Dedicated to my parents, Gus and Catherine (McGuire) Gerhardt
Gus
was born November 20, 1903, in Cokedale, Montana. Catherine was born
November 14, 1907, in Butte, Montana. They were married June 1, 1934.
Gus, after working many years at Mouat Chrome Mill near Nye, Montana,
started a paint contracting business in Red Lodge, Montana. My father
never lost his love for learning and his great desire was to be a writer.
He enjoyed gardening, fishing and camping.
Catherine graduated from
Western Montana College, majoring in Elementary Education. She taught
over 50 years in the rural schools in Montana. Her first school was
a small log structure with 10 students. In those days, the teacher
was also the janitor and in my mother's case, also the "bus" driver.
The district bought a Model A Ford, which she drove picking up her
students and bringing them to and from school. Mom said her first
tasks on a winter morning were to start a fire in the wood stove that
heated the school and break the ice off of the water bucket.