LIVE LIKE A PRO
2025 GMC YUKON DENALI
INCLUDES ELEVATION STANDARD FEATURES, PLUS ADDS OR SUBSTITUTES
• 6.2L V8 engine with 10-speed automatic transmission
• Power-sliding center console
• Multicolor 15" diagonal Head-Up Display
• Heated and ventilated front seats
AVAILABLE
FEATURES
• SUPER CRUISE®
hands-free driver assistance technology with 3-year OnStar® Super Cruise Plan
• Enhanced Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine
• 22" and 24" aluminum wheels
CORWI N MOTORS OF KALISPELL
Gratitude.
This issue's theme of gratitude hits at the right time of my writing this letter. We have just welcomed a new person to the magazine team—your new local editor, Summer Zalesky—and I feel so grateful to have once again trusted my gut in finding the right person for this job. I'll let her introduce herself in the next issue's letter, but for now, I'll focus on what is in my heart of hearts when things fall into place.
Gratitude, I've learned, is a practice. Some days I'm seeped in it, just grateful for the breath of life. Other days, it's challenging to just find a granular amount because I get stuck in the murky details of hard times. But the important thing is finding it yet again—that thankfulness and fullness of following my core beliefs. I found Summer right at the end of the actual season by way of a rather untrodden path.
Today's job world has avenues. There are countless career sites, a lot of which you pay for, and the details of anyone's experience reads like a resume. That might work for a lot of people but resumes aren't really that important to me. Credentials, yes, but I need more personality. What's at stake? What kind of life are you pursuing? What are your kids' names? Do you notice the sunrise and say something about it? Because that's the kind of stuff it takes to be an editor.
At any given time, especially when I'm not working, ideas come to me. Life comes at me. It could be something I heard on the radio about a business closing, a Facebook post about an employee of the month at my favorite store, or maybe learning about a new kid camp because I happened to say hello to the person behind me at the coffee shop. Life is, indeed, all around us. And it takes an editor to connect those magical times throughout the day and make something of it. I found Summer via Instagram, through the weeds of tags and keywords. It was a rabbit hole—my favorite way to someone! But what I found was entirely her. I saw real emotion, real reason for being here, and the important people in her life. I knew this magazine needed to give her a chance.
With so much being thrown at us on any given day, I hope this issue allows you to take a step back and get in touch with your gratitude. There are great people out there doing great things. We could use more focus on that.
CHELSEA AGRO, EDITOR @FLATHEADVALLEYCITYLIFESTYLE
November 2025
PUBLISHER
Greig Fahnlander
Greig.Fahnlander@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Chelsea Agro | Chelsea.Agro@CityLifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Porsche Jean Photography 406PsPhotography@Gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Chelsea Agro, Sydney Ludden, Julie Schnieders, Susie Wall
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Julie Schnieders
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
Proverbs 3:5-6
Managing Your Residential & Commercial Site Work Needs
From start to finish, we can handle it all.
Site design and layout, clearing, roads and driveways, underground utilities, septic systems, retaining walls, foundations, final grading and so much more!
Have your ideal piece of property and looking to build your dream home?
Let us help you get started and bring it to reality. We utilize the latest in technology and equipment to ensure a top-quality finished product the first time and on time!
inside the issue
The Ride of Rescue
Two
Bigfork
Roof
Festival of Flavors Grand Wine Tasting
On Saturday, November 1 between 6 and 9 p.m., engage in an unforgettable evening of exquisite wine sampling and small bites from local chefs. The event takes place at the Wachholz College Center at Flathead Community College to celebrate our community’s culinary talents while raising vital funds for student scholarships. Enjoy the opportunity to be part of something larger than yourself and support the cause through silent and live auctions. Tickets are $125 per person and must be purchased in advance through FVCC.edu/About/FVCC-Foundation
Northwest Montana History Museum
Enjoy a night at the museum! November’s film is “It’s a Mad Mad Mad World” (1963) with the premise of a mysterious driver dead on the highway, $350,000, and a no holds barred race to the treasure. The screening will take place in the Swanberg Classroom at the Northwest Montana History Museum and doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a movie start time of 7 p.m. Admission and popcorn are free but soda, water, beer or wine will be available for purchase.
Bigfork’s Holiday Art Walk & Tree Lighting
On Saturday, November 22 beginning at 4 p.m., partake in the Holiday Art Walk in Bigfork. Liven up your festive spirit with a walk through local shops, galleries, and boutiques and admire the Christmas lights strung through town. Enjoy wine, treats, and special holiday sales for those just-right gifts. Wrap up the evening at 7 p.m. at the Bigfork Inn for the annual tree lighting ceremony.
