Oakesdale grad, spouse write book about 1930s eastern Montana murder saga

When Becky Hubner graduated from Oakesdale High School in 1971, she didn’t know she would write a book.

“That wasn’t on my bucket list,” she said. Her brother is Rod Hubner of Oakesdale.

But she and her husband, Tim Hattenburg, recently had their first book, “Death Ride, A Little Boy’s Night of Terror,” published.

They will be signing their book at Main Street Books on Feb. 14, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tim, who was a Spokane Valley teacher, said a former student started researching a murder in eastern Montana. Tim became interested and started researching for more details about the murder. As he delved into the history of a small Montana community, he and Becky knew they had to write about this tragic event, something that the people in eastern Montana still talk about.

The Hattenburgs met Larry and Janet Kuntz in Februrary 2013 and interviewed them about the murder in Wheat Basin, Mont.

Kuntz is the main subject of this book.

On a dark winter Montana night in 1937, five-year-old Larry witnessed his parents being shot by a neighbor and then he was beaten and left for dead. The boy, though severely injured, managed to escape the murder scene and walk to a general store to get help. Although his parents were both dead, Larry survived.

The book details the tragedy, accenting the story with photographs.

Larry was in a hospital for some time because of his injuries, but then lived with his grandmother, graduated from pharmacy school and eventually moved to Spokane where he was a pharmacist for many years. He is married with four children.

The book is not only about the tragedy of a little boy who lost his parents but how that boy overcame tremendous odds to have a relatively normal life.

The Hattenburgs went to Montana twice doing their research, and specifically to the museum in Columbus, Mont.

“We were so lucky that story was so important to their history,” Becky said.

Tim said he also went to New York to do more research, specifically about a trial for the man who murdered Larry’s parents.

“One thing will lead to others,” he said.

The Hattenburgs admit they did thousands of hours of research for the book.

“It took on a life of its own,” Becky said.

The Hattenburgs also will be on Spokane television station KHQ in early February talking about the book.

“We hope people will read it, enjoy it and learn from it,” Becky said.

They don’t know if a second book is in their future.

“We haven’t quite decided yet,” Becky said.

“If it’s the right subject matter, we might,” Tim said.

“The best part is the nice people we’ve met,” Becky said.