Rural schools of past, today

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

We were discussing rural schools recently and this aroused my curiosity.

It made me wonder just how many rural — we used to call them country — schools are in Flathead County.

Next I remembered Margaret Ellman telling me about her teaching career. She taught at five rural schools in Flathead County. Margaret's first teaching job was during World War II. She was issued a letter of authorization from the State of Montana after five weeks of study at Eastern Montana College. First position was at Cabille School out of Ryegate where she earned $135 per month and lived in the teacherage.

Then she studied 10 weeks at EMC for second authorization. Next followed elementary classes at Swan River, Kila and Marion schools.

Margaret taught the lower room at Kila and recalled George Dennison, now UM president, was a student in the upper room.

Margaret was married to Jim Ellman, Columbia Falls, Aug. 28, 1948. Her teaching days were on vacation but the Ellmans became parents of four children.

Classes at Half Moon School followed after Lulu Barnard, county superintendent of schools, asked her to fill a vacancy there. Next classes were at Deer Park School.

Dulane Fulton, superintendent, and Phil Nelson, principal, asked Margaret to teach in Columbia Falls and she accepted. She retired in 1984.

Margaret said she is 85 years old and retired when she was 60. She is a long time member of St. Richard's Catholic Church. Her husband, Jim, died Feb. 3, 2001; their son, Doug, who studied to enter the priesthood, died July 11, 2000 and youngest son, Greg, passed away Jan. 29, 2009. Other family members are Connie Ramey, Columbia Falls, and Dennis Ellman, Tulsa, Okla.

A very helpful, knowledgeable Mary Juntunen provided information when calling the county superintendent of schools about rural schools.

County superintendent of schools is Marcia Sheffels.

There are 15 rural schools throughout Flathead County. Number of students in each school was readily supplied by Mary. She explained they are working on the current year's enrollment numbers but was glad to tell me last year's student totals.

Rural schools and number of students are as follows: Cayuse Prairie, 201; Creston, 86; Deer Park, 88; Evergreen, 749; Fair-Mont-Egan, 176; Helena Flats, 224; Kila, 152; Marion, 123; Olney-Bissell, 91; Pleasant Valley, 6; Smith Valley, 205; Somers, 571; Swan River, 142; West Glacier, 22; West Valley, 403.

Annexations and consolidations have resulted in fewer rural schools in recent years.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News