As January approaches, Big Sandy prepares to celebrate a remarkable milestone: one of its own turning 99 years old. Nearly a century of living has given this community member a perspective few are privileged to hold-one shaped by hard winters, hand-drawn water, family devotion, faith, and an enduring belief that life, while never easy, is always worth the effort.
Born in Big Sandy during a winter "of lots of snow," he entered the world in Mrs. Bertha Smith's house, just north of Christ Lutheran Church. His childhood began without electricity, which meant early bedtimes and a rhythm of life dictated by daylight and necessity. It was a simpler time, but not an easier one.
The most influential figure in his early life was his mother, Thora Allderdice. Widowed when he was just six years old, she carried on, saving the family farm and keeping it running against the odds. Her example-quiet strength, persistence, and responsibility-left a permanent mark.
As a teenager, he labored at the Sugar Beet Factory in Chinook, then spent much of his life farming and caring for animals. Winters meant hauling in wood, coal, and water, and carrying out ashes. Every day included feeding and watering livestock. It was physical, honest work-the kind that teaches resilience. Although he did not serve in the military, he noted that he tried - part of a generation shaped by wartime uncertainty and national sacrifice.
Asked about accomplishments, his answer is characteristically humble: "Just living this long; it ain't easy."
Big Sandy, like much of rural Montana, has changed dramatically in his lifetime. Farms have grown larger. Farmsteads and houses have disappeared. Population and revenue have declined. Yet what he remembers most fondly is not what is gone, but what once was: a community that gathered.
"Before television and cell phones people would gather and socialize for entertainment," he recalls. "We had many dances, card parties, festivities, and the highlights of all was the time spent visiting with family, friends, and the neighbors. We had a lot more people around who loved to spend time together. I miss that the most."
Kenilworth Hall stands out in his memory as the heartbeat of those days-weddings, anniversaries, elections, and every sort of gathering. "It should be used more often," he adds. He also remembers moments of tragedy that left a mark on the town, including the crash of a military training plane east of Big Sandy around 1942 - an event still remembered by longtime residents.
Through it all, what he has always valued about Big Sandy is its people. "The community has always been a group of friendly, helpful, and giving people."
His life story also includes romance worthy of a novel. He met Hendrika Peet on a Sunday afternoon in Virgille, at the bank. He had gone to look at a hay crop. "It was my lucky day," he says simply.
Together, they built a family: a son, Fred (married to Linda), and a daughter, Renate (married to Carm Cristiano). There are two granddaughters-Grace Danley of Lewistown and Illaria Cristiano, a high school student in Chicago-and even a great-granddog named Pete, who brought joy and energy to the household this past Christmas.
When asked what family has meant to him, his answer is immediate and emphatic: "EVERYTHING!"
Travel also found its way into his life, with journeys to the Netherlands, England, the Panama Canal, and many other places - experiences far removed from his electricity-free childhood.
Yet his favorite memories remain simple: his mother's cooking, school days, card games of pinochle, fishing trips when the fish were biting, and shared meals - especially the walleye at Ma's Loma Café.
Life, he says, has taught him one central lesson: "Don't give up!" The key to a long and meaningful life? "It's more luck than anything. (I've truly been blessed!)"
His advice to younger generations is heartfelt and expansive:
"We live in the best country in the history of the world. Invest in stocks. Get involved. Study the Constitution. Know who our representatives are. GET AN EDUCATION! Follow Jesus."
Of all the decades, the 1950s remain his favorite. The war had ended. Optimism filled the air. It felt like a fresh beginning.
He still delights in fishing-especially "when they are biting"-and names the walleye at Ma's Loma Café as his favorite meal. What brings him joy today? "A smile."
Looking back over 99 years, he is most grateful for "faith, good family, good friends, good health, and sometimes good luck. Oh... and good food."
And the message he leaves with Big Sandy is as simple and enduring as the life he has lived:"Take care of what you have."
In an era that often rushes past reflection, this milestone reminds us what truly endures-faith, family, community, and the quiet strength to keep going. Big Sandy is richer for having shared nearly a century with one of its own.
