MontanaWithKids.com

Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk

I heard an interesting tidbit at the annual Terry Roping Club meeting held recently at the Lazy JD Bar and Restaurant in Fallon, Montana.

Mark Dolatta, describing some of the local colorful Terry history, said that in Montana a gathering of four or more Indians (p.c. Native Americans) is considered a war party and you are allowed to shoot them on sight. (more…)

Zuni and Hopi, the Terry Montana Prairie Dogs, see their shadows

Dateline: Terry, Montana
Reported by: Bob van der Valk

Zuni and Hopi, the twin prairie dogs, came out of their burrow in Terry, Montana and prophesied six more frigid weeks in Montana on Friday, January 29, 2010 sharp at 4:30 pm. That is three days earlier than when their cousin Phil in Pennsylvania usually comes out for his annual prognostication on winter weather (more…)

Greg Klevgard and his sons, Bo and Shane, from Ismay, Montana stopped by the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry. The last time they had stopped by for lunch Greg and his family enjoyed the atmosphere so much they promised to come often. (more…)

Santa Claus meets Sinterklaas at the Stockman Bank in Terry, Montana

Dateline: Terry, Montana
December 4, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle arrived at the Festival of Lights Parade in Terry, Montana on December 1st this year. He visited with the people along the parade route as well as stopping by the shops along Logan Avenue all lit up with bright holiday lights.

Saint Nicholas getting a Montana Huckleberry candy treat from Dale and Kathy Galland at the Prairie Unique in Terry, Montana

Saint Nicholas is a legendary figure who, in many Western Cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24th or on his Feast Day, December 6th (Saint Nicholas Day). This legend has part of its basis in tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. (more…)

Sinterklaas arriving by ship in Amsterdam, Holland - Photo courtesy of www.traveladventures.org

Sinterklaas will be joining various festivities in Terry, Montana in the week prior to his day being officially celebrated as a holiday in the Netherlands.

The big celebration for kids is not Santa Claus around Christmas time in the Netherlands, or Holland as is it best known around the world, but a few weeks earlier. On December 5th each year the whole country stops and takes time out for family get togethers on Saint Nicholas Eve. (more…)

The True Saint Nicholas - Why he matters to Christmas

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 19, 2009

Saint Nicholas will make a visit to Terry, Montana on December 5th at the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe from 10 until 11:30 am. In Holland he is celebrated on that day and considered to be the patron and protector of children. In the Netherlands St. Nicholas is celebrated on the 5th, the eve of the day he passed away, by sharing candies (thrown in the door), chocolate initial letters, small gifts, and riddles. Dutch children leave carrots and hay in their shoes for the saint’s horse, hoping St. Nicholas will exchange them for small gifts. Simple gift-giving in early Advent helps preserve a Christmas Day focus on the Christ Child.

Bob van der Valk and his family have been celebrating the Dutch Christmas tradition of Sinterklaas, since arriving into the United States from Holland on December 3, 1956. His daughter, Inger Koppenhaver, has many fond memories of spending Christmas Eve with her father’s family awaiting the arrival of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas. (more…)

The Evelyn Cameron Gallery in Terry, Montana

Juli Thorson is the Editor and Associate Publisher of the Horse & Rider Magazine

Yesterday, I was finally able to do something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.

I got to visit the Evelyn Cameron Gallery of her pioneer photography in Terry, Montana.

Never heard of her? That’s OK–most people haven’t, even though she is in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and was the subject of a 2005 PBS documentary. (more…)

The van der Valk Gas Price Advisory for November 13, 2009

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 13, 2009 9:00 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

The December WTI crude oil price is down almost a buck a barrel this morning and is heading south somewhere towards the lower 70’s in the next few days. This is the beginning of the end in the late season run-up for crude oil prices. West Coast spot market pipeline prices are down 4 cents for gasoline and 5 cents for diesel as well. (more…)

Prairie County MT American Legion Honor Squad - June 1960

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 11, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

The Prairie County American Legion Post #32 will hold their Annual Veterans Day Parade on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 2 p.m. in front of the Stockman Bank Building on Logan Avenue in Terry, Montana. (more…)

Landon Pigg and the Troth of Us with Inger Koppenhaver

Landon Pigg and the Troth of Us dropped by the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana on Saturday afternoon November 7, 2009. He and his group were on their way from Minneapolis to Seattle and felt an urge to drink some good coffee. They also picked up a basketball and football at Netzer Trustworthy Hardware store for some athletic recreation to keep them occupied during their road trip. (more…)

The Great Northern Railroad was completed in 1893

Dateline: Terry, Montana
November 7, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

In Wall Street parlay: “Warren, let’s do lunch next time you’re in town”. This is an invitation for Warren Buffett to visit our small town of Terry in Eastern Montana. He will discover the rich history of Terry includes being one of the original stops on the railroad line built by the Northern Pacific railroad line. (more…)

The following letter was posted on the web site of Senator Max Baucus at: http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=contact

You may also contact Senator Baucus at his office number (406) 365-7002

Dear Senator Baucus:

Your response to my previous message about your health care reform bill used the usual boiler plate language thrown out to the uninformed voters in Montana.

However, since we actually read newspapers and watch cable news in Terry, our small town U.S.A., we are able to obtain our information unbiased towards any point of view in the current political climate. (more…)

Paul and Linda Nygard from Billings, Montana enjoying breakfast at the Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe in Terry, Montana before hunting antelope in Prairie County

The van der Valk Eastern Montana Gas Price Advisory for 10-12-09

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
October 12, 2009 9:30 AM MDT

Hunters have been arriving in Terry by the droves since last week Friday in time for the start of the annual hunting season. They will be after herds of antelopes, which have propagated thanks to the great summer weather greening up the prairies.