Kalispell,
Scan to read more
THE RIDE OF RESCUE
Two Bear Air Rescue's chief pilot shares a behind-the-scenes look at the world-class aviation support of our region
ARTICLE BY CHELSEA AGRO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PORSCHE JEAN PHOTOGRAPHY
“It’s almost like you’re looking through binoculars and trying to drive a car,” says Chief Pilot of Two Bear Air Rescue James Heckman, as he references the risks and challenges of piloting a helicopter at night to complete a rescue. This particular flight was a call from Borah Peak, Idaho where a hiker was suffering from altitude sickness at 10,000 feet. In aviation speak, this means the air is thinner and there’s less lift. The winds are gusting, there’s no reference point, no peripheral vision. It’s all hands and voices on scene, and even though it’s high stakes, this is essentially another day on the job for the team that makes up this world-class lifesaving search and rescue team.
“You’re looking through these goggles and your head’s just gotta be on a swivel,” says James. “I recall telling our systems operators, ‘Man you need to just be—you need to be talking a lot and you need to be on your game as best as possible tonight because things are going to be challenging for me and I need all the information from you to help keep us in that one specific location’…When you’re on a ridge line at night and the highest thing is a rock, and it’s a long ways from the helicopter, you have a really tough time trying to maintain your position off of that.”
James chalks up how he landed his position within this air support crew as “right place, right time” but it’s that steadiness and
humble nature with which he also speaks from that perfectly encapsulates any mission he’s called on. This is a team sport with a team mindset. They—the ex-coastguard rescue swimmer, ex-marine, ex-army, ex-PJ, just to name a few—are equipped with high caliber knowledge, strength, and experience that the gig requires.
“We are currently staffed so we always have one EMT and one paramedic on board so we have the ability to provide that advanced, lifesaving rescue or medical care,” says James. “It’s all just like an orchestra.” And that orchestra is made up of three pilots with rotating schedules, six full-time rescue specialists, and six deputies from Flathead County Sheriff’s office who are assigned to the program. And of course, a very important mechanic. On any given rescue mission, there is one pilot and two
“WE ARE CURRENTLY STAFFED SO WE ALWAYS HAVE ONE EMT AND ONE PARAMEDIC ON BOARD SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT ADVANCED, LIFESAVING RESCUE OR MEDICAL CARE."
rescue specialists, to run the hoist and ride the hook. And it all begins with something that James speaks highly of—an SOS device. Once the SOS button is pressed, that information goes to a call center and is routed to the local sheriff’s office to be assessed for the best possible resources.
“Based on location, can we send the ground crews in there? Or based on the injuries, is it more advantageous to get air support as fast as possible?” says James, describing what goes through the deputy’s
mind when a search and rescue call comes in. Since Two Bear Air Rescue is not a direct call for the public to use on a whim, James describes the process. “They’ll screen the call, make sure we are the best resource. From there it goes to the on-call pilot, so myself or the other two, and we gather the details, maybe assist in the accept or decline responsibility, and of course always look at the weather and determine if we can actually make it on scene.” From there, James will call the on-duty rescue specialists, convene at the helicopter and try to be off the ground no more than 45 minutes from receiving the initial call.
Something that keeps coming up in conversation, and keeps humbling us as humans living in this particular region, is weather. James mentions it several times to give it the credit it deserves. “Like everybody who lives
in this valley or whomever receives this magazine knows, forecasting weather in northwest Montana is extremely challenging, so we can look at the forecast all day long and get on scene and be like, ‘Wow, I wish I would’ve known the winds were blowing 35 knots up here,’” says James. “You know, you’re in the mountains, it’s tough. Bless their hearts, those meteorologists.”
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Two Bear Air Rescue averages two to three rescues per week. Frequent flights cause
wear and tear on a helicopter, so the team is getting a brand new one come January 2026. “I guess you can relate it to buying a brand new car,” says James with a laugh. “Theoretically, you’re not going to have any problems for twenty plus thousand miles.”
While we can all imagine sitting in a brand new car, maybe it’s a bit of a stretch to even begin to understand the background of James Heckman, who showed up in Kalispell with a resume in hand to attend flight school in the midst of the Great Recession. With a firefighting background repelling out of helicopters, James had a preference for this line of work. The owner of the flight school was in works with other folks trying to start Two Bear Air Rescue and James pretty much worked for them right away when they needed a second pilot.
