Yellowstone: What happened to John Dutton’s wife?

With John Dutton having to deal with his problematic children all on his own, many might be wondering what exactly happened to his wife in Yellowstone. Here’s everything you need to know.

Beth has Rip. Kayce has Monica. Even the detestable Jamie has a girlfriend for a short while in Taylor Sheridan’s hit drama series. And while John Dutton has some romance going with Governor Perry, you can catch him thinking about his dearly departed wife across the series.

Indeed, there’s no Mrs Dutton running things in Yellowstone, and there hasn’t been for quite a long time. For some characters, this doesn’t mean much. But for others (like John and Beth), the missing Dutton matriarch has shaped their lives.

So, where is Evelyn Dutton, and what happened to her? Here’s everything you need to know about the tragic fate of John Dutton’s wife.

Evelyn Dutton died in a horse riding accident

Evelyn Dutton died after being thrown from her horse back in 1997 when the Dutton children were young, as shown in Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 3.

The memory is clearly a tough one for Beth, who was treated as though she was at fault. Beth, who was nervous and skittish on horses, was out riding with Evelyn and Kayce. When Beth’s horse spooked Evelyn’s, the Dutton mother was thrown onto the ground and mortally wounded as the horse fell on top of her.

Beth, traumatized and frightened, is told to run back and get her father. “She did this,” Evelyn tells Kayce. “Let her undo it.”

Paramount

Beth loses her horse at some point during the journey back. Although John and the ranch hands eventually find Evelyn, it’s too late. She passes away from her injuries with Kayce by her side.

Evelyn Dutton and her family, explained

Evelyn Dutton had a loving relationship with her husband and sons, but was shown as having a complicated and bad-tempered relationship with Beth.

During her death, she takes comfort in being alone with Kayce. While we don’t see her with Lee and Jamie all that much throughout the show’s flashbacks, she’s shown having an unpleasant relationship with Beth. Although it was an accident, Beth seems to blame herself and has carried the burden of it throughout adulthood.

This wasn’t always the case, however. In the Christmas flashback in Season 1 Episode 7, Evelyn is shown being much kinder to Beth when the teenager is traumatized after getting her first period, drawing Beth a bath and sitting with her.

This seems to be the turning point in the relationship. Evelyn tells Beth that she’s becoming a woman, and she will need to treat her differently to prepare her. These moments are benchmarks for Beth, who’s entire persona is built around her guilt and unforgiving nature.

For more on the most dysfunctional family in television, check out the Dutton family tree and the full Yellowstone cast. You can also keep tabs on Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 to finish out this part of the Dutton timeline.