Townsend/Broadwater County Bus Drivers Are Retiring
 | Author:
Matthew Nelson
MT43 News Correspondent |
Matthew Nelson Townsend/Broadwater County Bus Drivers Are Retiring Known and loved by well over 1000 students, Larry and Buffy Woodring have been driving Broadwater County school buses for many, many years. Buffy began driving in 1983 for Marvin and Mary Lou Meyer she drove as a substitute driver for them until Larry and Buffy moved to Manhattan and drove as a substitute driver until 1992 when they moved back to Townsend and purchased the Meyer's 3 buses and thie bid on their three routes, the Winston, Canyon Ferry and Deep Creek routes. The end of this school year is Larry's 30th anniversary and Buffy's 40th anniversary of driving school bus About a year ago they sold the buses to Jeremy Rice and started driving for him.
Buffy has driven the back side of the lake on Highway 284, up to Goose Bay, and also on Highway 12 to Diamond Gulch and Sand Hill Lane. She has seen elk, moose, deer, antelope, and bald eagles. It takes her about an hour and a half or so to drive the route.
Larry drives on Highway 12/287 to Spokane Creek and back to the Silos. Because his bus got fully loaded, his route now cuts off by the Silos.
Gail Vennes drives the Radersburg route. It’s about a 50-mile trip and he also goes up to Lone Mountain, and Highway 437 and to Radersburg and back. He leaves around 6:15 in the morning and gets to the school about 7:50 or so.
Gail said that he hasn’t put in the time that Buffy and Larry have, but he has been driving for about 20 years. Most of it has been substituting for route driving, but he has also driven the athletics to and from their sporting events. At the same time he was trying to run a little cattle business. Gail substituted for Buffy for a while a couple years ago when she had her knee surgery and he came close to hitting a few elk on the East side of the lake. He has often seen mule deer and white tail deer on his route to Radersburg, and most of the mule deer that he sees are in downtown Radersburg.
Corrine Swan has also driven for Larry and Buffy for 20 years, Corrine has driven the Deep Creek Route as well as some activity trips. However, she wasn’t available for the interview.
All of these drivers have built great relationships with the kids, and sometimes they drive the kids of their former students. Often they get invited to graduations. Lots of times the kids come and see them and give them hugs. The parents are always appreciative of what the drivers do getting their kids back and forth safely. Each driver strongly emphasized that the safety of the kids is his/her number one priority.
Although they drive in all kinds of weather and at all times of the day taking kids to and from school and sporting events or other special activities, their biggest complaint is about other drivers crowding them, or not stopping when the buses are stopped, or passing on the right side, especially when picking up or dropping kids off.
When asked what they will do in retirement, Larry grinned; “It’s been a good life. I do what other guys do when they retire – they drive a school bus! I will get two of the three buses out of my shop this year, so that way I will have room. I have a couple of pickups that I want to rebuild, and get back to playing in my shop. I have steers that I feed, and she has chickens that she milks!” Although Buffy is retiring from driving a bus, she is still going to keep busy – she is the Office Manager at the Catholic Church.
Larry and Buffy have been bringing eggs down the Broadwater Food Pantry for several years, which is much appreciated. Thank you all for your excellent service to our community and dedication to our kids.
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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: Retiring Broadwater County Bus Drivers Gail Vennes, Corrine Swan, and Larry and Buffy Woodring Photo Credits: Matt Nelson