“I always dreamed of flying search and rescue and multi-mission aircraft down in the Grand Canyon and here I get an opportunity to fly for Two Bear Air Rescue in northwest Montana and cover a much larger area in a state-of-the-art helicopter—brand new—with a worldclass crew, and I get to sleep in my own bed every night,” says James. A dream job, he agrees.
But we never know the value of a dream until we’ve seen nightfall (particularly through night vision goggles like James), and the “happy ending” doesn’t come until the job is complete. “Soon as we get the patient on board and we’re flying away from the scene—it could be gusty, it could be high and all that stuff—but the weight certainly is lifted from our shoulders quite a bit,” says James. “I don’t feel like that relief comes until perhaps we fill up with a full bag of gas and we’re headed back to the airport and the mission is over, the person is safe, they’re in good care, and we’re through with what we needed to do to help that person.”
Whitefish philanthropist Michael Goguen supports all costs of this program, leaving no funding responsibilities to taxpayers.
real CAUSE of your issue and create a personalized corrective and rehab protocol to
heal and can only happen by finding the cause of symptoms and resolving the
From our state of the art posture analysis program, range of motion testing, palpation examination, and X-Ray machine we don’t guess when it comes to your health and well-being, we test!
We treat the patient and their body as a whole, not just separate parts and systems! From personalized structural corrective chiropractic care adapting the spine and nervous system, Decompression therapy, to exercise and nutrition coaching, to detox protocols and free monthly health workshops, our mission is for you to reach the highest functioning form you can and live out your God given potential.
BIGFORK VFW POST 4042 HAS VETERANS AND COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF EVERY EFFORT
Camaraderie in Community
ARTICLE BY SUSIE WALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PORSCHE JEAN PHOTOGRAPHY
“We're open to the public and we want everybody to come in. It’s truly a community gathering place.
Members of Bigfork VFW Post 4042 dedicate their lives to service of their country and to service in their community.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) is a nonprofit national service organization and one of the oldest veterans’ organizations in the country. Membership is made up of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard, and reserve forces with the mission of fostering camaraderie among U.S. veterans of overseas conflicts, serving veterans and their communities, and advocating on behalf of all veterans.
Since its charter in 1976, the members of Bigfork VFW Post 4042 have been striving to fulfill this mission within their tight-knit community. Steve Gordon is the current Commander of the Bigfork VFW.
“We serve all veterans in our community, whether they are VFW members or not,” Steve says. “It doesn’t matter whether you are National Guard or active duty, we’ll do whatever we can to help.”
The Bigfork VFW is comprised of a little over 170 members with rotating Post officers that are selected by an annual vote. As Commander, Steve is pretty much in charge of everything from making sure their insurance is in order to heading up service committees to working with the staff that runs the Post’s club, bar, casino, and restaurant located at 8098 MT Highway 35.
“It’s a lot for me but it’s not a one-man show,” says Steve. “I have an excellent support team with the Board, our Quartermaster, Senior Vice Commander, and on down. Everybody is very helpful. I couldn’t do it without them.”
A strong local VFW auxiliary organization made up of family members of veterans also lends a hand, and the Post is happy to accept help from any volunteer, whether or not that person has a military connection.
Service to veterans, and to everyone in the community, is the driving force for all of the members of Bigfork’s VFW. “We want to be involved with the
community,” Steve says. They do this in a variety of ways from offering a helping hand to veterans in need to putting on or volunteering at local events.
Their physical club space is an important component of Post 4042’s mission and they are excited to have it. The upgraded facility is still fairly new since opening in 2017. For many years, they operated out of a much smaller building that did not have a proper kitchen. Active members at the time made the decision to buy the current building, which was the Masonic Lodge, and with a lot of help created the bright and airy space that stands today. Steve says, “The renovations were unbelievable. All the people working their butts off for months and months to transform the building. It was absolutely incredible.”
The facility serves as both an important revenue stream for the club, and a welcoming space for veterans and the whole community. “Some VFW chapters have private clubs that you cannot go in unless you are with them,” says Steve. “That’s a different dynamic from us. We’re open to the public and we want everybody to come in. It’s truly a community gathering place.”
It is also a place where veterans can find support among people who can understand their struggles and share similar experiences in service to their country. Steve says, “When (the military) has been your whole lifestyle for so long and then it’s done, it can be hard to transition. We want to be a place where people can sit and talk and be around like-minded people that have been through it.”
