Andy Tromp

RONAN, Mont. - Andy Tromp, 62, passed away in Ronan, Mont., on June 11. He is survived by his wife, Karen "K.T." Tromp; and his children, Shannon Tromp, Dusty Dae Tromp Sample, Guy Travis Tromp, MacKenzie Weiss and Drew Elizabeth DeForest; grandchildren, Hunter Priniski, Jordan Andrew Sample, Lexie Priniski and Tyler Sample; sister, Becky Rolf; uncle, Jim Reddon; "mom", Rachel Hitchcock; and countless friends and family members. Andy volunteered at age 19 to go to Vietnam and served in the U.S. Army in the 101st Airborne Division. He made his way from Montana to Arizona and worked as a packer for the Superstition Inn's riding stables packing tourists into the Superstitions Mountains. He went on to be the assistant manager at the Inn and then started an Indian Jewelry store there as well. Those early years of selling Indian jewelry led him into the art business where he became a respected art dealer and was highly regarded as one of the most knowledgeable dealers of Western Americana and Southwestern art. He forged meaningful relationships with the artists and galleries and even when he "retired" people would still come from far and wide to visit him at his ranch, the A Bar T, and private gallery in Ronan, Mont. In his later years, Andy spent most of his time with his wife, kids, and grandkids, and raising beautiful TWHBEA horses considered by most to be some of finest horses to come out of Montana. There are no words for how he'll be missed. Services were held at his ranch Friday, June 17.