loved training horses, roping, attending rodeos and spent many evenings playing pinochle with his friends Ed and Linda Bradley in Lewistown and Rich and Connie Mill in Columbus. In recent years, he poured his trademark patience and meticulous attention to detail into the craft of rawhide braiding. Highly passionate about the art, he traveled multiple times a year to gatherings in Texas, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Utah with his braiding friends George, Nick, Jack and John to exchange knowledge and sharpen his skills alongside a global community of braiders who became his cherished "braiding family". In his final year while battling cancer, the many phone calls from his many fellow braiders and his trips to gatherings was the fuel that kept him motivated to fight on. Above all, Greg loved spending time with his friends, his family and his fellow craftsmen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Keppel Disney and Lila Disney both of Saskatchewan, Canada.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Debbie of Summerset, SD; his son, Clay of Billings, MT; his daughter, Amber of Fort Benton, MT; sisters Carlene Crumley (Norm) of Calgary AB; Valerie Bilinski of Edmonton, AB; Debbie Disney of Regina SK; Shelley Disney (Howard) of Vancouver BC; brothers Bruce (Cyndi) of Edmonton, AB; Kelly of Innisfail AB; Keppel, Kenny and Keith of Saskatoon, SK; Garth of Fort Qu’Appelle, SK, alongside a community of friends, numerous nieces and nephews and extended family who will forever miss his quiet strength and steady presence.

Cremation has taken place with no service being held at Greg’s request. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Monument Hospital Hospice House or to the charity of your choice.