Steve cites his personal story as an example. He is a veteran of the United States Navy and spent the bulk of his military service aboard a submarine. Submariners make up just a fraction of all veterans. “Few veterans had the same experience as me just because I did such a weird job. I always joke that we fought the ocean. The ocean’s trying to get in all the time and we just had to keep it out to do our mission,” he laughs. “Everybody’s had a different experience but that doesn’t mean you
Here, you get to go and be around other people and just be there for your fellow veteran. “ ”
can’t share those experiences and commiserate. Here, you get to go and be around other people and just be there for your fellow veteran.”
Sometimes veterans need to talk, and other times they may need something more. Post 4042 is there to offer rides to the grocery store, hand out gift cards, help connect people to services through Veterans Affairs, or simply plow a driveway in the winter. “We just try to take care of veterans and their families in any way we possibly can,” says Steve. “We want to help them get on their feet and move forward.
But it is not just veterans that receive support from Post 4042. If the members see a need in the Bigfork community, they will try to do whatever they can to help. “Whether it’s manpower or money, if we have it, we will donate it,” says Steve.
For Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Veterans Day, the Post provides free food to veterans, and to others for a small donation. They have served anywhere from 100 to 200 people during these events. They also take part in the national event, Wreaths Across America, in which wreaths are placed on veterans’ graves in the local cemeteries during the holidays. This is no small deed as there are just over 300 veterans buried in Bigfork’s small cemetery alone. Wreaths are purchased using the post’s funds and from donations received from the community.
Also, for Veterans Day this year, as they do every year, the Post will conduct a flag retirement ceremony. Torn or tattered United States flags are disposed of in a dignified manner that involves burning the flags while being given the reverence they deserve.
The Bigfork community can also thank Post 4042 for one of its signature annual events, Rumble in the Bay. Every August, gleaming vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles parade down Electric Avenue. The event gained national attention in recent years and has become a big festivity that people in town look forward to all year. Due to its growth, the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce took over organization of the event but members of the VFW still play an active role and proceeds continue to support the Post 4042’s high school scholarship program.
Mentoring the next generation is another way in which the Bigfork VFW gives back. They collaborate with Bigfork’s Boy Scout Troop 1923 on projects each year. Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen are scholarships and awards programs offered to students who write patriotic-themed essays, not just in Bigfork, but in some of the smaller communities in the area as well that don’t have their own dedicated VFW post.
Steve is quick to say that all of the support that Post 4042 provides to the Bigfork community is recognized and given back in abundance whether it be people only buying fireworks from the VFW during their annual 4th of July fundraiser, or donating time and money when the need arises. “I do feel supported by the community,” he says. “I get a lot of ‘Thank you for your service,’ but also ‘Thanks to the VFW for what you do.’ Personally, I like that better. I think we do a lot for the size of our membership and there’s a lot of gratitude from the public because we do give back. I encourage everybody to reach out if you have an issue. We’ll try to do the best we can.”
Whether it's manpower or money, if we have it, we will donate it.
H O P E
with YOU
The holidays have a way of calling us back to what matters most—faith, family, compassion, and the quiet but powerful act of giving. As lights go up and calendars fill, there are still many who sit in silence, carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. But what if this season, you could be the spark that changes everything for someone else?
The founders of City Lifestyle, through their private foundation, are once again launching its annual Christmas Giving Campaign—a heartfelt effort to seek out and support individuals and families who have quietly fallen through the cracks. The mission is simple: to bring light, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.
Since its beginning just four years ago, this initiative has grown from a humble idea into a life-changing movement. Last Christmas alone, more than 200 families across the country received unexpected support—financial relief, but also something even more powerful.
“We don’t just send checks,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
Together with City Lifestyle President Matthew Perry, Steven has helped shape this into a tradition that goes far beyond charity. “This is about community,” Matthew adds. “We believe we’ve been blessed, so now we get to be a blessing.”
Every story begins with a nomination. Often, it’s a neighbor, coworker, friend, or teacher—someone who’s been quietly carrying too much for too long. One past recipient, after receiving unexpected support during a time of deep personal struggle, wrote:
SCAN TO NOMINATE
“We send a message: You are seen. You are loved. And you are not forgotten.”
