Country Roads: A History of East Community The Southeast Corner of Pondera County Brady, Montana (2025)

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Landm[...]But, get roads in the country would get you[...]t you had th stars in the sky[...]there was not a fence to be seen.[...]we have pavement within a few miles.
Bridge and cross[...]

mere good news
pittance was

We’ll be wealthy beyond our fondest d[...]the prairie, crops dried up in burn-
ing sun.

Many were[...]they came from
a specia mold![...]

prepared a bill providing for the cession. The Los[...]irrigate the district. In 1925, the Carey Act[...]

A

j

s
“[...]

Ex-doctors[...]To salvag their treasures
Was alway a chore
With sod for a roof
And a quilt for a door.

The labored throug[...]har or strings,
The had a great time
A all of their flings

Inhelpin each other,
The learned ho to share
In joy or in sorrow

In faith and in Prayer

The built for a future
The never would see

In the hom of the brave[...]These folks and their ways,
And kee in our memories
The homesteader day[...]

Disputed[...]

It into being as a kind spin of of[...]their families.
women’s ideas weren’t particularly[...]so the decided to have a club of Our meetings Tuesday of every[...]the second
important, women
their own.[...]August. At these meetings, we always have a[...]red to and only a couple of devices, or fun things[...]come away with a feeling of having spent a
that it the law of[...]ts No in big project is the undertaking of[...]1983, our

achievement was community[...]as done something to contribute. Our officers
these meetings that entertainmen[...]Chery! Rigby; Historian, Vi Voll. Our members this[...]Ida Bishop, Goul Bowen, Joyce
In 1940,
extension service.[...]

Petersen and Nan Copenhav holding Bo in
1955.

Jane Hjermstad, Ida Bishop Charlotte[...]Petersen and Joyce Copenhaver in The Tupils’’.
1957.

Club officers in 1960. Back row: NaNelle[...]d Ida Bishop Club officers in 1961. Back row: Julia Ander-
Fr[...]

Women’s Week. Back row:[...]

Doxeny ScHoo[...]In[...]1956, the surrounding people held a meeting
The first year of school in this area was held in of the taxpayers, and decided to build a new
the Keith Copenhaver[...]homestead shack. A school. It was[...]choolhouse was built in 1913, one mile east[...]y building had a
Keith’s home on Moody Cope[...]s, with
built by the local people and by donations.[...]shower in one, and a two-room[...]a[...]lls, but
not been
proved up yet. In 1919, during the[...]hool was paid for in one with[...]year, no
drought, people moved, so there was no school[...]In 1964, the school was closed and in 1967, it
south and three[...]clared no longer a district and
mile west[...]years.
moved the school to this location, using a team of
30 horses. It was a one-room school, with[...]s
Some of the years, the teacher lived in the west
a room.[...]oheny
end of the room. It was heated with a wood and
coal circulating stove. A cistern was dug and the[...]hauled into it and then pulled up with a[...]as
and the ice had to be broken before a bucket of[...]be drawn up. Later, a one-room[...]satisfactorily. If our daily work was correct,
now at theBannaty[...]ne. If we had made mistakes
About 1950 a better and large[...]concerning the lessons, or had misspelled a word,[...]

comprehending and spelling. Until a few years
ago, prided myself on being an excep[...]play makes Charlie a
dull boy, so we had our fun too. When the[...]and come back
like a normal kid thro[...]the
our lunch. noon hour to eat
Sometimes we had already left our dinner pails
there inour books there in the rocks[...]Doheny School in 1959. Back row, left to[...]haver

Moving the old Doheny School in[...]In the early days, Pondera County was a part of[...]a vast district in the western edge of Chouteau[...]County. In 1919, Pondera County was formed an[...]east to take in some of the Genou and Ashmoor[...]country. The 1906 census sh[...]Faris circulated a petition in 1914, for[...]a School was held in the Strawshire[...]d Mrs. Harris was the teacher. She had a[...]homestead in the area.
The new Doheny School in 1957. When Pondera County records began in 1920[...]

? Marjorie Gollehon, Myrtle Peter[...]Martha came to Montana in 1912. This story will
deal with[...]nts left to right, back row: Mike
family in the
Sollid communi[...]

was built in 1915 on the SE% of Section 16 and started in January 1957, to build on a second
named after Wal[...]nd teacherage, with a garage and
This was[...]and son

was also a post office in the Strauss home.[...]job contract.
In the fall of 1915, Mrs.[...]there was a
In 1919, when times we[...]ld Hemry,
farms. It was used as a community center, no[...]rollment reached
school was held in a two-room farm dwelling, half 30. In the fall of 1966, the school returned to a one-
a mile south of the present location. The[...]teacher and 11 pupils in seven grades.
The sc[...]astings, clerk; Clarence Styren, trustee; A.E.[...]education.
In 1933, school was moved from along the Brady[...]In 1970 the school was abandoned.[...]Strauss School in the fall of 1957,[...]

Strauss School in 1956. Back row: Pearl Kauk (teacher), Pat[...]

Strauss School in 1957. Back row: Roger Bergstrom, Ramsey Of[...]

A reconstructed view of the[...]Station on This picture, painted in 1973 by Ernie Bendorf of
the Whoop-up[...]as Pondera Springs. A small spring site. This is, as[...]came to

one time, there was a post office here named Montana. It was then in bad disrepair, however.

A reconstructed Midway Station o[...]Creek, also known as Pondera Springs A small spring supplied water for the station
At one time, there was a Post Office here Lucille for the da[...]ne wh ran the station. This picture, painted in 1973, by Ernie Bendorf of Conrad, is[...]when Albert Stordahl came to Montana. It was the in bad disrepair,

and his dad gave it another pain[...]the operation of the
The well still is being used by those who do not[...]was appointed, making a
have Tiber water piped into their h[...]in the hauling. At one time there was li[...]well. Some people hauled water a considerable[...]distance, as we had people with addresses of[...]well house and a yard light[...]installed at a cost of[...]$1,446.65. In May of 1949, the board purchased a[...]East Community Well in 1984. In 1951, Harry Hjermstad was[...]in the well, left over night and then[...]by 2-4-D. The
Pondera County met in a session on Monday,[...]y, where In 1954, an outlet pipe from the well[...]ll agreed to deed to Pondera County a from the[...]side
tract of land. Said land to be used for a community[...]way. That helped the problem.
In consideration of this transfer of this tract of In 1955, Edmund Kauk resigned and moved[...]Robert Petersen was put on as a member of

agreed furnish free of co[...]of one In 1959, the electric[...]well house and a new one was purchased. In 1963,
rod apart. Said fence to be co[...]free of all a cement slab six-feet[...]contamination problems. In 1963, Joe Pr[...]well as owner. In

1E or approximately 17/2 E and three miles S of[...]put in, the Air Force had the water from the well
The well was dug by Pondera County in June of tested to see if it was suitable for use in their
1941. The well was dug 24 feet deep and six feet in control centers[...]dug by hand labor. There was a slab of also[...]an
cement poured over
12-feet long for a well house, which was built by[...]unlimited amount in the well. The well[...]p
the county. The county also put in a three-inch did[...]the perforated liner in
pump and a gas engine to operate the pump. The
county turne[...]r box on the pum ran in oil,
Laurence Crawford and[...]and leaked a oil into the[...]offered to fix the well and put in a new pump in[...]

that electricity
made a reality only not in our It has since extended service[...]our

nation as well.[...]from ranches in the foothills to wheat
Back ‘in the late twenties, a senator from[...]name
interested in the use of electric power. At that[...]defense system, serving a large number of
they had few refrigera[...]Missile sites in its eight-county
dreary. During long[...]Early pioneers in the formation of the co-op
got[...]

Inc.” was adopted in June of 1958. In March of Two of[...]In February 1966, the Trustees applied to the[...]FCC for a permit to provide mobile telephone
comm[...]permit was granted in May 1967, and construction

Co-op. On April 27, 1953, a meeting was held and completed in December 1967.
attended by the subscri[...]In July 1968, the ‘E’ Loan wa[...]equipment
original directors, Ralph J. Parker is still on the[...]0. Fairfield was

August
In 1953, the[...]Telephone cutover in June 1969.
Company was[...]$40,000. Business In June the ‘F’[...]their old office until a new $517,000, upgrade the Fort[...]was completed in 1957. This Stockett exchanges to 4-party service by burying
building still serves as the Three[...]231.7 miles of underground cable. In February
Cooperative headquarters.
The[...]REA was approved in June
1954, for $725,000. This loan was fo[...]and
Power areas. In March 1957, a second RE loan
was[...]as th first manager in
January resigned
1955. He September 1959, and in
is presently working for Associated Engineers a[...]Mitchell was hired as manager in October
1960, and resigned in August 1962. Mit[...]James Leo Mclinerney was appointed manager
in August 1962. He had previously been th office
manager. Leo died in June 1975, at which time
Eugene L. Andru[...]perintendent to manager.
1954,
In the number of directors was incre[...]L. Johnson
and Harold O. Gunderson. In March 1957, Charles
L. Gelsinger A. Smiley replaced[...]n.
and In
September 1957, Melvin E. Good was appoin[...]

Dedicatio ceremonie held for
Tiber Coun Wat[...]ne
Friday, April 11 was a big through a $1.5 million Defense[...]farmers and ranchers in Department grant and a loan engi[...]‘‘Without their
this area when a good- from the[...]A provision has been mad in houses and reservoirs.[...]e, Montana Congres-
become a reality after about[...]water in Montana, the water with[...]Cltouteau Counties.
families in the area, it means no[...]tension Service, Chambers of
Water in the new system will[...]system is played an importan role in the Com[...]Development Corporation.
uses through a $3.2 millior. incl[...]This was a printed article in the
ABM water line. Funding is[...]own. For lack of a manager and because[...]fact that making a debut into the area,[...]the store died a natural death during World War I.[...]view Church, and was located four miles west
A Farmers Union Local was organized[...]Lytle in of K.B. Copenhaver or south of Hemry’s. In 1928, it
1914. Not much is known ab[...]Community in July 1929, with the following
year a local was organized at Ashmore. John[...]to the farmers as a co- Copenhaver.
op store. This did a good business[...]

State Ca[...]e it on the
Citizenship, Graduate Seminar in Canada, and[...]er place.
served as Legislative Aides and Pages in Helena A constitution and bylaws were writte[...]during the legislature. Shane Bishop is presently a accepted. The sum of $174.50 in cash was pledged
member of the[...]by two tractors and
Our local has always had the required number[...]was
of delegates attending and taking part in State[...]concrete foundation put in. The
Conventions.[...]new windows windows in the building[...]put in. The
participated in community[...]be moved. Later in the year, a cistern was made.
dinner for the stockholders Equity Co-op in[...]visit and see our name of “East Community”.
government in action; and[...]nning The ladies served a community dinner at the
seminar in 1980.[...]with active ones. In
1977, Conrad Local[...]Community Hall in the early 1930’s.[...]The Knee Benders in 1951. From left to[...]Marvin Cheek
in Conrad.[...]

The Knee Benders in 1956. From left to right:[...]Club in 1928.
the fiddle and Emily[...]unbleached muslin, crossed over in the back,
My hands to larger servic[...]desig in front.
My country and my world.[...]Club
The pledge says it all for the kids in 4-H.
4-H[...]for. There is 4-H camp in the[...]

