Faith, friends and teamwork hold Bartlesons together for 50 years

Rod and Mardean Bartleson have plenty to celebrate. This hard-working, fun-loving couple recently celebrated the 38th anniversary of their business, Browning Lumber. This weekend, they will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Rod and Mardean met going to school in the Flathead Valley. Both farm kids, they had many friends in common. The first time they took notice of each other was during a rehearsal of the high school play, "Our Town." Rod was the stage manager and Mardean was singing in the choir.

"She had bright blue eyes," Rod said, "and this beautiful long ponytail. I kept asking my friends, 'Who is this girl?'" Finally they began to talk when Rod would drive Mardean home after rehearsal. Mardean was impressed by this mischievous, happy young man and they got to know each other better on these car rides.

Rod invited Mardean to his high school graduation and dinner with his family afterward. This was their first official date and the first time Mardean met his family. They all liked her and she liked them.

Connection with each other's families has been very important throughout the years. Rod became very close with Mardean's grandparents and family and considered them to be like his own even before they were married.

After graduation, Rod went to Seattle to work for Boeing and the couple kept in touch through letters. They would wait and wait for the letters, sometimes they would be 12 pages, sometimes two. This continued for a year or more, allowing their connection to deepen and they became good friends and companions.

When asked when she knew she would marry Rod, Mardean answers, "We had a lot of shared thoughts and the love grew over time."

Soon after they married, the young couple moved to Cut Bank. They spent the early time in their marriage working, sometimes together and enjoying the outdoors through camping and fishing.

In 1960 they were blessed with their first child, Mark. When he was born, there were four generations of Bartlesons! Colleen was born in 1961, a happy and healthy baby, and then Neal in 1966, the youngest of the family.

"Watching our children and grandchildren grow up has been the most thrilling," Mardean stated. There were many happy memories growing up. "We had an eight-foot skiff boat, and we would put the kids on water skis and I would paddle, if you can imagine that," Rod says.

Rod and Mardean also loved to watch the kids play sports and be involved in other activities.

One of the largest parts of Rod and Mardean's lives is their faith and the involvement in the St. Paul Lutheran Church for the last 50 years. Their faith grounds their marriage and their relationships with their family and friends. The couple treasures their connection to the church.

In 1971, the opportunity arose to start their own business, and Browning Lumber opened its doors. It was a whole new world for the family. Rod and Mardean had worked side by side before, but now they were called to work together as a team. There three children were also a part of their team.

"She was my trucker, my bookkeeper, my main hand," Rod remembers. "She would take the kids in the one-ton down to Great Falls to pick up loads." Everyone worked hard. There was a lot of encouragement and support from people in town and the store flourished.

This encouragement and support was needed in 1981 when the store burned down. It was a very trying time for the store and the family. With the kindness and support of the community and the many friends Rod and Mardean had made over the years, the store was rebuilt and continues to be a meeting place and part of the community.

When asked to reminisce about the happy memories of the store, Rod and Mardean both talk about the fine people they have met, the connection to the community and the friendships they have made as the best part of the years they have worked.

A great example of Rod and Mardean's commitment to the community was the Check Exchange. In 1983 the bank in Browning closed down. Rather than forcing people to leave town to cash their checks, possibly taking business away from local merchants, Rod and Mardean and their dear fiends, Paul and Barb Kingston, opened and operated a check cashing business for over two years.

Enjoying their time in the community and also in Montana has been highlight for Rod and Mardean.

Mardean can remember one year not so long ago when Rod was bucked off a horse, a four-wheeler and a snowmobile, all in one year! Rod continues to enjoy backcountry packing, fishing, hunting and cowboy cooking any chance he gets. Mardean is very active in the church and also in volunteer efforts with Immanuel Lutheran Home, where she has headed up the Christmas Gift Program for almost 50 years. Her Prayer Circle is something she always looks forward to.

When asked three things they like or admire about their spouse, Rod answered, "Her faith, she always has a smile on her face and something kind to say about everyone."

Mardean responded, "His genuine concern for me; his upbeat personality; and work ethic."

It is remarkable the traits that drew Mardean and Rod to one another have also kept their marriage strong for the last 50 years. Loving someone for who they are and appreciating those things-I think they are onto something!

What do the next years hold for Rod and Mardean? Good health-we all hope-and seeing the family that has spread out across the West. They continue to enjoy close relationships with their family and friends and have had a great year at Browning Lumber.

"I wouldn't change it," Mardean says of the last 50 years. "The Lord meant us to be here and it has been wonderful."

Happy 50th wedding anniversary Rod and Mardean!