“Beyond the very practical solution of receiving funds to fix my car, this thing you guys worked together to do is bigger than that. I carry the Christmas card you sent in my purse. When things get really hard, I pull it out and remember what it felt like to be seen. That card represents hope— that change for the better is possible. I’m not sure how many people get to carry hope around in their purse. But I do.”
Another wrote in after her husband was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and unable to work:
“This support has blessed our family not only financially, but emotionally and spiritually as we trust God to meet our needs throughout this difficult time. Thank you to our anonymous friend and to your foundation. What a joy and gift to be part of God’s family!”
Each year brings countless stories like these—real lives touched by simple acts of kindness. Some use the funds to pay overdue bills, others to afford groceries, medication, or repairs. But no matter the circumstance, the impact is the same: hope is restored.
This season, you have the opportunity to be part of that. The campaign is now open to nominations—completely confidential and prayerfully considered. Whether it’s someone battling illness, facing unemployment, or just in need of a helping hand, you can bring them a moment of grace that will ripple far beyond Christmas morning.
“Knowing my mom was chosen filled my heart with indescribable joy,” said another past recipient. “Your generosity doesn’t just brighten her life; it inspires hope and faith in all of us. It enables her to stay in her home and get back on her feet.”
Nominations are open from November 1st to December 5th, 2025. To submit someone you know, simply scan the QR code or visit @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the nomination form in the bio.
This holiday season, let’s give more than gifts. Let’s give each other the gift of being seen. Because sometimes, the smallest gesture becomes someone’s greatest miracle.
To nominate someone in need, visit: KingdomBuildingFoundation.org or scan the QR code.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE SCHNIEDERS
Determination on a Dirt Trail
Diagnosis didn't stand a chance when it came to Jewel Basin
After moving to Montana, I didn’t expect to be diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Always an outdoor enthusiast, I dreamed of hiking and skiing for the rest of my life. As I sat in the doctor’s office, I wondered “Would I be able to hike and ski again?” Grief filled my mind until a nurse came in. She told me I had two choices: give up or be even more active. I chose the latter.
Energized by the challenge, I now had new goals to reach, like hiking in Jewel Basin. I had never explored Jewel Basin in the 25-plus years I had been coming to Montana. Physical
therapy, strength training, a change in diet plus hiking sticks made all the difference for me as I hiked the Strawberry Lake trail in Jewel Basin.
Located in the Flathead National Forest just 30 minutes from downtown Kalispell, Jewel Basin is a hiker’s paradise. There are 27 alpine lakes and 35 miles of hiking trails. Many people compare Jewel Basin’s beauty to that of Glacier National Park. On Mt. Aeneas trail, the most popular trail in Jewel Basin, hikers can hike alongside mountain goats. A true local’s hiking playground.
Our college-aged son came with my husband and I on the hike. We always like to hike with him before he goes off to college. Traveling to Jewel Basin, newcomers can be caught off guard by the bumpy
road to get to the trailheads. Off of Echo Lake Road, the 3.3 mile drive up to Strawberry Lake trailhead is not for the faint of heart, even in my husband’s Ford 250. Welcomed distractions along the bumpy way are wildflowers and berries, including thimbleberries and our treasured huckleberries.
The trail to Strawberry Lake, with a 1,673-foot elevation gain, has many switchbacks and at times I questioned where I was headed. On the trail our son blazed ahead, thankfully with a walkie-talkie, gave us updates on how much further to go. He radioed us from a long flat ridge, which gave me hope as the numerous switch backs taxed my calves.
Once we got to the ridge line, I understood the beauty of Jewel Basin. Staggering natural beauty
CONTINUED >
from every angle. A panorama vista of Flathead Lake and mountainous valleys filled with lodgepole pines and tamaracks dotted our view. Simply breathtaking. From the ridge line the trail began a slow descent giving us a hint of an emerald-green lake tucked away in a forest of trees. Once on the shore of Strawberry Lake, we saw fish jump and we soaked up the peace and quiet, enjoying the mirrored effect of the alpine trees reflecting off the lake. A group of mountain bikers broke the silence, but they too respected the natural surroundings, quietly slipping into the lake to cool off. The mountain bikers then hopped on their bikes leaving us to enjoy the serene alpine lake all to ourselves.
Enjoying my respite by the lake I felt thankful for an incredible day outside enjoying the wonders of nature here in the Flathead Valley. Jewel Basin is truly a gem. It’s special because there are fewer people on the hiking trails than any other place I have hiked and I have been hiking since I was a child. It’s a secluded slice of nature that has a unique ruggedness and rawness about it that draws me closer to a higher power. Immersing myself in nature like what I found in Jewel Basin fills me with peace. It is a spiritual experience. Completing a hike like Strawberry Lake trail also fills me with courage and confidence that I can continue living my life to the fullest.
