The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

An unbelievable community of Ranchers! My husband Russel Darlington was facing an extremely high risk heart surgery this Tuesday December 29th in Spokane. We live in Belt Montana but Russ grew up and ranched in Big Sandy until 2 1/2 years ago. We moved to Belt because of our involvement in rescuing children from sex trafficking. Average age of the rescued children is 12. They need counseling, medical attention...so we needed to be closer to a city.

This is what the Big Sandy Community did for us. There is alot more to this story, but this is the meat of it.

This is a tough one....so along with this surgery, Russ has been worried about what to do with our heifers. Cattle prices have tanked, he can't drive his semi to haul them, get hay, can't drive the tractor, banking concerns, on and on. Our wonderful neighbor Ryan Mapston took over the feeding while we have been gone. And will continue to do so as needed. Our Pastors, from the Belt Community Church have pulled together a posse of people to do all sorts of things. Friends and fellow ranchers were going to divide the heifers up and winter them for us. Calve them out if need be. Sooooooooooooooo thankful we were. Russ made the decision to place some in the cattle sale in January........then came the call. Glenn Terry called Russ to tell him that he thought he had 'A' buyer for the heifers for $2000/head and that the buyer may take all of them! Russ made a call to the cattle buyer and we will just have to pay a small penalty but were free to do with them as we wished. Russ called Glenn and told him yes, we would sell for that amount. Then came another call........ it wasn't a single buyer purchasing our cattle, It was the community of BIG SANDY MONTANA! The ranchers there rallyied to purchase all of our cattle. Glenn Terry, Rick Darlington (Russ's brother) and Dana Darlington (Russ's cousin) got on the phone to ranchers they knew .150 head sold in 24 hours to ranchers from as far as the Sweet Grass Hills, GrassRange, Box Elder, Havre and Hometown Heroes from Big Sandy!!! As soon as they could, they organized semi's, 4 wheelers, guys on horseback to trail them down to Mike Gondeiro's where they loaded and hauled them to Big Sandy. They wanted to do it as soon as possible so that Russ had nothing to worry about and could focus on getting well. The next day all the buyers showed up for their cattle. Here are the names of those in the picture. Ronnie Pearson is missing from the photo...

Darci Darlington

The Cattle Trucks coming in to Russ Darlington's place in Belt.

Here are the names Left to right Bill Brown, Rick Darlington, Mark Gasvoda, Front-Brian Gasvoda, Glenn Terry (ring Leader), Lisa Darlington, Jayton Ophus, Bruce Gasvoda, Shane Ophus, Back- Russ Allderdice, Dana Darlington, Clete Ophus, Gus Gasvoda. Not pictured are the guys from Belt that helped round up the cattle. Ryan and son Ryley Mapston, Jay and son Harry Green, Mike Gondeiro and Johnny Gliko. George Rice and Curt Owens donated their stock inspection services. Alma Terry was the book keeper. . Buyers were...Russ Allderdice, Larry Bitz, Earl Boetcher, Alice and son Nick Briese and Shandell, Calvin Danreuther, Dana Darlington, Gary Darlington, Rick Darlington, Brandon, Brian and Mark Gasvoda,CJ Hanson, Paul Hanson, Wade Hoge, Harvey Keller, Larry Jappe, Colin Lybeck, Ron Pearson, Beau Pegar, Kim Peterson from Peterson Grain and Cattle Company, George Rice, Glenn Terry, Marv Cross and Patty Nissen from Top Notch Angus, Kevin Velk, Mark Velk, Ken & Bob Yirsa, Bruce Garsvoda, Rick Darlington and Bill Brown hauled the cattle by semi. .

I think that's all. We are home and Russ is doing well. He cries every time he sees pictures or talks with the ranchers. What an incredible journey. The surgery was actually miraculous. The doctors didn't have to do nearly what they thought they would have to do. The other photo is of Russ Darlington

Ya know....no words can be used to express how Russ feels. He's numb, he's thankful, he's weepy, he's hopeful!!! I told Russ when he was so overwhelmed and discouraged by everything, that he could TRUST God to do things we never thought possible. And GOD showed up through the hearts of GOOD people! Thank you!!!!!