Leaders and members in October of 1959.[...]lub is out east and includes some of our

club members’ kids. At this time, there are only
two clubs in our area.
Leaders: Dan & Marlis Picar[...]a 4-H calf at the
Picard, Robert[...]Jason fair in 1965.
Mannen, Randy Rossm[...]

homestead, about three miles from our home. Her
nephew, Ole Lee had his homestead[...]as

told by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Jens St[...]ng her precious water.
Water has alway bee a scarcity in our area and

when it would[...]Martha Fladstol in 1913.
even her tea cups.

neighborhood, we[...]ess it was really necessary to go.
We usually had a good supply of groceries and
could get along for quite awhile. We used to get
more snow in the winter and when the wind piled
it up, it meant we stayed home. Didn’t get snowed
in for long too many tim[...]help get signatures
and right-of-ways. He put in many hours and
miles. Lots of meetings t[...]to pass on to the people. Some were
hard to convince[...]of the people out here.[...]Bynum February 1961.
was a way Of life to mo[...], to let someone else carry on. This
was a great feeling when we got the water, as we
had[...]led water all of our lives.
For entertainment,[...]retired now and still live here, as we

didn’t[...]nted to go. Go south in
the winter and fishing and traveling in the
summer.
John his wife, Amy,[...]Carol, John and Julia in 1968.
Lee Morris, run a body and paint shop in Bridger.
They have three children, lan, Lukus and[...]was born December 29, 1949, in the Columbus[...]graduating in Completed my education at[...]NM in Havre, graduating in June of 1972. While[...]After college graduation worked in Conrad[...]until returning to lease the family farm in the[...]spring of 1977. was married to Amy in December[...]

money in those days, but that was the only
excitement there was and many peopl liked it.
In 1933, took off for Spokane where stayed
and got married. But in 1945 it was back to Brady
again with Ann and daug[...]Washington. By then we also had Ronnie, so with
a family we decided to settle down and have been
here for 36 years. It’s a beautiful country.[...]generation picture taken in 1926. Stand-[...]In 1917, rented some[...]to now. We took a team and wagon and[...], built by Charles in[...]completed fencing a half section[...]Later, bought a 320-acre[...]apply for a brand.
A told to Joyce Banka[...]thinking this was a brand they couldn&#3 alter
My fat[...]easily.
-he was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, then[...]Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1918 was drier,[...]Besides people, they had so dry that there was not a blade of grass and the
an emigrant railroad car.

everything you could imagine in those cars[...]others tails!
goods and furniture. In Rocke Pierce they had a[...]In was really broke. got a job summer

wooden three-story hot[...]one

Canada. They didn’t stay there very long. In 1910,[...]

on the road and, like a typical young fellow, | had[...]real luxury. W still had to conser[...]one.
taken a big mouthful of hopper[...]However, the big change came in 1948, when[...]married in Fenn, kids could take part in school activities. In 1945, |
Emily Rose Knorr and[...]rming and we bought a house in
Idaho, on December 26, 1923. She was born near
G[...]Emily and trip to Alaska in the[...]took a summer[...]of 1947, in a 1946 Jeep station wagon and a little
Oregon to complete her[...]p” trailer. Then w started traveling in the
the state land until 1929. Du[...]southern country. On most of our trips we pulled a[...]and Indian artifacts, a hobby we enjoyed together.
place -[...]Our pastime of shell collecting eventually[...]the building of a museum right next door to our[...]home in Conrad. There was[...]display in our home all the shells we[...]involved in cleaning, cataloging and arranging[...]these items for display in the museum. might[...]trips to Mexico and trips to possibly every state in[...]the United States, plus a great portion of Canada.[...]and
Grandma Rose Spingler.

A reservoir in the coulee through the[...]dug out several times and made
deepe and is still there today. The golden willows
that planted around the reservoir in about 1935
are trying desperately to survive, b[...]A
Poulsen, Dick Joseph and Jake Kieft. Then a man

we Called ‘Hitl[...]Walter and Emily Banka family taken in 1943.
in the basement a[...]a)

On January 15 1982[...]from the
and were married in Great Falls. Immediately[...]an extended trip in the school band.
to Arizona and Texas. On our return we chose to In 1945 dad retired from[...]ng and had an
live in my home in Conrad to be near all our auction sale. He[...]The folks bought a home in
had numerous jobs[...]and moved into it in the fall of the year.
e[...]ady started school in Brady so

superviso fo[...]the rest of the year.
still part of Chouteau[...]Conrad. |
1934 to 1940 1940.was In
elected State[...]graduated in 1947, and Pat graduated in 1948. We
Representative and re-elected, serving a total of were married in 1950.
three terms. was appointed chairman of[...]rented dad’s farm in 1950. We did the
Fish and Game Commission in 1951 and held that summer fallowing in 1950 and started seedi[...]inter wheat that fall.
What a life, to have lived[...]inter Pat and were married w lived
buggy era to the space[...]in my folk’s home in Conrad while they wintered in
seen fit to bless me with comparatively[...]Mexico. Pat was a bookkeeper for[...]farm in spring of 1951, and stayed with Tom[...]and Joyce until our basement was completed. We
grandchild.[...]moved into it in June of 1951. We had electricity
To c[...]s lifeof 87 years to a few short but no telephones at that time. We hauled our
pages, some things[...]ope have touched o a few of the highlights of miles, until the Tiber Water came in 1976.
m life.[...]eee

Charles F. Banka family, taken in 1945. Back
row, left to right: George, Charles A., Walter
and Charles F. (father). Fr[...]Our oldest Mike,[...]in Conrad. It[...]1951 in St. Mary’s Hospital[...]have harvesting. We still had some swaths that we
16 1929,[...]Strauss School for a few years first week in December that year. We had lot of[...]atures that fall and
before going to school in Brady.[...]

on the road and, like a typical young fellow, had real luxury. W still had to conserve[...]two

taken a big mouthful of hopper poison. Th[...]However, the big change came in 1948, when[...]my
Rose Knorr and married in Fenn,[...]kids could take part in school activities. In 1945, |
Emily[...]arming and we bought a house in
Idaho, on[...]Emily and took a trip to Alaska in the summer[...]We lived of 1947, in 1946 Jeep station wagon and a little
Oregon to comp[...]on a[...]trailer. Then we started traveling in the
the state land[...]n southern country. On most of our trips we pulled a
10 1927; and Walter[...]the home and Indian artifacts, a hobby we enjoyed together.
place -[...]Our pastime of shell collecting eventuall[...]the building of a museum right next door to our[...]home in Conrad. There was[...]display in our home all the shells we[...]involved in cleaning, cataloging and arranging[...]these items for display in the museum. might[...]trips to Mexico and trips to possibly every state in[...]the United States, plus a great portion of Canada.[...]a, and
Grandma Rose Spingler

A reservoir was built in the coulee through the[...]been dug out
deeper and is still there today. The golden willows
that planted around the reservoir in about 1935
are trying
of them are[...]Jake Kieft. Then a man

we called ‘H[...]Walter and Emily Banka family taken in 1943.
in the basement[...]

On January 15 19[...]m the
and were married in Great Falls. Immediately[...]an extended trip in the school band.
to Arizona and Texas. On our return we chose to In 1945, dad retired fr[...]and had an
live in my home in Conrad to be near all our auction sale. He[...]The folks bought a home in
had numerous j[...]and moved into it in the fall of the year[...]already started school in Brady so

superviso[...]the rest of the year.
still part of Chouteau[...]940.
was elected In
Stat[...]graduated in 1947, and Pat graduated in 1948. We
Representative and re-elected, serving a total of[...]were married in 1950.
three terms. was appointed chairman of[...]rented dad’s farm in 1950. We did the
Fish[...]e Commission in 1951 and held that summer fallowing in 1950 and started seeding[...]wheat that fall.
What a life, to have lived[...]winter Pat and were married w lived
buggy era to the sp[...]in my folk’s home in Conrad while they wintered in
seen fit to bless me with comparatively[...]Mexico. Pat was a bookkeeper for[...]farm in spring of 1951, and stayed with Tom[...]and Joyce until our basement was completed. We
grandchild.[...]moved into it in June of 1951. We had electricity
To con[...]life of 87 years to a few short but no telephones at that time. We hauled our
pages, some things[...]have touched o a few of the highlights[...]the Tiber Water came in 1976.
my life.[...]a09e:

Charles F. Banka family, taken in 1945. Back
row, left to right: George, Charles A., Walter
and (father). Fr[...]Our oldestMike, was born September 24,[...]1951 in Mary’s Hospital in Conrad. It was[...]have one harvesting. We still had some swaths[...]uss School for a few years first week in December that year.[...]fore school in Brady. The[...]

In the of 1953, Mike[...]s wife, Rosemarie. They
was hospitalized in the Columbus Hospital in have three daughters, Dee[...]so many
people were.
We had the upstairs of our house framed in the
summer of 1954. winter, Mer[...]work. We moved from the basement,
upstairs, in March of 1955. Our son, Larry, was
born May 23, 1955 in St. Mary’s Hospital in
Conrad.
The boys both started school in the Strauss
School and[...]bus which picked them
up at our mailbox. When they became involved in
sports, band and etc.,[...]licenses.
Tom and in 1959, when we
deci[...]Kristi in back. Taken May 23, 1983.
them. We continued to farm in a partnership until
1973, when w split up. In the fall of 1973, Pat and
bought 120 acres from M[...]Michael graduated in 1969, from Brady High
School[...]Cindy Woods,
He married daug[...]brother, Mike.
KayConrad, in 1973. He has
W[...]de at the Strauss School
started with them in Conrad, working there for two[...]then transferred to Brady school. In high

years before moving to Glasgow. In 1977, they[...]school in Brady were placing second in the
moving to[...]Falls. They spent about
one year in Great Falls and mov[...]Patti.
Larry graduated from Brady High School in
1973, and attended Miss[...]He lived and worked in

Larry and Mike Banka. John and[...]

moved from Laurel[...]Technical School for a course in
mechanics. While[...]rked part-
time for Entire Tire and Jerry’s 66. In April of 1982
went to work for Capitol Ford an[...]non and Sarah. W live in a mobile home and[...]He is the youngest of
enjoy the quiet country living.[...]country school for first and second grades. Then[...]his parents bought a lot in Brady, moved in a[...]moved there in the winter months for school,[...]moving back to the farm in the summer months.[...]retired, bought a house in Conrad where Tom[...]Barney Matthys. After graduation in 1948, he[...]married in Conrad. Th first year of our marriage[...]we lived in a 32-foot trailer house on[...]the birth of our first child, Bob, was[...]November 30 1950. We farmed in a partnership[...]each continued farming on his own. In 1962, while[...]still farming in the partnership, we bought the[...]Our second child, Deanne, was born on July 14[...]1952, and our third, Karen, was born on August 5,[...]started their schooling at Strauss country[...]eeanna
Banka taken in 1983.[...]

W still live in the same house t[...]Ballinger in
place, of course there ha[...]owned at one time by P.A. The Ballingers’ son, Keith, leased part of the
Mowbray, A.E. Kathan, A.D. Fay, Gilmore[...]Mrs. Taylor had a
We enjoy traveling and try to take a trip, going[...]south during the winter, after the work is done.
Our children are quite scattered Bob and his[...]--

family live in Denver, where he works for Cummins
Power. Karen and her family live in Butte and A told by Charlie Doheny
Deanne is in Hawaii at the present[...]One
Enjoying the country life, as we do, I’m sure we[...]said he was going to
our health will permit.[...]what he did. In 1888, he and his brother Neil[...]consisted of 5,000 acres plus a lot of state land,
Mr. and Mrs. Ozro Ballinge[...]from near Collins to miles east a couple
Office in the early days. Her mother, Mrs. Taylor,[...]f the building site, and from of Brady to a east
lived with them. She was brought u[...]d sheep for several years. Neil left and
be a sweet lady.[...]