"Physical therapy, strength training, a change in diet plus hiking sticks made all the difference for me as I hiked the Strawberry Lake trail in Jewel Basin."
WITH A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, PRECISION, AND RELIABLE SERVICE,
We strive to not only elevate your space—but earn your trust along the way.
Montana Property Paint and Stain is proudly owned by Graham and Naomi Burden, a husband-and-wife team born and raised in the Flathead Valley.
A BROTHERLY Business
ROOF OPS REUNITES THREE BROTHERS AND SETS A NEW STANDARD FOR ROOFS IN OUR REGION
ARTICLE BY SYDNEY LUDDEN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROOF OPS
Founded in 2022 by brothers David, Jeremiah, and Joshua Foote, Roof Ops has quickly built a reputation for exceptional work in breathtaking locations across the Flathead Valley. Based just behind the Glacier airport in Kalispell, the company has already completed more than 200 projects from Eureka to Lakeside, delivering roofs that are as practical as they are beautiful.
The brothers each arrived at roofing along different paths. Jeremiah, the oldest, learned the trade of the mechanical-lock accent seam, which is now the company’s specialty. Joshua entered the industry in California, focusing on flat roofing systems. David, living in Texas at the time, helped secure financing for their new venture, then moved back to Montana with Joshua to join Jeremiah in launching Roof Ops.
Roof Ops became the Flathead’s trusted metal experts by saying yes when others wouldn’t. “We got our foot in the door by saying yes to working in the winter,” David says. “That first season, we got thrown some of the harder projects, but we proved we did quality work and grew from there. Now we’re booked out at least 6–8 months and have seen our business double year over year.”
The company offers shingle, wood shake, and spray-coated roofing systems, as well as gutters, metal siding, and snow breaks, but specializes in the mechanical-lock accent seam. Roof Ops handles both residential and commercial projects and operates its own metal shop, fabricating everything in-house, including custom trim. “Mechanical-lock accent-seamed roofs are not only a higher-quality roof, but ideal for our Montana climate,”
David explains. “Everything is hand-seamed, so it’s very rigid and doesn’t buckle or fold during all of the seasons we have. Ice damming is a big issue here, and this roof ensures water and moisture won’t get in.” Because this system is precise to install, it requires at least a year of specialized training, which the Foote brothers ensure every team member receives. They guarantee their roofs for life and expect them to last up to 150 years.
teams—fitting for three brothers who grew up playing the sport.
For the Footes, the company is about more than roofs. “Before starting the company together, it had been 12 years since I’d seen Jeremiah and Joshua, and we lived in different places,” David reflects. “Reuniting our brotherly fellowship and getting to work alongside them has been a nice change. Now we see each other every day— too much sometimes,” he adds with a laugh.
“Reuniting our brotherly fellowship and getting to work alongside them has been a nice change."
Community service is woven into the company’s fabric, a value rooted in the brothers’ missionary work in South America. They’ve completed pro bono repairs on churches and community buildings in the North Valley, participate every fall in “Leaf Relief” in their hometown of Libby to help older residents with yard cleanup, and sponsor local middle and high school baseball
All three brothers manage job sites but bring different strengths.
“Jeremiah is really good with the details—if there’s a complicated area of the roof, he knows what to do,” David says. “Joshua is great at setting big goals and dreaming big, so we always have something to work toward. I’m more of a practical lens and focus on logistics and operations.”
There’s no typical day at Roof Ops. The crews start early, on site by 6:30 or 7 a.m., with the brothers aligning the team before work begins. From there, it’s “a lot of running around,” David shares. With each brother leading his own crew and managing three or more projects simultaneously, they’re grateful to be building something together—both for their clients and for their community.
NEW HOMES, BUILT RIGHT
With over 30 years of personal building experience, Master Builder Shan Davis is dedicated to making your dreams a reality. We utilize high-end construction techniques and GREEN materials to assure that your home can withstand rugged Montana winters with style and comfort. Making your project a true masterpiece Built Right in Montana is committed to excellence in our communities and in the projects we build. We’ll help you take your ideas from the design phase to completion.
Whether it’s a custom home or a one-of-a kind remodel, MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE IS WHAT WE DO!
