Coram family left homeless after fire

Dennis and Bea Beard said they woke to their son yelling “fire” and were able to escape the blaze without injury. An older dog died in the fire.

The Beards work at Glacier View Golf Course during the summer season. The couple have six children, the youngest of whom is 18 months old. Their children attend school in Columbia Falls.

The family was renting the home in Coram and has no insurance to cover their personal belongings.

The American Red Cross stepped up with emergency assistance for some basic necessities and arranged motel accommodations through Friday night.

The Beards will stay with family members until they can find a home to rent, according to Sharon Bengtson, a friend of the family who is leading the fundraising effort. The family hopes to find a rental between Columbia Falls and West Glacier, she said.

Bengtson has established an online donation center through Youcaring.com at www.youcaring.com/emergency-fundraiser/beard-family-disaster-fund/305941#.VN0HeeZVRnI.email.

Donations also may be made through Whitefish Credit Union, where Dennis Beard has an account.

Columbia Containers is donating a container for one month to help store items, Bengtson said. Arrangements are still being made to store larger items until the family finds a home.

Clothing and kitchen items may be dropped off at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road north of Kalispell, during church office hours Monday through Thursday. West Glacier School also is accepting smaller donated items.

Anyone with furniture to donate may e-mail Bengtson at beardfund@gmail.com or t.s.bengtson@gmail.com.

Flathead Valley residents are rallying to help a Coram family of eight who lost all of their belongings in a Feb. 9 house fire on U.S. 2. An electrical malfunction is believed to have caused the fire, which destroyed the home.

Dennis and Bea Beard said they woke to their son yelling “fire” and were able to escape the blaze without injury. An older dog died in the fire.

The Beards work at Glacier View Golf Course during the summer season. The couple have six children, the youngest of whom is 18 months old. Their children attend school in Columbia Falls.

The family was renting the home in Coram and has no insurance to cover their personal belongings.

The American Red Cross stepped up with emergency assistance for some basic necessities and arranged motel accommodations through Friday night.

The Beards will stay with family members until they can find a home to rent, according to Sharon Bengtson, a friend of the family who is leading the fundraising effort. The family hopes to find a rental between Columbia Falls and West Glacier, she said.

Bengtson has established an online donation center through Youcaring.com at www.youcaring.com/emergency-fundraiser/beard-family-disaster-fund/305941#.VN0HeeZVRnI.email.

Donations also may be made through Whitefish Credit Union, where Dennis Beard has an account.

Columbia Containers is donating a container for one month to help store items, Bengtson said. Arrangements are still being made to store larger items until the family finds a home.

Clothing and kitchen items may be dropped off at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road north of Kalispell, during church office hours Monday through Thursday. West Glacier School also is accepting smaller donated items.

Anyone with furniture to donate may e-mail Bengtson at beardfund@gmail.com or t.s.bengtson@gmail.com.