Charlie married little[...]e, and
a Scottish[...], but now live in Hawaii.
homesteaders moved in, Maggie said it was very
lonely out here. She saw no one except her
husband and a couple of hired men. Charles
Alister[...]id she used hide in the[...]ush, and watch the women as the homesteaders
cut[...]s with water from
the river.
A frontier man, his wife and son lived in a cave
by the river, just west of the graveyard[...]ght the man and his
son back and buried them o a little hill, close to
their c[...]Teton River. The
Bannatynes put a fence around the graves. Many
years later, wh[...]s were

stockpiling some gravel in that area, the boy’s
grave was dug up, and th[...]ll bones were found. Dan and
made a wooden cross and placed it between t[...]<a 3

of the fenceand grave site.[...]u to 600 cattle in[...]64 flood.
the early 1930’s in comparison to about[...]Falls for shipping. In TH Emit Bartscu Story
la[...]Maggie died in
1973, at the age of 96.[...]born April 5 1860, in East
Al and his wife, Ruth, lived on the r[...]was just a child. He didn’t get to go to school because
ab[...]operate a grist mill, with a water wheel as the[...]came to a German settlement in southern[...]worked as a laborer,[...]farming. There he married Augusta Bluhm and[...]

Mrs. Fay to their far[...]their Model T Ford. In[...]nd Montana to
A.D. wouldn’t teach hi[...]o drive, so she had visit people that had subscribed to a religious
me teach her. A[...]Christmas
all the way into town. A.D. didn’t say a word, and[...]called a revival meeting. My parents wer[...]ns and Christ could be seen especially in
huge blocks in the garage to keep from running[...]go to church, but we had Sunday
several times in backing out. He was putting the[...]sinful habits, but knew was a
way he could back up was to slip the high gear. N[...]all inherited a sinful
one had told him, or had he figured[...]opriate it
way forward, he should keep in neutral by holding[...]te an
“You didn’t need brains to drive a Model T, only[...]experience to chang trains in Great Falls. The
feet.”[...]main difference in m life was my interest in the[...]organized a Sunday school at Rock Coulee[...]was
In 1968 left
right: Sam[...]a on
Elmer, Helen, Ea[...]started high school in
1919. My b[...]mother.
all gone to work in the
woods, so[...]have marriage in mind when |
with the chores. Early th[...]the water was so stale in the reservoirs that[...]winds came in die[...]was hom that next fall and stayed
in town to go to school. got the flu in February.
While was standing and reading[...]move me home for a
week, but my folks came in and stayed with me.
Dr. Dubois[...]en. si

called. He said should not think about going
back to school that term. | didn’t[...]» a

to school the next year and my parent[...]The Bartsch family, still living, taken in 1973.
insist that do so.[...]

wagon and team.[...]live in Saskatchewan
In 1918, they were bl[...]s from the homestead.
In 1919, drought hit n[...]and pony and a 1914-15[...]Taken in 1965, crop at the old homestead ona
Model-T Ford into a railroad boxcar. He[...]which was on a farm at[...]The Gottfried Bauer Sr. family taken in 1958. Godfrey Jr., Bob, Ernie, Lydia Henry[...]

Germany 1873. Coming
in to Girard, Kansas with[...]me.
his parents at the age of seven, they farmed in In 1917, we had a letter from home telling us we[...]had a sister, Irene, we sure wanted to come home
cotton and corn fields. He married Marie Hamm in[...]was slow with
1902; she was born in 1882 at Walnut,
Grove, where in[...]and track washouts, this seemed a never
They lived a short time at Sylvan
4903 Olinda was born. In 1904, they took up a[...]ending journey. Dad couldn&# come for us in the
homestead which was later the town of[...]heavy gumto o the cross-country roads, the[...]town of Collins, Montana. So here we stayed at a
roads.[...]farm home, with a very dirty old lady, and oh the[...]kitchen! She had a whole row of cluckers sitting in
They brought a few things with them and later[...]boxes eggs in the kitchen. She would feel
bought a team of horses. They spent one winter[...]under the hen for little chicks and a rotten egg
living in a small shack with a family named Youck.
Dad built a sod shack like a granary, ploughed would break in her hand, and oh the smell! The old[...]

The years in getting drier,[...]thistles
again dad said we have to move. So into a boxcar
went horses, cows, model “‘T’’, furniture, and dad.
Mother and six children got on a passenger train
at Brady. We landed in Strasbourg in 1919 moved
to a farm two and ahalf[...]hard there too, mother a quartercarried water
of a mile from slough for washing, drin[...]groceries.
Later dad bought a buggy and mother[...]The David Bergstrom family in 1944. Dave,
Soon came the[...]out Fred, Margaret and Velma in the front.[...]

Fred and have bee active in organizations in Standing left[...]teachers, etc. Fred is a director for Bergstrom, in 1977.[...]oward and Caroly Bergstrom in 1961. John Bergstrom in 1968.

or 1955.

brothers.[...]with
built on in
indoor bathroom, (finally). In 1959 our family
moved to Sweetgrass, where we bought 900[...]years, therefore very active in the
school.[...]Bennie in front of his pool hall.

area.[...]He said the best
In 1928, he came to Brady whe[...]homesteading was one year he had a bumper
Operated the Brady[...]7,000 bushels of wheat was piled on the
burned inin Brady. hauling t[...]ed to himself as a “suitcase farmer’.[...]married in Helena. They had two daughters, Reba[...]family resided in Brady until 1953, when they[...]retired from farming in 1979 du to ill[...]Copenhaver, a first cousin of Lillian, met them at[...]the depot in a spring wagon. It was a Sunny da in
Bennie, Glady and grandchildren[...]what was to become the ‘Big Sky Country’, but[...]there was a lot of snow.[...]still lives on the homeste[...]Don Williams), now residing in Glendive.[...]Gollenhon. There they stayed until Jim bought a[...]relinquishment on a homestead some few miles[...]north in what is now the East Community. There[...]was a hull of a house, 24-foot by 24-foot on the[...]rooms, the west, a[...]bedroom and the east, a kitchen and living room.[...]moved into the house in February, 1917. A little[...]in which they washed clothes. About 1925, a lean-[...]In about 1927, Argyle helped his dad tear down[...]a mile south and west of Hemry’s and[...]was a Lytle house. They used that lumber to[...]the roof and make an upstairs with a[...]furnishings were purchased in Great[...]

community gathering such a literary, dances,
etc. Much of their work wa[...]They
went from farm to farm to thresh the grain in the
fall and put up ice in the winter time. Water was

hauled in barrels from the r[...]Horses were at premium in those years with
a

good draft horses costing[...]The Jim Bishop in 1927. Argyle, Archie[...]Lillian.
a[...]did most of our trading in Brady at[...]Mother tells of a bachelor homesteader[...]the next day with groceries. Most people had[...]and is. still owned by my brother,[...]was born day in June, 1921, and my[...]on a hot[...]brother, Archie, Dorothy was bor in 1928,[...]in 1923.[...]Jim in 1934 and Virginia in 1935. My sister Bonnie[...]away in 1926 and two[...]Argyle and died in infancy.[...]than in later years, but[...]were used in unheated bedrooms. |[...]build a fire in the kitchen[...]was frozen in the water[...]adios came into being in the
February 18 1912.[...]

roomed in town and attended high school courses[...]on the table.
out in the year. Many of us were
country for one[...]In 1972 being[...]friends in Conrad, moved[...]these years there was slow improvement
in farming practices and machinery. M[...]into being and was very
effective in controlling soil erosion. don&#

h[...]thirties and

early forties in this area[...]se was working in
town service.
o in the[...]d War Il my brothers, Argyle
Archie, and |. were in the service.
On of the experiences my mom[...]ent to Helena as a

for Farmers U[...]

Ralph has a farm about[...]m and also has story in this book.
a the ground. Thus was the initiation of a ten-month-
Archie, who is number four, married Ruth old boy from t[...]high school in attended[...]were spent ina
Conrad. He was in the U.S.
Arm[...]to throw a cat out of (as the saying goes) and the
graduated with a degree in Agriculture. He went to[...]l Conservation Service in Great Schooling[...]in a one-room schoolhouse that had been a

S.C.S. and now works part-time as editor of the[...]missed in spring fall, due to my p[...]

age nine,
of was driving six horses on a two-[...]plan for a future in aviation were put on ice where
harnessed, ho[...]they have been ever since. As a civilian did solo

plowing.[...]o better and shouldn’t have but never logged many hours as met a young lady
been plowin at al[...]who clipped my wings. We were married in Havre,
were very limited in that era.[...]September 1947, and the next year our first born
Several years[...]as bad as the ’20’s and ’30’s, our generatio filled
and was still on the family fa[...]their houses with children just as our forebearers
eke out a living for ourselves[...]followed. .a very natural My wife[...]tically retired with a son to take over why not

d[...]Jim Bishop’s death in February, 1946,
Uncle[...]claimed May of 1942, so hide in Argyle[...]my
as a Marine recruit the sandy beaches[...]dad had. In January of 1947, Argyle attended a

California with a drill instructor on my tail some[...]ts preceding the

24-hours a day for eight weeks. Now my second[...]State School in
that is fro[...]n, a raw

fledged trainee.[...]a full month’s pay.[...]hanic School for a six- Conrad in August 1947,[...]st graduation. | settled in on the “home place’. Thirty-two volt
also received a corporal rating which included a electricity was furnished by a wind charger until
monthly check of $49.[...]later, after REA came in the spring of 1949. Running water[...]in front, taken in 1982.

was a pump in the kitchen connected to the
cistern. In the summer of 1952, we lived in the
garage while our house was remodeled and
modernized. What a joy to move into our newly
remodeled home with an INDOOR bathroom! We
had a home dedication service in the fall with
family members and pastors Daniel McCorkle and
Benjamin Maakestad attending.
A veryimportant step was made in our lives
when we joined Golden West Lutheran Church in
1951. The church has bee a strength and pillar
in our lives since. We’ve taken part in community
and civic affairs--Argyle served 21 yea[...]All of the A.U. Bisho family taken in 1983.
County. He ha also written a lot of poetry. Doris[...]right: Tedi and Todd,
was active in Sunday school, Bible school, church[...]Argyle and Doris Bishop Lee and Tami
women and in the Farmers Union.[...]odes; Laura and Tana Burris, Twila
Our marriage was blest with four girls and one[...]Brady High School, which
started running a bus the year before Trudi was
ready for high school and all our children rode the
bus. This was terrifi[...]own for school. It was a

boon to both the[...]chool. We also had a foster daughter, Mona
Lesto,[...]lengths of time. Our children all liked
music[...]They all helped with
young people at FU camps[...]other kinds of
programs.
Our children: Trudi[...]Tacoma,
from Northern Montana College with a degree in
Elementary Education. She taught school and w[...]tion
of for MFU. She is married to
Dean Peterson of Judith Gap and is ch[...]from Montana State
University with a Secondary Education Degree
and worked in several fields, including Systems
Analys[...]and Doris Bishop
her Masters Degree in Business Administration.
She married James Burdick and they have two
boys[...]attended Texas Lutheran College in is married to Scott Burris and they have t[...]-Mettie, 4 and Lora, 1. They live in Helena.
Montana College with a degree in Rehabilitation[...]Tami attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska,
and Related[...]

graduated in 1978. then attended[...]started working on a degree in

agricultural engineering.
met th[...]enough of life in the fast lane, after living
in California and Shelby,[...]left Bozeman with degrees in
elementary education[...]one week and got married the next
week![...]Ida always said was a sneaky way of getting my[...]date with her. It was a fun evening and by[...]down in all these 36 years. Argyle, my brother, was[...]the driver of a four-horse team, two of our horses[...]Todd and Tedi Bisho in 1983. Ida and had much in common since[...]