They have also enjoyed seeing lower gas prices to fill up their trucks, vans and SUVs while driving to Terry from as far away as Minnesota and Idaho. The Four-Corner gas station in Terry is selling regular unleaded gasoline for only $2.479 per gallon this morning. (more…)

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 10, 2009 4:00 PM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

Hungry hunters will have another place to eat for breakfast in Prairie County, Montana just in time for the start of the hunting season in Eastern Montana. (more…)

Jack the Horse and Shelby his owner trekked over 8 hours from Western Montana to Terry, Montana just to enjoy some of the Badlands Cafe's delicious marinated tomatoes and Montana's famous Huckleberry ice cream

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 4, 2009 7:00 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

The nightly sunset puts a special glow over the town of Terry, Montana presenting a very picturesque setting ready for a master’s brush. Kids are practicing at their special brand of soccer in Murn Park in the center of town or riding their bikes up and down the paved streets. (more…)

Official Seal of the City of Hardin, Montana

Dateline: Terry, Montana
October 3, 2009 5:30 AM MDT
By: Bob van der Valk

Once upon a time there was a man named Captain Michael, who tried to take over of Hardin, Montana with his American Police Force (APF). Now Miodrag Dokovich, or Captain Michael as he preferred to be called, was from a strange land called California where people live in the lap of luxury and think of people in Montana as hicks and hayseeds. (more…)

Scroundrel in Hardin, Montana being run out of town on a rail

This is an update on the story of the American Police Force arriving in Hardin, Montana last week with three blackened out Mercedes Benz SUV’s emblazoned with “Hardin Police Department” on their side doors. (more…)

Two Rivers Regional Detention Center in Hardin, Montana

Shirley Adams is the wife of Ron Adams, the mayor of Hardin, Montana, and answered questions for this article about the privatizing of the Hardin police. Shirley said that no such thing had occurred and that the Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence “Pete” Big Hair and his deputies are still patrolling their city of about 3,500 residents, a town about 45 miles southeast of Billings. (more…)

The promise of the authentic Terry Badlands look and feel hits you as soon as you enter the Badlands Café and Scoop Shoppe located in downtown Terry, Montana. (more…)

Inger and Arline Koppenhaver cutting the ribbon to officially open their Badlands Cafe and Scoop Shoppe for business on 9-5-09

Dateline: Terry, Montana
Article by: Bob van der Valk
Pictures by: Kay Braddock of the Terry Tribune

Arline and Inger Koppenhaver officially opened their new cafe in Terry, Montana on Saturday, September 5, 2009. Their families and Terry residents were in attendance to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony that went off with great fan fare. (more…)

The Calypso Peak is just one of the spectacular sights to be seen in the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area

Dateline: Terry, Montana
By: Bob van der Valk
September 16, 2009

For hiking, photography, sightseeing and wildlife viewing the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area cannot be missed. It is located three miles northwest of Terry, Montana, north of the Yellowstone River, with access to the scenic overlook by a westbound dirt road directly off “The Big Sky Backcountry Byway” Highway 253 currently closed due to a dispute between the private property owner and Prairie County. (more…)

The scary part is the one as you drive up the building where you are greeted by a giant T-Rex that seems to be bursting fright through the wall of the building into the parking lot.

The Koppenhaver and van der Valk families traveled to Glendive, Montana last June to view the exhibits on display at their just recently opened Dinosaur and Fossil museum. (more…)

Honor Guard pausing in front of parade viewers during the playing of the National Anthem

Dateline: Fallon, Montana
September 7, 2009
By: Bob van der Valk

When the good folks on the Fallon Village Council made plans at their meeting last June, to have their popular harvest festival on September 6, 2009, they knew in advance that it would probably be one of the hottest days of the year. And they were not disappointed with temperatures on the parade and event route reaching almost 100 degrees. (more…)

From left to right: Jerry holding baby Samuel, Paul, Inger, Nathan, Emily, Kayla, Arline Koppenhaver, Bob and Tammy van der Valk

Co-owners Arline and Inger Koppenhaver named their 50’s style diner, located in downtown Terry, Montana, after the Badlands located just across the nearby Yellowstone River. (more…)

9th Annual Ranch Rodeo held by the Terry Roping Club at the Prairie County Fairgrounds on August 9, 2009

Dateline: Terry, Montana

We moved to Terry, Montana in May of 2009 to be close to family and since then tried to learn more about the beautiful area we now call home. Meanwhile, we are enjoying life in our new town and its quiet country style atmosphere. (more…)

This charming cafe will be a delight to local as well as “just traveling” through town diners with its creative menu. (more…)

This weekend the town of Terry will be enjoying small community festivities including corn hole tossing at their annual Yippee! Day festivities.

Small Towne RV Park in Terry, Montana invites you to come spend some time with us in our spacious, clean, and quiet RV Park. We have easy smooth access close to 1-94 with Manard and Myra, your very friendly host and hostess. (more…)

The town of Terry, Montana has been abuzz lately with the report that a new eatery, Badlands Café and Scoop Shoppe, will be opening soon! Arline and Inger Koppenhaver, a mother/daughter-in-law team, have recently purchased a restaurant located in the central business district of Terry, Montana. (more…)