Lineman’s Rodeo Memorial Lantern Ceremony
Author: Matt Nelson
Matt Nelson
The 32nd Annual Montana Lineman‘s Rodeo Association (MTLRA) gathering was held at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday, July 18th and 19th. At 7:30 PM on Friday, a Memorial Lantern Ceremony took place honoring lineworkers who have passed.
According to the Montana Lineman’s Association website, “The Montana Lineman’s rodeo is an annual event held the third Saturday in July. The purpose of the Lineman’s Rodeo is to demonstrate the skills line workers use every day to ensure a safe, reliable electrical supply to the citizens of the inter-mountain west. Public safety and public education are the missions of the Montana Lineman’s Rodeo Association.”
Half of the men were veterans of the U.S. military, including one who served in World War II. The linemen who have passed away in the last year have their names engraved on one side of a lantern. Their birth and death dates are engraved on the opposite side. Selena Fowler, the MTLRA treasurer, arranged the lanterns and handed them out to the climbers. “One by one, brothers climb the pole and hang the lantern on a line strung in between two poles. At the top, they light the candle within and take a moment of silence to honor the deceased line worker. This event is by far the most symbolic of all we do. Watching the lanterns rise and seeing all brothers and sisters together is a tribute that cannot be described in words. "The lanterns are then mailed to the families of those honored,” she explained.
IBEW Craftsman and Apprentice Trainer Tim Newman announced the names of those who died, and also the names of the climbers who took the lanterns up. Linemen who were honored are Robert Crystal, Robert Berg, Carol “Bud” Bortorg, John Zacha, Gary Baier, Douglas Dobson, Schott Czywczynski, William “Bud” Pedersen, Mike Wise, Rodney Peterson, Daniel Dahlen, James Heckman, William Haft, Stephen Sills, Charles Joe Pence, Allan Peterson, Arthur Shellenberg, Cody Salveson, Lucas Fowler and David Dixon. Climbers were David Scoggins, David Dunlop, Cody Owens, Justin Brassard, James Hanson, Shane Bykoyen, Thomas Kerner, Andy Newman, Clayton Loback and Matt Shuland.
Prior to the start of the ceremony, a couple of people brought in a huge wreath and placed it on a cross about 12-feet high and dedicated to Dave Dixon, who was the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 44 based out of Butte. His wife Tabitha is the Recording Secretary. Unfortunately, he was killed in a 4-wheeler accident Thursday evening, on July 17th, near the Broadwater County Fairgrounds.
Tim Newman then gave a very emotional speech about Dave Dixon. “I had the opportunity to be an apprentice under Dave, right before I journeyed out. Dave was a guy you could talk to, and Dave loved his job. He loved his family. Dave was such a part of this rodeo that you have no idea what we are missing now after this year. We pulled it together somehow, with Tabitha, and Chuck, the whole family, our brothers and sisters that are helping. Dave is going to be missed. Dave would have received his 25-year pin in IBEW this year, I believe.”
Another cheer went up: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand and cheer with the loudest voice Townsend, Montana, has ever heard screamed, for the GREAT DAVE DIXON!” The crowd did exactly that. A lady screamed, “Dave, we love you so much!”
A crowd of 1,000 people sang the hymn Amazing Grace during the last part of the memorial service.
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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: Memorial Cross, with the words Rest in Peace Dave Dixon at the bottom. Dave was the President of MTLRA
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 2 Caption: Linemen climbers honor those people who had passed over the last year by hanging lanterns that had the name of the linemen engraved on one side. Townsend residents Mike Colvin (left) and Andy Newman (Right) are at the top of the 20 lanterns.
Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