working we hardly knew each other, although our[...]and quiet of country living and a nice view with
The following December, we we[...]trees to the south.
in announcing our engagement, Ida’s mom put[...]was originally a deserted claim[...]Ida’s dad, Art, was a great guy and his favo[...]Fladstol’s
pastime was a good gam of cards. This was not[...]er turned the
interfered with our date.[...]sheep shed into a barn and chicken house. We
We were married February 28 1948, at the[...]eggs supplement our to
Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Falls. After our[...]ilking during harvest
honeymoon her folks gave us a wedding dance at[...]with
the East Community Hall. Art was a former baker our second son and[...]her folks once a

call her) made over four hundred donuts[...]years
We moved into our made over three-room shack as R.E.A. hadn’t been[...]use and and built a root cellar the ne[...]so was nice
later as a granary for my dad. I’m[...]The Ralp Bisho place. Piser Creek in the backgroun is dry at this time. The trees were
planted in 1951. This land once belonge to the Hollan[...]

over the orange cra[...]house from had a crew

the house.[...]they sent out and in day it went[...]a matter of a few
As recall we[...]erald and had a feast of Rocky Mountain[...]On October 29, our second son, Tom, was born.
who was better know[...]n of Flat Coulee’. Eggs sold for 35 cents a[...]my wife was a

dozen then.[...]blown into our little With the h[...]it made such a difference we[...]ble to wire, sheetrock, perfatape and paint
Our first Jerry, was[...]the inside of our home that winter.[...]to have a son, since he[...]the Bishop a horse and sled[...]plugged for over a month. It was a long, cold
Seidler. had “It’s A Boy” stickers[...]nter when went in to pay the
her bed.[...]income dad, and a storm came up.[...]Ida’s
The 1949, we got R.E.A., so we
next year,[...]all night. Knowing Ida was home alone
purchased a Westinghouse electric range and Co-[...]as Alf Mathesons’ and the
machine was a small portable job and we heated[...]s able to catch a

the water with a donut-type electric heater. The[...]and borrowing a bridle, rode the r[...]tioned off for a wash house.[...]Art had stayed in
One time Ida was washi[...]town. found out a couple of weeks[...]topped by to visit a minute. accidently[...]Hall.
her in and went up[...]ing. Jerry was a baby and was sleeping in our new home the fir[...]When returned in an hour or so, she[...]nd had jumped out a high, was a dream come[...]Bowen gave Ida a Queen sewing[...]s

machine and was a kind neighbor taking her to[...]the highest they would ever be.
In the summer of 195[...]the years Argyle and farmed together
our second child we decided to build a new house. and processed meat in the winter time. Much to
We had s[...]wife’s regret, cut up meat in the new

outside sewer[...]would bring their wild game and
to try to get a G.I. loan. After much red tape and[...]experiences. Later processed meat in the garage
an approval for a loan. Then w read the fine print[...]and in 1955, built a meat house.
and found out the house had[...]Kelly, our third son, was born in 1955 and Ida
yard landscaped before we could get aOur house was a ready-cut lock-side package[...]22. He was supposed to be a
and was already ordered, so we had a problem. We[...]mixed up.
went over to visit our neighbor George Williams,[...]years we were active in many clubs
who was good at helping young people of the[...]and activities in the community. Ida taught
area. In a matter of minutes he agreed to loan us[...]rate and still leader in 4-H, and held various offices in
money at a[...]we a

were in business.[...]also on the R.E.A. board at
summer,[...]= a

1958, we awoke the next morning to see our big[...]land prices increased. In the process we sold part
350 Cornis[...]Argyle and no longer
you could say it was a “big barbecue’. To our farmed together.
surprise, One evening a few day later, the cars[...]With more land, the boys were a big help
started rolling in after supper. It was our good whenever they weren’t in sports or some other
neighbo[...]hey helped
chickens. It was in the news as an “Old Hen[...]presented a real bad aroma, and usually would
of the good people in our community. strip at the back door.
Amy, our fourth child and only girl was born[...]Through the years of farming in this area we
September 25, 1960. Needless t[...]acres a day. In my few years we have gone froma
In the early sixties, Br[...]Caterpillar that beat you in the back all
school buses out east so the children in high day. It didn’t have a cab and[...]cultivator. From that to a four-wheel[...]with a very comfortable cab that pulls 53 feet of
Brady. In 1972, our country school closed. That is[...]tool bar and easily does 250 acres in a day. We had
supposed to be progress, but we[...]various tractors in between that pulled widths of[...]

will bring.[...]degree in animal science. They live on a cattle
Jerry, the oldest married Toni Sheldon, ranch Geyser, that has been in the family for[...]parents are Jim and Jackie
They were married October 29 1972 and have[...]ee sons, Beau James, 7 Tucker Earl, 5 and a[...]er and Stanford and both are active in
baby son, Cade Rel, born May 15 1984.[...]ranch
Jerry graduated from Brady High School in with his dad, with the help of a new computer.
1967, and attended[...]ired and
worked at various jobs in Conrad including[...]doing some traveling, dancing and enjoying our
then moved to Kalispell where he managed a[...]been richly blessed with a family of which we are
place so they moved[...]g Mountain Ranch, later
taking a job with Triange Terminal and as a
sideline trains and raises horses. He also spent
six years in the Army Reserve. Toni, a graduate of
Conrad High School, worked for the Farmers State
Bank in Conrad, North West Ban in Kalispell and
later part-t[...]ime at the Brady post office.
Tom, Our number two son, graduated from
Brady High School in 1969 and Montana State
University in 1974, with a degree in agriculture. He
married Charlene Sangray, daughter of Mr. an[...]er Olivia, 14 and Nathan John, 12.
Nathan is our first grandson to carry on the Bishop
name. Tom worked for a time at Montana St[...]ked
for the Montana Department of Agriculture in the
pesticide division and later as program manager
for Rural Development. He also has horses as a
hobby. He is active in 4-H and sports and has a
small acreage east of Helena on Canyon Ferry
Road. In 1983 he became employed with the[...]ontana Livestock P.C.A. at Helena as a loan
officer.[...]anniversary, Februar 28, 1983.
Kelly, our third son, married Debbie Smedsrud,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnet S[...]Our First THree Years
8 1980. Kelly graduated from Brady High School
in 1974. After working a year, he graduated from[...]Bishop
Helena Vo Tech in auto mechanics.[...]Kel and February of 1975 in my home[...]met in
worked on a farm and two years on[...]town of Conrad.dated for a period of five[...]ge at the University of Montana,
Debbie, a graduate of Conrad High Scho[...]Missoula. majored in textiles and clothing,
from U. of M., has a degree in home economics. graduating to a job at Billings. Kel went to the
She[...]an assistant manager in a ladies Vocational[...]at Helena for two years,
apparel sho in Billings.[...]graduating in auto mechanics. He came home and
Amy, our daughter, also graduated from Brady[...]worked for a local farmer for one year, and then
High School, in 1978 and married Lennie[...]Tiber Dam for
McDonald, September 11 1982. He is a graduate[...]

home, it[...]farm
business, but because grew up on a farm part-[...]shelter belt in 1980
We planned a shelter belt and yard area. Of
course, we wanted a garden and big yard. Kel
started breaking ground for the shelter belt in late[...]The extent of our yard preparation was finished
April. The pasture in which we placed our house[...]for the time being. In between Kel’s farm work[...]do. We bought a water bed, our first and only big[...]through our married years, as we did not purchase[...]our home furnished, except for our kitchen table[...]and chairs. Ralph and Ida helped a lot. We used[...]one of our spare rooms. The other room was[...]of Kel’s desk, our office. Kel and did have a few[...]items of our own to add. Kel had a stereo system[...]and had a TV. We both contributed to our[...]transportation, a for Kel drivehad 1979 4-wheel[...]Chevy pickup and had a 1974 Malibu Chevell.[...]was closing in. We were quite lucky,[...]was from my mother’s friends in[...]many so nice caring people.[...]We were married at the Pondera Valley Lutheran[...]Church, Conrad. Thanks to our parents, it was[...]more than we could ask for. Our parents were also
Kelly and Debra[...]generous with gifts. My parents gave us a dresser
June 7 1980.[...]d chest to complete our

Our first summer,[...]r us to put By our third summer things were starting to
one in. That left our trees to take car[...]r that we ended up hauling water to
a[...]as planting a few trees around the
them throughout the summer. That was a trial in[...]d, adding seed to our lawn and starting shrubs[...]and flowers in the front of the house. Our summer

truck. Needless to say, it was a trying time for the[...]without a few
both of us, but think more for Kel. It was a good[...]think of a better place to go than our yard. They
share the chore of hauling water not only for our[...]didn’t hurt anything in our yard but they broke
trees, but our personal use and yard.[...]down almost all of our Poplar trees in the shelter
Kel was excited to return to[...]belt by rubbing. There weren’t a lot of trees, but
was always his lifetime go[...]that the

practices. A person learns from his father all[...]thicker than usual and our flower beds and garden
he can along with magazine[...]icked clean. But, on the whole, things are
people. With the high cost of labor, parts and[...]Well, for Kel and | our bit of history, (which
involved in it the rest of his life. In the fall and really[...]al fun such as water and snow

Our second summer[...]s
fast. We plowed a spot for our first garden and as[...]a prayer for many good years.
We also started on our lawn that spring. We
hauled in tons of top soil to help level our yard. We
thought spreading it out[...]a cinch, but
then it started[...]and w didn’t think it would
ever quit. The rain[...]but we

ended up with a bunch of m[...]to shoot up around us.
a lawn
As w said before, we did have I[...]pened to b right on the west side of
our driveway. decided that it just had to be a[...]Bishop’ hom in 1982, and their
flower garden. It was 20 feet in diameter, one of[...]of German u in
my sister-in-law, into helping me with that.[...]separate communities in western Kansas, and
adding to it every year. Id[...]:

there will come a day I’ll have to take things out. |[...]Sophia proved up on a 320-acre homestead in
know she’s probably right, but I’ll worry ab[...]usier that year was a familiar sight to see Sophia driving h[...]

The Bitz family in 1940. Lorraine, Kay, Mr.
and Mr[...]severe heart
condition, they retired to live in Great Falls.
Their children are Leona Fuhrer, deceased in
1965 Katherine (Kay) Forsman, Grea[...]ine Crowe, Dallas, and Melvin, deceased in
1954.
Until his accidental[...]with Sebastian. Kay became a teacher
and later an elementary school principal in Great
Falls. Leona and[...]both
stenographers. Lorraine served in the WAC’s and
was personal secretary to the g[...]colts. When
most were traded in on a Hart Parr tractor, this
was a traumatic experience for her.[...]Sophi and Sebastian Bitz in 1956.

During the dry thirties nea[...]of which was 9 miles away. For people wh liked
apart so plants could get all possible[...]Sophia used to say, “If only had a faucet and[...]e In order for seed wheat and farm machinery to
poor d[...]n singing while Jim
The young people communityof the[...]Rev.
Farmers Union Junior work. Many stayed in Brady[...]undependable that
and even “batched” in order to receive a high[...]buy a better car for him.
go.[...]hers, was purchased and still more rocks ha to be pick[...]

