Mike Ballew, 81, of Raton, died September 21, 2026. He was born June 24, 1945, in Atascadero, California, to Claude and Dorothy Ballew.
Mike served in the U.S. Army Reserves and earned a degree in recreation administration from Sacramento State, which he put to work outdoors.
For nearly a decade he was preserve manager at Dye Creek Ranch near Red Bluff, a 67,000-acre cattle ranch he helped turn into one of the top hunting preserves in the country. In 1986 he moved to Raton to lead the NRA Whittington Center.
Over 40 years as its director and fundraiser, he helped grow the Center range by range into a destination for outdoor enthusiasts and the site of multiple national and world championship events. In 1988 he founded the Youth Adventure Camp, which has since brought more than 3,600 young people to Raton under its motto of Leadership, Patriotism and Marksmanship.
Mike lived a big life, from wrangling horses at a boys’ camp and running a ski hill in the Sierra Nevada to earning his pilot’s license, guiding wild pig hunts for celebrities, and helping build and manage the most comprehensive shooting facility in the country. He liked to say that if you love your job, you never work a day in your life. He never did.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Sharon.
He is survived by his wife, Diane. He is also survived by his daughter, Michelle Cain, and her husband, Matt; his son, Matt Ballew, and his wife, Darcy; his stepsons, Dusty Tripp and Dylan Tripp, and their wives, Holly and Shauna; his two sisters; and 11 grandchildren.
Friends and family are invited to share a memory or photo of Mike below.
Arrangements for Mike Ballew are entrusted to the care of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Be First to Comment