Community Event to Celebrate “Trail Creek: A North Fork Saga” and the Legacy of Daniel and GeRayne Block
July 8, 2026
The Bookstore and the Beaverhead County Museum will host an evening celebrating the release of "Trail Creek: A North Fork Saga", the newly published memoir by former Montana Western biology professor Dr. Daniel G. Block, on Thursday, July 9, at The Depot Theater in Dillon. The event will also honor the lives and legacy of Dan and GeRayne Block, whose experiences homesteading in Montana's North Fork wilderness are chronicled in the memoir. Dr. Block's grandson, Zachary Block, and son, Bryan Block, will share stories about the couple and the journey to bring the manuscript to publication.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Donations to the Beaverhead County Museum will be accepted at the door, and a book signing and reception with light refreshments will follow the presentation.
Trail Creek: A North Fork Saga began its journey to publication after Zachary Block discovered a completed manuscript among his grandfather’s belongings while sorting through family keepsakes. The manuscript recounts the years Dan and GeRayne spent homesteading near Trail Creek, just six miles from the U.S.-Canada border, shortly after World War II.
The memoir chronicles the couple’s experiences building a life in the Montana wilderness, where GeRayne served as the youngest postmistress in the North Fork while Dan documented their adventures, including fishing for bull trout, hunting elk, and encounters with grizzly bears. Dedicated to GeRayne, the book serves as both a tribute to their partnership and a reflection on a way of life that has largely disappeared.
“My grandpa had a big life, and to see that he was the same person at 26 as he was at 96 was remarkable,” Zachary Block said. “He wanted to strike into the unknown while being respectful to his surroundings. I think when somebody sits down to put their thoughts on paper, they obviously want it shared.”
Dr. Daniel G. Block served on the Montana Western faculty from 1961 until his retirement in 1985, teaching biological sciences and inspiring generations of students. A World War II veteran, he earned two degrees in wildlife technology before later completing his doctorate and dedicating more than two decades to educating Montana Western students.
In recognition of his distinguished service, the Montana Board of Regents authorized the naming of Daniel G. Block Hall in 1994. The official proclamation described him as “brilliant, diligent, and absolutely consistent,” noting that “his students received his very best every day.”
The July 9 event offers community members an opportunity to learn more about the lives of Dan and GeRayne Block—from their years homesteading in Montana’s North Fork to Dan’s lasting impact on Montana Western through Block Hall—while celebrating the publication of Trail Creek: A North Fork Saga.
The event is free and open to the public. Those with questions or who would like to reserve a copy of the book may contact The Bookstore at 406-683-6807.
