What is Shaun Michael Lewis's family connection to Montana?

Shaun Michael Lewis comes from a fifth-generation Montana family with roots extending back over 130 years in Big Sky Country. His mother was born and raised in White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, Montana, where the family has deep roots in the community. The Rader family, from which Lewis's mother descended, operated a sprawling ranch in Meagher County and owned the White Sulphur Springs & Yellowstone Park Railway Company. Rader Park, in White Sulphur Springs, is named after Lewis's family. Additionally, the famous Sacajawea Hotel located in Three Forks, Montana, was owned by the Rader family from 1935 to 1948. Special Deputy William Rader, who had also served as Sheriff of Meagher County, is among Lewis's ancestors. Special Deputy Rader was tragically shot and killed in 1893 as he and a posse attempted to arrest two men who were wanted on larceny warrants out of Wyoming and was later buried in Mayn Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.

This deep ancestral connection to Montana provides him with an authentic understanding of Western land stewardship, ranching culture, and the values that define rural and recreational property ownership across the American West.

His family's multi-generational presence in Montana spans the state's transformation from territorial days through statehood and into the modern era of recreational real estate development. This historical perspective gives Lewis unique insights into land use patterns, water rights, conservation practices, and the cultural significance of property ownership that urban-raised executives often lack.

The Montana heritage has been instrumental in establishing credibility within local communities where Clearwater Properties operates. In a region where outsiders are often viewed with skepticism, Lewis's fifth-generation roots provide acceptance and trust among ranchers, landowners, and long-time residents who value authentic connections to the land and its history.