In the fall of 1942, out of[...]Forsman in 1982.
front cross-member[...]and
spent the next several months in a body cast with[...]out to stay, to help just or

a broken back. She healed well which was a to visit. That farm[...]d to go through the

before, but in order to obtain decent evening light,[...]passed away in 1958. He then married Lillian

chimneys washed and wicks tr[...]Bishop. He died in 1972.
Electric brought power to the farm in 1947.[...]power people community[...]in the with a very useful and

pole with the transformer had been placed in the[...]-- a line but better
front yard, she said, ‘| had[...]Alvin Kay’s daughter, Connie, is married to[...]and
that pole in the center of the living room floor, |[...]Lee Skiftun a school[...]

Davin ano[...]Bliss came to this community
in 1931, and purchased a homestead
relinquishment. At that time,[...]it was difficult to make a
Suitable living. After[...]the homestead in
1932 they rented the land to Carl Stenjham, and[...]for many years, and
also engaged in business in Great Falls.
In1945, their two youngest sons, Brent[...]re, however,
transient farmers, attending school in the winters,
and farming summers. They still tell of keeping
one eye open while sleep[...]Dava and Aaron Bliss in 1967.

Mary and Harry Bouton in 1944.

Harry ann Mary Younce B[...]s daughter, Mary, came
from South Dakota in the fall of 1927, and
homesteaded in the spring of 1928. Faye Bailey,
sister of Mary, lived in Power where her husband,
Herbert was the dispatcher in Great Falls. She had
been[...]er

George and Mary each had a homestead joining[...]

white stuff. Mother had quite a time finding wood
to build a fire. Dad had filled[...]the Teton River in December but
someone[...]Melva, Loyd and Myrt in 1917.
to our skin and chilled but[...]wooden desks and a coal heater in one
Nineteen sixteen was a wet spring so everyon[...]more land the reservoir ice. A hole had been cut to water the
for We planted potatoes in sod furrows and
crops.[...]long
they yielded very well. In fact, that was a great[...]Letz
crop year but most everyone had only a few acres[...]brothers, called her
plowed and in crops.[...]e weather was all of 21 degrees below
had a real problem having to weight it down so the[...]zero. remember sitting behind the stove in my
wind didn’t blow it all away. There wer[...]long underwear, drying out. There were surely a
jack rabbits, wild ducks and geese for meat. B[...]lot of eyes peering at me in spite of Mildred
1920, this game had pra[...]Marsh’s warnings.
Some people ate porcupine, prairie dog and[...]started out with a lot of[...]Dohney and of us in the Bowman did a lot of custom plowing[...]borhood was quite in 1916. This and was gone for days at a time. We all remember
a distance for us to go so George Letz Sr[...].
Sebastian Bitz and dad went to Fort Benton, our[...]right you could read a paper
county seat, and requested a change. The request[...]shelves.
was granted and school was held in the Stoller[...]shatter
house ( mile south and % mile east of our place)[...]posts ten to twenty in a stretch. Dad never[...]bought a 12 x 24 Case 2-plow tractor in May that
horse and buggy so my sister, Melva[...]year and stoppe at our place to try it out. Dad had
with her and her son, Gordon in bad weather.[...]George Williams had a large 40-80 Avery tractor
and Ge[...]

Hart-Parr, Mo[...]ticularly the fruit. The grocer
them were in the fence corners by the early[...]gave you a bag of candy kisses or peanuts with
twenties[...]could hardly wait to see
became John Deere in 1923. In 1924, International[...]bread sopped in Karo or Pennick
an[...]syrup. .yum, yum! People would[...]ne dealers took in many unbroke,[...]fall took a wagon load of
for $40.00[...]flour made. The
But alas, a new problem. The plow left the soi[...]ys appeared. Dust in gone five days. H[...]Most people had a root cellar or cave where
not held at ti[...]owing dust into the tumble weeds lodged in
About 15 years later the strip and[...]and heated by kerosene lanterns in the winter.
them.[...]the world’s best People did trade eggs, butter, milk and meat[...]it
wheat area. As a matter of record, there[...]over Pork was usually kept in liquid salt brine that
three million[...]would float an egg. My dad had a dry sugar and[...]e weather cooled off but a
let the clutch out in a hurry, they would rear[...]used mostly in
Brady Community[...]Christmas in You could purchase[...]5 to 10 cents a[...]$1.50 to $2.00.
1916. In my new pants a

Santa[...]ram
the goodies. We a paper chain of[...]1.50 to $2.50 per pair. Dishes were $3.00 a set.
different colors out of paper and string it about in[...]had to wait for a crop to
on the tree.
this point gathere in[...]every fall. People laid in three to four
The[...]shadow have coal to burn. Our parents[...]s to raise money. A woman would be plac[...]worn out so
behind a sheet and a light
her to disguise[...]e lover boys paid a good Ou big toes were swell[...]Helen each and got a pair of shoes. My b.s. was started[...]The mail was put in canvas bags[...]and hung on a cross-bar. There was a post office[...]amps. The 3-cent stamp came in[...]

Another passenger in the winter time was Dr.[...]| being the eldest in our family, was kept busy
Dubois of Conrad. Th railr[...]as warm it would take two hours
deliver a baby or babies and waited for dad on[...]|
return to Brady. Bishops had him a couple[...]

morning. Hess, a bachelor, and L[...]coming from church in the buggy, the Mar[...]Everyone was o the road hauling a few bales of
my[...]fed some
and grabbed a rattler by the tail[...]sn’t very far from our house.
had a pain in my bac for several[...]twenty was a fairly good year. Da[...]s Model-T car to a truck. He
mother removed a porcupine quill
the she[...]purchased a Smith Forman[...]and 1920. It was a
About 1920, a barb wire telephone[...]rear

was really sticky a day or so after the rain and it[...]smart you waited for the road to dry. Then on a[...]same. John
windy day if you were driving a Model-T Ford the
top was taken down and the[...]steers 16 to 18 filled a boxcar. People drove their
Nineteen eighteen was a very poor year and[...]cattle shipping points for sale each October. In[...]livery stables and boarding and rooming house in[...]100 horses. There were four livery stables in[...]I’ve seen a double line of[...]Fladstols, in 1918,
Orville Oi[...]

ground seemed[...]could dip our frozen sandwiches.[...]bad the folks put a crowbar in the some peanut[...]it a[...]a

kerosene and keep them out of[...]would bak very little. Our mother would have hot
In the morning, the ground around the cro[...]really delicious. Martha had a school program in
millers for an area[...]the spring in the Faris barn and a May Pole
In 1921 my younger brother, Lloy[...]It was in these our washing[...]a belt
Bowman would come every two[...]seeded it to oats in the in the mud or off[...]of 1922. prospects of a[...]upon him
100-bushel crop, but in three days in July the[...]made a good fellow out of him.
something for our labors you can imagine our[...]once you got it
hoppers in 1921-22, ate on fence posts,
These[...]going it made a real hot fire. Someone had to stay
buildings, anything in their paths! can remember[...]up on a cold night[...]kindling came

jackets down and in three hours they were full of[...]old and
holes. They devoured a mixture of sawdust and[...]stock in the winter from[...]at the Equity in Brady. Then spread by[...]a everything else didn’t[...]collect. Dad also sold Aladdin lamps inA Tulip”,
Hemry’s now[...]years. hopeless A “Uncle[...]cause. Then late in 1923, tiny fly appeared and[...]a[...]ongs by Scotsman, Harry Lauder.
drilled a hole and laid eggs in it under the hoppers Our house was lighted with gas lights which[...]ok care of them in a short time but ha[...]had at one time a Carbide
the damage[...]ertainment from 1920,
In the fall of 1920, a schoo! was opened in the and on.[...]dances were held in the lofts
Seldon Faris[...]

special Easter[...]nity. We had a couple of blizzards[...]beets at Conrad that fall. Early
in 1923-24. InFebruary 1924, went to a summer.[...]and thresh. married Eva E. Lewis of Brady[...]bushel but had a 1931, at Shelby. To[...]not too bad a venture. had worked[...]crew and helping in and Gary Wain, Pablo.[...]Bowman:
the hay crew

In June, 1925, worked[...]ka, then | Michael A., Ronan; Mark A., Wichita, Kansas;
joined a group youngof[...]took bundle Matthew A., Thermopolis, Wyoming; Mitchell A.,
wagons and teams to[...]with Pablo, Margaret A., Bozeman, Myrna A., Polson,
Ernest Stinsen.[...]1st to and Maureen A., Pablo.[...]cted class Mark married Elaine McCarthy, no children.
enter[...]Matthew married Lisa Allen, children:
president, also high school
In June, 1926, worked for Chris Oien[...]mother. married Theresa Corcoran, son Shawn. Margaret
drove 24 horses on a combine for my uncle, Roy married Don Fiest, son Anthony.
Portch.[...]Petersens. Rebecca A., twins Daniel and Richard and Duane
worked[...]E. Rebecca Ann married Thomas Stockton[...]1927, then lives in Pecos, Texas.
harvested[...]Terrill Dorr:
Bartsch in 1928, but harveste[...]the eighth grade in May,
1925, and entered Brady High fall of School in th
1925. held a number of class offices.
participated in track and basketball, glee c[...]was graduated in 1929, with honors
-[...]Team
1925-29. was a pretty good pitcher and a very
good batter. was[...]and
working at Brady drugstore.
In the fall of 1929, entered[...]versity
at Missoula on a scholastic scholarship.[...]

side, a scary position at times on[...]eeper but was in ill health and returned to

grades. Mary married Mark Johnson that summer[...]Washington and in the early 30’s, died of T.B. a[...]there.
Anne had previously married Bert LaFaye at
LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
stayed with the Cameron boys in the summer
of 1920 and 1921, a[...]so, saw it so cold they had to
drill a hole in the tank to empty it. Stock cattle got[...]days. Snow was taken
house and melted in boilers for house,[...]tanley Bowman in front of
The Cameron f[...]Bowman. Taken in 1919.

Wilbur, Washington.[...]to homestead a location 17 miles east, a

The three brothers arrived in Montana from the[...]east of
Wilbur area in eastern Washington.[...]the east of the side of a boundary line in such a manner that
Ra Penix place in 1912. Donald and[...]had when they had proved up in 1917, they built a

homesteads and Rennie[...]the shacks and had a

the north joining Archi[...]

in theyard with cousins; dad turned to a friend skilled in carpentry, laid[...]better known to us a Mr. Dane.
some day she will be my wi[...]the lumber from Brady,
married at mother’s home near Creston.[...]Jim, Dock
immediately settled in their own home on the King[...]A month to remem[...]to be ofgetting assistance in[...]Aunt Mamie Kunz stayed for a year.)
Jim and Alice Copenhave and their spirited Arriving in Brady via Great Northern the
quarter horse, Polly. Taken in 1914, at the[...]a wagon and a team of horses. A[...]Alice would recall
crop, a fine garden of fruit and vegetables, and that hot, still day in July when they rode o[...]o numerous they looked like a blanket of gray on
1914 and James Leonard, Jr., F[...]needless to say,
On March 1 1916, a courageous young man, my[...]those ‘‘skeeters” enjoyed a feast on the tender
father, full of enthusias[...]Margaret, one and a half, and James only five
The train[...]but youth, love, and
began his reputation--‘‘a man of his word’’--hone[...]he acceptance of the challenges life presented
in all his endeavors, establishing a name that helped the month[...]ter, their first winter in Montana. The
-even in the toughest of years. This, my friends, is[...]r. in abundance that[...]ded well for
Jim, purchased from a mortgage company a two food, having brought four[...]from her garden in
miles east of Brady, and, so doing, he[...]ma Marie, on July
Montana and build a house before bringing his[...]o Washington to be with
family to the new land. A man of Danish descent,[...]

