Ranch Couple Maintain Fairgrounds Memorial Park Nearly Twenty Years
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Sometimes lasting solutions come out of the complaint department. When one of the rodeo club directors brought his mother-in-law, who was handicapped, to watch the Townsend rodeo she had to sit under the grandstands. She complained bitterly that all she saw of the rodeo was other people’s legs! That complaint led to the Memorial Building and garden.
According to Jim Thompson, after he heard the complaint, he had thought seriously about the lack of a place for handicapped folks to really see the rodeo, in 2004, he designed the building and took it to the rodeo club. Director Al Kimpton thought it was a great idea. So did then-Commissioner Steve McCullough.
With a $3,500 budget from the rodeo club, Jim helped build the now heavily used Memorial Building. RY Timber provided the lumber. Vogl Construction put up the tin for the building. A triangle patch of ground called out for grass and flowers. Jim’s wife Peggy got busy and helped turn that area into a beautiful garden that has lasted through the years. “The garden took a beating last winter and this spring the gophers ate the lilies. Maybe next year will be better, “ she said in a typical rancher response.
A memorial garden sure does need a fence to keep it nice. Jim decided to build a brick wall that would include memorial plaques for those rodeo fans who had passed on, he said. Paul Vogl added his artistic touch by welding a horseshoe archway for the garden.
Jim and Peggy Perkins Thompson know the importance of remembering people who were important to the community. They know connections matter. Peggy’s family moved to Montana on Gurnett Creek in 1862.
Their ranch includes seven generations of Thompsons now.
Jim’s family came to Montana in the 1930s to mine gold at Hassel, a now-defunct gold mine on Indian Creek Road. Jim’s grandfather, also named Jim, his father Ralph and Uncle Jack did well at the mine – raising about $20 a week in gold. The family stayed in Broadwater County. Jim’s father Ralph ran Thompson’s Auto Repair, now run by Jim’s brother, Dave. Uncle Jack, who became the game warden, raised his family here as well.
The plaque wall turned out to be a good fundraiser for the maintenance of the building. “We’ve raised quite a little money at $100 a plaque, but sure could fill up those bricks to honor those who have already left us,” he said.
For those interested in having a loved one’s name honored, or to list a business or organization, please contact Jim at (406) 266-4458.
Article Images
Click on Image Thumbnail(s) to view fullsize image
PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Jim and Peggy Thompson , married for 61 years, have spent the last twenty years helping maintain the Memorial Park.
Image 2 Caption: Paul Vogl designed and built the horseshoe archway for Memorial Park.
Image 3 Caption: A memorial plaque honoring Jim for all his work on the park and at the rodeo grounds.
