Search and rescue

Tough, compassionate, dedicated, knowledgeable—all describe volunteers in the North Valley Rescue Association. Jack Thompson is longtime president at the helm of the organization, which was incorporated in 1972.

Actual formation of the active volunteer group took place in 1970, when Bob Personett, 23, Columbia Falls, drowned in the North Fork River June 29. Bob was fishing with friends Bob Cluka, Gene Hallas, Art Ott and Mickey Ren. They had just put in above Polebridge when the incident occurred. The others swam to the other side of the river, but Bob was caught in the boarding ladder on the boat.

His mother, Bunny Personett, remembers "it was a long 40 days" before her son's body was recovered. Bunny said "his brothers, nephews, other relatives and friends worked hard" in the watery search.

Jack Thompson recalled the volunteers "ran the river many times" during the following harrowing weeks. The search centered in the rough waters of the Coal Creek area. Pilot Bob Colby helped in the search, repeatedly flying over the area.

Bunny, who worked at Montana Veterans Home, talked to Supt. Dick Walsh. The former county sheriff said he "would get divers to go down." Jack Von Lindern, Guy Heldstab and Don Elgin responded, and the body was located at the bottom of a log jam.

Memories are still painful, but Bunny agrees "something good came out of it with the organization of North Valley Rescue."

Jack Thompson said the rescue group "was formed right then," when Dick Walsh got men together at the Home and suggested starting the organization. There was initial opposition from another valley rescue group. Bill Walterskirchen, Kalispell attorney, filed articles of incorporation, and North Valley Rescue Association became official two years later.

Early members included Bud Darling, Harold Dumay, Jim Personett, Bill Walterskirchen, Don Elgin, Ken Downen, Don Gimbel, Bill Bartell and Stan Downen. Jack Thompson was one of the first presidents.

Volunteers 34 years ago did not have the sophisticated equipment used today. Rescue calls were made through Columbia Falls Police Department. Four-wheel drive vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, diving equipment, radios, individual pagers and other technical aids necessary today were not available or, possibly, not invented.

Men and women in North Valley Rescue Association are on call 24 hours daily. Qualifications include having CPR training. There are also EMTs as well as men and women with first aid training.

Volunteers have worked diligently through the years to obtain rescue equipment. They are justly proud of "old blue," the narrower and longer, probably 20 foot outboard jet boat that, according to Thompson, "we started with," as the 1991 and 2003 boats also used in rescues today.

I don't know anything about boats. Terminology of "the 1991 inboard jet unit, that is a power house and has a regular Ford engine and the 2003 Mercury inboard jet unit also described as a power house," impresses me. Both are 17-foot aluminum boats.

Thompson built his airboat with a 250 Chevrolet engine with six-bladed variable-pitch propeller. Jack describes it as "having the power I always wanted, and can haul loads on it." He built his first airboat in 1963 and retired it between 1977 and 1980. Thompson then built his second one and followed this with present one in 1991. He had welder problems and did have assistance with welding on this favorite airboat.

Radio equipment used includes the base unit at the North Valley Rescue building. Members have their own individual units, and there are between 35 and 40 pagers in use during rescue missions. An ambulance was donated by Columbia Falls Ambulance Association (now Three Rivers). A blue van is loaded with divers equipment. There's a 1978 Ford four-wheel drive van to pull boats and a Chevrolet pickup.

Other equipment carried includes ropes, snowshoes, stoves and cooking supplies for overnight missions and first aid necessities. Rescue building is equipped with a computer, telephone and fax machine.

North Valley Rescue Association officers in addition to Jack Thompson include Mark Johnson, vice president; Larry Wilson, secretary; Rick Skyberg, treasurer; and Vic Darling, chaplain. Members of the board of directors are Lynn Ogle, Jack Von Lindern, Larry Rossill, Rich Burke and Ken Vanderhorst.

Search leaders and coordinators are Sheriff Jim Dupont, Jack Thompson, Mark Johnson, Ken Vanderhorst, Ron Kruger, Brack Griffith, Lee Downes, Rick Skyberg and Larry Rossill. Deputy coordinator for both North Valley and Flathead Rescue is Tom Snyder.

Business meetings take place on first Tuesdays at the North Valley Rescue Building, 400 Veterans Drive, Columbia Falls. Training sessions are third Tuesdays at the Rescue building or designated locations.

Annual fund raising dance takes place Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Blue Moon. Tickets are $1 each or book of 10 for $9. First prize is a .270 Remington EDL Rifle, or winner can trade it in for anything of equivalent value at Snappy Sports Senter, Kalispell. Second prize is a half hour helicopter ride with Kruger Helicop-Tours, West Glacier. Winner of third prize will receive use of snowcats for two people for one-half day, donated by J & L Rentals, Columbia Falls. Fourth prize is $100 cash.

Thompson commented the group is appreciative of Dick Sapa's help with fund raising events at the Blue Moon through the years. Donations may be mailed to North Valley Rescue Association at P.O. Box 2041, Columbia Falls.

One of the happy endings for North Valley Rescue members took place Sept. 25, when an empty boat was reported in the North Fork River.

Previously, passerbys observed a boat in the river "with two kids using tennis rackets instead of oars." The boat continued past Canyon Creek and Glacier Rim. Next time the boat was seen it was reported that no one was in it.

North Valley Rescue was alerted and searchers gathered with boats and equipment. Responding to the Saturday afternoon call were Mike Chapin, Reann Fitzgerald, Rick Burke, Larry Rossill, Janet Yatchak, Randy Ward, Rick Skyberg, Ken Vanderhorst, Mike Rubertone, Shaunna Mitton, Mike Van Leuven and Jack Thompson with three boats.

They searched unsuccessfully for about two hours when notified that the boys were safe. The youths had apparently been thrown out of the boat in rough water by Fool Hen Hill and climbed the bank to the road.

North Valley Rescue volunteers retrieved the aluminum boat down river by Blankenship. They learned the boys lived in the Bailey Lake area, and Jack Thompson took the boat to the home. Residents did not answer the door, so Thompson left the boat.

This mission required about 24 hours searching time plus travel to and from the location by volunteers. The Sept. 25 incident had a happy ending with no drownings.

Personally, I feel it has an unhappy ending, as parents or the boys have apparently failed to thank or even acknowledge that North Valley Rescue Association members spent a Saturday afternoon donating time to help them.