Dock. Martha lived with our family when she was[...]the elevator in Brady.[...]have all the people
took us four to school at the Faris[...]th field one our near neighbor, owned the threshing rig, an[...]pared
this incident in he love life![...]asked my
where she wanted him to dig a well. Mother said,[...]he never saw a cow that gave milk, “you have to
“Near[...]t take if from her.’ Our brand was Diamond Lazy K
neighbors, dug by hand to a dept of forty[...]used bucket on a rope Quarter[...]water. a[...]

many dances in the neighborhood. There were[...]from the and he was generous in doing his share. Jim and
reservoirs[...]as it was packed in a special -[...]Community Hall which was used as a meeting
heated on the Maj[...]the The Hall is there to this day in the corner of our
tantalizing aroma[...]

Later we mo[...]three- 41 years, being involved in many of the company’s
horses.[...]for
fourths of a mile and were able[...]the Boeing 737. James was married February 8
Religion was[...]Mass regularly, our parish church 1941,[...]es and Barbara live in
could attend Mass once a month when it was Steven
celebrated in the Brady School. Th[...]in
4923 and 24. When times were better and we had a Great Falls, and[...]area.

Parish in Conrad. However,[...]this was Business College in Spokane, Washington. After[...]and bad working in a secretarial position, she joined the
not[...]Women’s Army Corps in World War Il. When the[...]war was over, Thelma married Edward Leo Laskey,
have no

in the same speak. There was no[...]January 15 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. They have
was[...]ee children: James C., Theresa M. and Martin A.
one any better off than his neighbor, so the[...]Thelma and Ne live in Denver, Colorado.
no comparisons t[...]g,
low prices for were never a[...]nursed for a while in Great Falls and then[...]at a dance hall[...]was his
What fun we had during our high school days.[...]He was a fun-loving man, full of humor and
My father moved our homestead house into Brady[...]we could be near enough to participate in excellent punning--a pregnant[...]He was a
school activities, this was in 1930. Befor[...]there never walked a more
sister, Catherine, was the[...]attend high school in th fall[...]Marriot who Him well in his Lutheran faith.
of 1928.[...]Dale and were married November 25, 1939. He
lived across the str[...]or the Texaco Company at
to leave in the fall of 1929. Both of us stayed with[...]was a[...]first love nest. On
Marriots. What a joy to be all together again when[...]Sunburst, and that was our[...]February 4 1941, in Conrad, God blessed us
my brother,[...]Ann
to high school and we were in our own[...]in New[...]in Beacon, N.Y., in February 1941. W lived
During our high school days basketball, as[...]Hospital Staten Island, that our son,
opportunities for[...]ool community. Our home was the[...]our[...]to be native son of our
She and dad lov[...]not born in Montana a
always provided refreshments.
pleased that our friends state.”’
young people and were

wanted to come to our home. M father always[...]Dale’s health was poorly in New York. He had[...]to
lots in town, and to start wrestling[...]ere jet
on vacant
smokers, a competitive sport between schools.[...]fuel was shipped to the war zone in Europe. He
Catherine graduated from Brady High in 1932,[...]Conrad in[...]by train, and Dale by truck with all our
entered the religious[...]n. graduated in 1933, and belongings.
St. Mary in[...]Dale had always had a
entered nurses’[...]

Exchange. The[...]Matheson was a touching tribute t[...]our

neighbors after Dale’s death--they left their[...]own
fields in the middle of harvest that tragic week[...]hauled to the bins our entire crop
before[...]n d it, give it a try.”
Indeed, did. p[...]ran our 2,000-acre farm for[...]north
place, as we always call our first[...]harvest without
beginning, of a two hundred-forty acre[...]knowing that a charge. He was[...]woman was in
relinquishment bought from a mortgage company.[...]accustomed to being a trouble-shooter, especially
Next he[...]Boorman’s land and a quarter when machinery was in need of repairs, and so he
section[...]estioning who was
purchased in addition to one hun[...]r finding out! It was no time at all before
In the
early 1920’s, we[...]Sandra was married to John R. Mcinnis in 1962.
bought this place around 1926. He then l[...]in where Jack is a

Durnan’s section and the Har[...]practicing attorney (and a good one in the eyes of
purchasi[...]his mother-in-law). Jack and[...]children. Timothy Joseph,
can recall, and we still refer to the original[...]our first grandchild, was born in Maryland, August
homesteaders’ names[...]at
from high school in Conrad, and entered Carroll[...]Robin Francine was

College in Helena. She spent the summer of[...]born March 9 1967, in Missoula. Sh is a junior at
studying at Fribourg, Switzerland. In 1962, she[...]ball.
Robert Jerome Stenseth, our son, graduated[...]born January 12 1970, attends
from Conrad High in 1962, and enrolled at Carroll[...]born
College where he studied for two and a half years.[...]ut also hunting and fishing.
serving in the Vietnam War.[...]Robert married Patsy Rogers in 1967, and they
Sandra and[...]to my live in Snohomish, Washington, where Robert is in
marriage to Earl R. Glynn on June 22, 1961.[...]y
managing the farm. Three combines, a swather,[...]ch 16, 1968,
and tw or three trucks were in operation, or were in St. Mary’s Hospital in Conrad attends[...]

home for birds and deer.[...]n West Church as a memorial to Dale
Stenseth[...]Horizon as a gift
on my Uncle K[...]picture was taken in August 1962, when my[...]niversary. All of our family members[...]for the Mass in St. Michael’s Catholi[...]Church in Conrad, where our parents[...]ding vows, first made October, 1912. A[...]Our parents lived full and productive y[...]r. Daddy had the courage to invest in land
and Timothy McInnis. Fro[...]

married all the[...]with the money in it.
Moody and[...]Keith in[...]to cut hair. The
others married as time went on. was[...]sat there with a mirror
World War | for 22 months in 1917, 1918 and 1919.[...]ed me. He had a standing pompadour
He[...]seven
in five of them.[...]e second time was a disaster and we nearly
battles in the war and he was[...]at night. had jus left a
During the drought of 1919, 1920 and 1921 all
those listed above left the country. The bunch all[...]little drakes’ tail.

had a lot of fun and were full of vim and vigo[...]to the lenders. Webought our
land for $10 per acre[...]on crop payments. Once
we gave a banker wheat[...]ring it at $ per bushel. went on a The banker
trip and the pric[...]Norem of Conrad. Keith
built a 12 x 16 shack and he put a cellar under it.
He ate with[...]a four-bottom
used for[...]s and h slept in the[...]disk plow in 1923.
cellar.
We were married on a farm northeast of Conr[...]returning home we were given a shivaree.[...]That day we had bee toa sale and bough a tub of
the drought had nearly wiped them out fina[...]Doheny School a mile west of us, and danced to
Thelma and Reuben,
had a white[...]had a[...]cups to
bouquet of sweet peas. We were married a in
Christian[...]ut the acreage
Church in Conrad. had made[...]a
Angel Food inch high pink icing. W l[...]with. had used five-gallon
on a honeymoon Washington. for[...]heat water in and it was pretty slow.
us a beautiful reception and many gifts. We had[...]ns, blankets,
$35 and came home with $5 in[...]rag rug runners, a console phonograph[...]and a sewing machine. Two[...]rocking chairs and a[...]we burned coal in. Floors[...]painted. curtains in the[...]linoleum in the kitchen. In the bedroom we had a[...]bed with a straw mattress and homemade[...]dressing table with a curtain front. Some shelves[...]in the corner for linens and a closet. The kitchen[...]had a good cellar to keep our food in.[...]W had a dog that Ferd Gollehon[...]had a kitchen range th[...]when we got a beautiful grey[...]Reuben Fladstod in 1916.[...]

When Keith got his first tractor,[...]was

first power washing machine, a Maytag, costing[...]cases

$194 purchased from Jack Rowecamp. It had a[...]used to take a case and a half of eggs
electricity. It was sold in 1976 still in good and a can of cream[...]One
When news got around that women could get a[...]time we were in Great Falls, at[...]Gollehon’s,
washing machine if her husband got a tractor, the[...]read like wildfire and all the women out[...]our we were run[...]into
there had a power machine when the m[...]by a coming out of the alley. Keith started[...]Bishop just happene to see it and
In January of 1925,[...]snow was so deep in places that the[...]too poor to own a license
lunged. We stopped at[...]s Larson’s for a rest and borrowed. No, can’t remember that we

and a lunch. At Brady[...]Great borrowed a license, but we would go to Jack’s and
Fall[...]d there park our car there and[...]to the home.
hospital and had a baby. Keith came down on[...]W got Wayn in 1929, and Steve in 1930. came

Friday. was in the hospital for 17 days. Cost was[...]into Conrad and stayed with friends a few days
$54 for hospital fee and was paid for by[...]and spent Christmas in the hospital. This time the
them two[...]mustard. We built a new house in 1934. We called
car around[...]If gas was low in the neighbors to help run[...]

school and vacation[...]the house just a gun going off.[...]Copenhaver home in[...]seemed like most places had a man present but
We got our mail on Monday,[...]fire in the potbellied heater[...]for coal for
Lois did not have a ready-made coat until she was[...]in the most awful[...]

go[...]on the home front in
wandered away and lay down side-by-si[...]went to the
and the radio gave a blow-by-blow account of the[...]and home In the fallof 1944,[...]Baker for our home talent weekends. The next year, Keith stayed in town and
plays. Well everything[...]wrong went to the ranch a couple of times a week. The
and we became so[...]Lois stayed with the kids in town. She got married
professional and just[...]summer of 1948. That summer we bought a
more fun. think cooked at about 10 County house in town and moved in that fall. Keith’s
Far[...]nted out the farm to
a happy camp. | also managed[...]Gollehon and our Wayne.
school in Great Falls one year. We had 150 people Gollehons st[...]years.
three times a day The first thing did was to go to[...]e’s story and
the police station and pay a $3.00 fine for over-[...]rs of
turned over to me in Great Falls. One fall cooked married life on five typewritten pages.
for 12 people for three months[...]they were In 1945, when V.J. Da[...]arvesting work a it rained the wa[...]been sick and in the hospital and Keit[...]phonograph when we were
a married. In[...]and a hail storm took all the rest of the crop. We
$400 and tuned in on the barb wired telephone.[...]took a vacation. We went[...]camped. Rationing was still on and we were short
we got a radio from M.W. Savage at Minneapolis[...]many things. That is a trip to remember! We saw
for $45. It had a cone loudspeaker. We got it at[...]rupted. Saw
night and hooked it up to our metal wire clothes[...]Mammoth Hot Springs in their glory, fished at
line[...]iiid The Park was full of people from California going
Church[...]from whereever they came from in
radio and heard about[...]time to put their children in school. A trip to
had rationing of al[...]year was the last trip together as a family. Wayne[...]in 1954, and came home vacations, later married.[...]We bought a cabin at Apgar and lived[...]summers. That proved to be a wonderful venture.[...]Conrad Women’s Club and two years chairman of[...]the Lutheran Ladies Aid and a few other services.
Keith Copenhaver family in 1943. Left to In 1974, we moved to Horizon Lodge and kept[...]Steve busy. Keith still fishes. Martha writes a Horizon
and oyce.[...]Lodge news column in the Independent Observer[...]

up fence and a house. He mortgag to[...]gave a B.T. No[...]Boorman who ran a lumberyard. Money[...]Steve and met in college, in Havre, in 1949. We
many times then was left with t[...]were married the summer of 1950, and[...]our education in Havre, and Fort Collins,
bought[...]Colorado. Our son, John Stephen, was born in
gave Norem was elevator storage[...]e on the
estimated at a $1.00 per bushel.[...]Keith and Copenhaver farm, in East[...]was gone the Community, in January of 1952, and began
price of[...]yne.
wheat for 28 cents a bushel in 1928. This abstract There was a piece of sod just west of the
had 26 pages[...]‘“homeplace,” so in 1952, with the help of relatives[...]and friends, we began our ‘“‘homeplace,” and in
Tom Copenhaver was a brother of Keith and Jim[...]1953, after we had moved into the basement of our
Copenhaver. He came in 1912, and was married in[...]acts of love, we had electricity, roads of a sort,
July 22, 1918. They borrowed $2,000 an[...]tions, schools, churches and
on it was a struggle to keep the payments up. He[...]added by many of our generation.[...]ich sold out to the Columbian Co., which in[...]s done with faith in the Lord, and the[...]

For fun, we visited fri[...]the community in setting it down on the
waterskii[...]d followed the children in their activities.[...]undertaking. We
Telephones came to our area; roads were[...]ys remember and kee in our hearts the
improved; a missile silo was put on our land; and[...]had.
wonder of wonders, Tiber Water came to our farm. In the summer of 1981, we had a joy of a

Methods of farming change also,[...]With the Grace of God, our
and error, Steve studied and used ferti[...]Laura Lynn, was born in Great
began recropping in 1974. Farming will always be[...]have been out here in East Community for
John is working in Houston, Texas, now; Susan[...]of it. With
is an Army wife with two girls in Atlanta, Georgia.[...]y folks, we plan to continue farming and build a
farm, and Debra and her husband and daughter[...]future for our family. With this desire to stay out
and two sons live in Dutton. here, we hop to strengthen our friends and family
This has been a wonderful place to live and in this community.[...]

Martha Copenhaver.[...]fter two rooms and a path.
born May 13 1930,[...]Romsa. They were married in Cut
Bank, Montana, 17 Jun[...]and met at Northern Montana College
in Havre. Wayne was taking a farm course and an

elementary course in education. We both quit
school at the end of winter quarter and were

married that summer. We settled down to married
life on the K.B. Copenhaver farm in the two-room
bunkhouse. Cecil, Jean, Merna, Roger and Jim
Gollehon were living in the main house, the K.B.’s
had moved to Conrad[...]brought with me to our marriage several head
of Hereford cows and a registered Hereford[...]bull,
my dowry.
My first year of being a farm wife seemed to be
of going to town wh[...]h the Knee Benders playing
their tunes, becoming a Farmers Union Member,
joining the[...]first
harvest with finishing up in a snowstorm.
Someone’s hat was alway f[...]ne. Already, thought this
was a good community.
Wayne attended all the cl[...]farm so they lived in the bunkhouse unt[...]he ha held the offices in house was built.
both our local
the count[...]November 6 1952, our second daughter,
was a board member of the Doheny School until it[...]going to lots of We ar still
was consolidated with the Dutton sch[...]to a National
and was Officially declared[...]Convention in Reno, Nevada, and got to shake
the Equity Elevator board in Brady and was[...]th Senator John F. Kennedy.
instrumental in the consolidation with Dutton Co- Our third daughter, Betty Ann, was born on
op and[...]with her
the Pondera Lutheran Church in Conrad,[...]first daughter,
our Linda Leah,[...]March was active in the East June 4 1957, our only son was born. His name is
Community H[...]so they each could have
Club, joining in 1950. heid offices in both our[...]easy on the water. Our water
the 4-H clubs of which our kids were members. was pumped with a gasoline motor from a well
Here again, held positions as lead[...]along the Teton River into a tank on the[...]well
babies born in 1951, in this community, so we did[...]seven miles from our home. In the summer of
things so we could take our families with us.[...]

bases south[...]ad much of the water system in. A group
of farmers met and[...]them to work toward a[...]We have our dayshad involved in Farmers
Liberty and Chouteau. Wayne has[...]e now have youth work in 1983. also held the positions of
water piped our to back yard[...]We have had our days of local politics.[...], we transferred our church membership Teton Women’s Club and Regional Director of a

from the Pondera Valley[...]on the Sollid Road. In the Linda lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She[...]and Sunday is a professional waitress as she has trained in
School teacher, on the[...]supper clubs in London, Amsterdam[...]

be[...]e Canary Islands, living in a cave and
eating what[...]ughter Mynd live in Brady.
Norma is the bookk[...]sing and worked in
Conrad, but the short[...]planning a
March wedding to Robert Sto[...]Bie,
Wayn live near Cut Bank on a farm. She acquired[...]and Jamie
grandchildren when she married.[...]Copenhave in 1984,
Malvin[...]and one daughter, Jami, live just one-
quarter of a mile south of us. Their main family[...]have lived 34 married years in this Dad born in[...]lowa and mom in Minnesota in
community and the time[...]kids were born in
fast. With God’s will,[...]was born in 1903. was six[...]a my[...]In 1910 or 12 dad[...]brothers filed on a[...]from Etzikom. Our post[...]had built a small house, 10 x[...]w lived in[...]moved from Magrath to our homestead by[...]kids helped drive cattle, what a time![...]hit a rock on a side hill and[...]Robert our wagon and took a light buggy back to Magrath
Stocker, and Ariel Stocker in March,[...]

From right in
left to[...]were

Quite a group within 20
eight families or more.
mil[...]it. It was the kids’ job to pick them. Later in the
fall the men dug coal on the Milk River bank. Good
coal. We kids had to go three miles to school in an
old house, some 23 of us,[...]would hunt gopher at times in school hours;
we all had a ball didn’t
- learn too much!
in 1914 and 15 big crop. $3.00 a
there was a

just[...]No horses. A[...]hard times,
had it. Dad got kicked by a horse and died in
w all

1924.
In 1925, mom and d[...]Crawford, the man married in

1925, helped us[...]Dutton. W lived on a

farm southwest of[...]that winter, then we
moved to a place 14 miles west of Pendroy. lrene
born in 1926, in Choteau. We we[...]obs.
Elmer was born in Great Falls in 1929. Laurence[...]tead Irene in 1936.
Brady. Later mom bought a

fro[...]oved to Conrad,
made our home. a[...]the small house: in 1948.
One eight of us lived in
winter[...]12 every winter in
Laurence, Irene,[...]

farm wife.[...]Walter Doheny
Darrell Doheny was born in South St. Paul,
Minnesota in 1904, the first child of Tom and
Mabel[...]e children. He spent th first
few years in South St. Paul, then moved with the[...]to Great Falls. In 1912, when he[...]s more of an asset to the

family a liability.
than The boys grew up very fast
in those homestead days He not only did[...]the farm from boyhood on, but he
also helped a great deal in raising all of us
kids.[...]for Darrell and a
younger
couple older girls,[...]Irene and
don’t think my folks would have gott[...]hard at work during a Doheny harvest
“You’re n[...]to do what in 1923.
you say”, but we[...]er, m

up,” said, “if you think you’re big enough.” was

10 years ol[...]on the farm for a

number of[...]he
years.
married in 1937, he was always home and working.[...]Modern farming in 1927, Darrell Doheny with
He never did much runn[...]oh Deere and four-disk plow.
he was the only one in the family that always had
money. He would bu[...]buying a four miles
nobody else could afford. He bough our big clock[...]our whichplacehad been Walter
that[...]on the mantle, in 1924. still[...]Atwater Kent with a big speaker and he bough it instead. They built a house on
radio we had,[...]that half-section in the summer and in th fall
on top with A and underneath. batteries[...]y, they had a rough
Elsie Cunningham grew up[...]t okay.
Darrell met her! She taught our[...]

built the fire every morning at 6 a.m.[...]od shape. That was when everything
in[...]around the farm in.
children, David, Marjorie, Kathleen and John. T[...]she built a house in Conrad
in the spring of 1952, just a month before their fifth[...]could be close to a hospital, as well as a

child, Tom, was born, Darrell had a bad stroke.[...]houses.
when he had a second stroke that[...]to would stay in town and go[...]farm on
Elsie after a fashion. It was[...]of the farm, plus raising a young family.[...]would stay in the
They had a house built in Conrad so the kids[...]Darrell was close to a machinery, before moving to town.[...]road open, we would
Darrell died in 1958, and within a year Elsie had[...]third of a mile to the yard. After a quick check, it
along fine for a few years, but five years later in was a game of fox and geese. We would trample[...]down a giant course in the middle of the yard and
the farm[...]an angel or two.
both married and are still operating the farm.[...]the farm and get a neighbor to watch the house in[...]town. W all had our work to do. One of my jobs[...]slow, | would take a stack of funny books with[...]d take turns sitting on the bucket of our[...]picked at a slower speed, and probably smaller[...]rocks, we managed to pick quite a few.[...]Harvest time was always a hectic time to say[...]able to go until late in the day; day after day. Every[...]once in awhile, we would talk her into shutting[...]down in the afternoon on a hot[...]a and[...]t we would see a rattlesnake,
Doheny in 1937.[...]

drivin[...]good still on the farm with[...]Darrell Doheny’s family in 1981. Back row from left to right: Pam and[...]

these[...]o yard out, we drove in the

good times times, he has b[...]to see us. His rubbing between our legs and
driving our °47 Ford pickup. Well, we caught a[...]winter in our house in town, so he could again
our prize, but couldn’t think how to get it home, so[...]lead the “Life of Riley’”’.
we pu it in the glove box of that old pickup. When[...]Even though some people think that farming is
we got home there was quite a ruckus about it
being in that little box, but when w took it ba[...]ke it was out
for Sunday
a afternoon I& stroll. Another time
never forget, happene in that same old Ford. Tom
and were bombing down through this field, when
made a fairly sharp left turn. Well, next knew,
here[...]either of
us. He hung on thoug and is still with us today.
guess we all grew u[...]ng to laugh about.
Everything from seeing a truck headed for the
combine with no driver, then pulling in to take the
dump on the run and finall[...]dashboard and top of the steering wheel, to
our family games, such a ring on a String, button,
button, who’s got the button,[...]John and Pam, in 1976, on their wedding day,
a Rooster, and Poor Pussey, (when sister K[...]

summer[...]softball games at the reunions, which were
always a lot of fun. don’t remember[...]you had to
be careful not to step in one of the many gopher
holes on the playin field.
Besides cleaning in the yard, picking rock, and
roguing wild oats,[...]Farmer’s Union Camp. W all enjoyed that week in
the mountains a lot. The clean, cold, mountain[...]family of Darrell and Elsie Doheny in 1978.
forgotten.
Our country grown family is not without its[...]at the Denver
succeeded in teaching it to “some” of her[...]moved to Conrad and got a job Wright
and now owns a beautiful black Grand![...]worked there for a week, when
Marj and Kathy also[...]Nowadays, Tom and are still farming together.
drawing. After daddy die[...]W still use our mechanical training on the farm.
think she was really good a it, and luckily have[...]Winters we take in work from other peopl as well
one of her creations in my home. She was going to[...]as our own. After 15 years we hav learned a lot
paint one for each of her children, but sad[...]still feel there is lot[...]a
finished[...]learned in the future.
doodle and dabble to this day.
The farm equipment has changed a lot since the
folks’ days. Back when, the old[...]The combines had around a 12-foot cutter-
bar, were[...]as up north opening up a

new piece of Well,[...]ver and
biting me. It didn’t take a long time to get shut[...]Brian, Jodi and
felt like my back was on fire. A half hour and half a
lotion later found me ba[...]Kristina, in 1983.
bottle of calamine
and wishing for a cab. In the meantime Tom had[...], Pam, and have two
made a few rounds and we were[...]creatures. Nowadays, we go a lot faster and
sit back in cool comfort with a smile on our faces. born July 1 1977. S[...]blonds run in the family! have two other children,[...]Ross, who will be 15 in
Harvest Moon” by moonlight, gu[...]

Dad,[...]heny,
Leo was born in Fairfax,[...]were married. They
Minnesota, April 20, 189[...]lived in the homestead shac[...]and spent the winters in in one Great Falls, living
Montana in 1910, going to work on the Great
Nort[...]No. son, Robert, was born in the Columbus
of the foremen o[...]The four Hospital in Great Falls, January 30, 1920. Charle[...]into the into the world at our grandparents’ home, the
brothers, Leo, Fra[...]Charles Shirley Walgamotts, in Twin Falls, Idaho,[...]with a doctor in attendance, on May 24, 1921. No.3[...], Francis, arrived February 13 1923, in the[...]homesteaded near our place in “Little lreland”’.[...]from the creek in small buckets for[...]had to wade in to retrieve[...]the road, traveling in the form of an “L[...]being in school a day and learning all that stuff,[...]September day in 1926, mother sent Charlie to[...]put up a lunch for two in a five- lard pail.[...]lunch pail, while walking across a pasture on the[...]cut-across. He was doing a good job until they had[...]to walk around a badge hole. Charlie had to find
The Dohenys in the summer of 1923.[...]

down for about a foot and stopped. In trying to pull
it out, the bail came off. They st[...]enough to pull out, it would
slip on down the hol a bit further. At last the bail
was finally hooke[...]ole.
Charlie got to carry it no further, and with a few
more delays along the route, they walked int[...]boys started going to the Doheny School.
W had a real blizzard in 1928. The Doheny kids
had walked about 1/8 of a mile from the school,
when the raging wind hit, k[...]ground. You couldn’t hear
unless it was a shout right against the ear, and we Rub and Leo Doheny in 1927. From left[...]Dorothy, right in front: Robert, Francis and Charles.

country to the Teton River at the lower[...]

remained in position that[...]e lasting romance.
moved to Great Falls in 1947. At that time they[...]with his father and brothers,
were farming with a diesel tractor pulling 36 feet[...]inducted into the
of duckfoot, a self-propelled 16-foot combine and[...]in stationed
before t[...]in Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis,[...]and Ethel were the
much a their first granary held.[...]second couple to be married in the new St.
age of 72, in 1962 and Ruby in 1963, age 74.[...]William’s Catholic Church in Dutton, and spent[...]the next year in Fresno, California, where Charlie[...]stationed at Camp Pine Dale. Part of our first
TH Cuar_es Doneny F[...]happy year was spent living in avery compact one-
By Char[...]rented for $5 a week. He began his overs[...]assignment in June 1944, and spent 12 years in
the fourth of seven daughters born t[...]was

Hilma Johnson of Power, met at a dance in East discharged in January 1946, and we returned[...]Francis and Mary Maurer.
Ethel lived in a small one-room teacherage near
the school. The water supply was from a cistern
kept filled by Copenhaver and Lowery. Wat[...]from the cistern with a bucket on a rope.
Heat for the two[...]Sometimes the fire in the stoves
would go o[...]water into the school. Light was from a[...]to

crawled out a window, gathered several good[...]attended a baby shower in her honor in Dutton and
sized rocks,[...]rattler to death - A then went to Great Falls w[...]get back to Great Falls for two
School in 1941-42 and 43. At[...]arrival of Judy Lynn, who weighe in at 9 pounds,
Faris School.[...]for grades 1-8 and high school in Dutton, Carroll
interesting Ch[...]the East College in Helena and Great Falls Commercial

Comm[...]College. Judy lived in Denver, Colorado, during[...]the 1967-81, and was employed in the
On fall evening in 1940 Charlie[...]

since we Started farming in 1946. At that time we[...]he has also in the Democrat Central Committe[...]the
were farming with 8 to 12-foot implements, a small
crawler AC tractor and a 16-foot pull-type[...]years. He was a trustee of the
per acre. Today we farm with a Versatile 935,
4-wheel drive tractor pulling a[...]Fertilizer’. We also seed all of our grain
with the air seeder. With this equipment and
fertilizer program, our yields have increased to 60
plus,[...]ack up to 14 percent and above.
W have a new rotary 24-foot Gleaner comb[...]Dan and
Charlie cut our entire crop. Grandsons, Chad and
Eric are a great help with the far[...]Ethel is active in various church[...]of Catholic Women. She
received a 27-year leader’s award in Montana
Farmers Union[...]unior and senior youth in the community, and has
held offices in East Community Farmers Union
Local,[...]ady
Democrats and is a member of Diamond Valley
Homemakers[...]Charlie is active in Farmers Union, is[...]Quality Council, is a Charles Doheny on June 19 1983.

eighth grade diplom to Bev.
A few highlights on the weather[...]winter recorded in Montana history[...]1969. There was a record
consecutive days 13[...]through January 31, 1969. The
record cold day in Great Falls was December 29,
1968, wit[...]we were taking Judy to the airport in Great
Falls for her flight back to Denver. The heater in
the car was not working at all, and needless to say
we were all wrapped up in many blankets, but we
survived, and then[...]start. There was a continuous
snow cover[...]eny
Eve when some warmer air moved in. Many[...]Fairfax,
below or more. Our security light was so cold, it Minnesota, in the early 1900’s. He worked as a

refused to turn on[...]these two foreman of a bridge crew[...]others, Tom, Leo and Harry in 1910. In
of 100 degrees and[...]o Great Falls, buy a city[...]of the homes are still in use today.
Dan[...]Frank never married and lived in a comfortable
Daniel F.[...]house, which still stands across the[...]he
School, Dan completed his high school years in[...]would hang a black cloth on

Af[...]he
Mechanics ai Northern Montana College in Havre.[...]one of them to
Guard in Great Falls, Montana, where he worked[...]own, mayb just for a ride, because
on the flight line jet mechanic. as a[...]as probably lonesome.
In December of 1969 Dan married Peggy Judge,[...]was a meticulous housekeeper, and took
daughter of Fl[...]d, mother, my
Williams Catholic Church in Dutton, where the[...]would almost always

couple and their boy still[...]went to school in Dutton and is[...]me either.’ For many years,
Our two sons, Chad[...]tending school in we say we are ‘“‘Uncle[...]ton. Chad is in his 6th[...]buying ahome in Great Falls about 1949, and lived
classes.[...]there until his death in 1962, at the age of 87.
For recre[...]y
an active interest in snow skiing at[...]

In 1951, started full[...]through
and buying it from my mother in 1957, one
started[...]lege
year after dad passed away. She only sold us a[...]ao

quarter section at that time, but it gave us a real
sense of pride to be able to own some land of our
own.
In 1964, my mother had a severe stroke that left[...]then started buying out the rest of the heirs in
the eventual hope of owning the whole farm
someday. About 1962, a half-section of land we[...]rl and | we raised all the money
we could lay our hands on, and we mortgaged[...]Mike Tuffy got in on the help also, right[...]from the P.C.A. to off that one[...]f-section and in full loads of wheat[...]himself in ten minutes or so. Tuffy was also a[...]sometimes it took a little doing to[...]interest in sports all through school. He went[...]first year of high school in Conrad, where he[...]t the Doheny (where everyone School our in all[...]Darrell, in about 1914, clear on down to all of the[...]earl and Walter Doheny in 1956. families’ kids in the area), after grade school,[...]ght High School in Great Falls. She[...]were married. Jerry drove stu[...]all school and was offered a[...]college scholarship, which she turned down in
the tractor, combine, and most
every[...]at Holy preference to getting married to a local Dutton[...]

experience they will[...]they came home, they
moved onto a farm west of Dutton and[...]Helena, where he worked in the state auditor&#3
office.
We had our share of the good and the bad. My
health had[...]been anything to brag about,
which resulted in quite a bit of sickness and a few
operations which didn’t do much for my farm[...]Keith and Wilma Dory in 1941.[...]ildren. His father died in the flu[...]h
remember one tim in the winter, was hauling[...]caught around In 1922 his mother was married to John A. Cox.
a moving shaft on the loader. By the time[...]Keith was born in Dawson County and his younger
commission[...]isters were born in the same house o[...]location in Garfield Coun[...]mother both
just a few days. That’s[...]homesteaded in Fergus County, and[...]me

ten trucks and hauled it all to town in two days | homesteaded in Dawson County. He grew u in
never would have made it[...]sion
been for the neighbors in the country.
best[...]is one

harvest in 1967, got bit by a rattlesnake[...]their dentist, a cousin of his mother’s. A
During
and Pearl had to take over the ha[...]Stewart, who
finished. In 1968 after harvest, during winter[...]dental
ge it
wheat seeding, suffered a heart attack, and Pear! bought a book and dentistry. He[...]and many people can thank him for saving their
farm, but
So, in the fall of 1969, we sold the farm to[...]with the dental association, which
our house and we moved into our little finally gave up[...]stories about homesteading, but not in East
honeymoon house in[...]never forget or regret the best years of our family[...]on the dryland homestead farm in “Little[...]hired man had dubbed it in about came to[...]

heritage, born in 1872. She traveled extensively in[...]In

Europe with a rich family as a governess before[...]he house that still
purchased the Spille[...]about 3/8 of a mile
farmed them.[...]east
The Dunns ran a boardinghouse and liver[...]moved to
in Brady several win[...]had gone
family lived in the Dunn home those[...]of their own, but in the loan company[...]when got
orphans’ home in Helena. They were[...]we

Harry Parshal. Grace was in the same grade as[...]tty bashful.
good to them. Harry married a teacher, Cora In the fall of 1937, Lillian[...]cated one

of cancer a year or two later. Grac[...]was born
relatives in California and to[...]We saw quite a lot of each
Her married name is Olds. E[...]winter and were following married the
well for some time and died in the late 30’s. He May. Lavone was born in October of 1939, with a
was a heavy they set a[...]1944.
an excellent cook. (Whenever there was a large[...]

course. The next year they all took a[...]of course most of our

correspondence course.[...]relatives are here.
In 1957, we moved to Minneapolis to help with
the Indian work there. In 1960, we moved back to
Rock Poi[...]jo
Evangelical Lutheran Mission.
In the fall of 1962, we left the Missi[...]tion of going to do mission work in Mexico
but instead went to[...]al. Lillian worked in the kitchen and was a

psychiatric aide on[...]ds. Because of our

plans of going to Mexico we put Carol in high
school at Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills,
Alberta,[...]t their high schooling at Dakota Lutheran
Academy in Minot, North Dakota, and David in Hill
Crest Lutheran Academy, in Fergus Falls,
Minnesota.
In March of 1968, we moved again. This time we
accepted a call to the Teen Challenge Girls
Rehabilitation Home in Garrison, New York,[...]Home, which is in a beautiful
setting just across the Hudson[...]saw

scores of girls and young women set free from
drug addiction and[...]sus Christ. Joyce went to work there in
is in charge of business[...]R.N. but now

administration.
In November of 1979,[...]Cecelia Etcheberry
LeRoy married Gwen Smith in 1968. They spent
several years in mission work in Mexico but are[...]homesteaders of our present farm was

now working in Huntington Beach, California.[...]ean-Pierre Etcheberry. He was born on
David married Melodee Werdal in 1964. He did July 7 1877, in St. Just-lbarre, (Pyrenees-
construction work in Los Angeles while finishing[...]to in[...]came to the Conrad-Brady
1980. Carol married Ivey and lives in Los[...]area. He claimed the land in 1917, which we now

Angeles where Tom doe[...]He went home for a visit in the 30’s. He met[...]

area.
From[...]r, Lucie,
on