With Covid restrictions in place, it is more important than ever this year to remember to honor Veteran's Day next Wednesday, I hope you will take time to honor all of the Veterans in your community. In our Big Timber, Montana community, we have an amazing World War II Veteran, whom I would like to give special honor this week, Virgil Gust.

Ninety-nine year old Virgil Gust is the proprietor of Gust’s Department Store on McLeod Street in Big Timber, Montana. Every day Virgil climbs the steep steps to his office in the loft of the store and oversees the business that he and his partner JQ Robbins began in 1947. Walking through the door at Gust’s is like stepping into a time machine and turning the dial back 70 plus years except that the merchandise is perfect for the needs of the small community in 2020. "We have outlasted the malls and the box stores. Now we have got to outlast Amazon,” explains Virgil regarding his mission statement for his business.

Virgil was born on the family farm in Reliance, South Dakota in 1921. “I was ten when my father died. Then the Great Depression took all our family’s money. We lost our farm, because the drought blew all the topsoil into big soil drifts, and the grasshoppers ate everything. We left the farm and moved to Chamberlain.”

Virgil worked cleaning the barber shop and shining shoes until he met JQ Robbins, who ran the local JC Penney store. In fact, when JQ fired his assistant manager, Virgil stepped in and worked as the assistant manager during his last two months of high school. “Mr. Robbins called the school and asked if I could work full time and do my coursework as homework. They agreed to allow that, and they still gave me a diploma,” Virgil recalled.

After Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, Virgil enlisted right away in 1942. He served as a torpedo man on the U.S.S Bagley until the war ended in 1945. A replica of the Bagley along with other treasured military memorabilia is encased in glass in the center of the store. Virgil kept a secret log of his years on the ship, and his log has been used in the research for several books about the Bagley and the war effort.

“We didn’t get off the ship for 22 months during the time we were on the offensive,” Virgil recalled. “One of my best memories is when Rear Admiral Whiting accepted the surrender of enemy forces on the forecastle of our destroyer, the Bagley, off the coast of Marcus Island on August 31, 1945. I was assigned to the quarter deck, so I was in charge of monitoring everyone who came on and who left the ship. I am honored to have been a part of that historic event.”

When the war ended, JQ Robbins had a position waiting for Virgil at a JC Penney store in Pierre, South Dakota. In 1947, JQ came to Montana, and Virgil followed him. They became business partners and purchased stores in Big Timber, Manhattan, Conrad, and Livingston. They dissolved their partnership in the 70’s, and Virgil retained ownership of the Big Timber and Manhattan stores, and purchased a Laurel store. Eventually he sold the other two stores and retained only the Big Timber store.

Just across the street from the Big Timber store, which was formerly called The Golden Rule, stands Cole Drug. The drug store owner, Edwin Cole, had a pretty daughter named Jane. Jane had earned a degree in Home Economics and an advanced degree in Fashion Design. “Long story short,” Virgil smiled, “She turned down a job with Utah Woolen Mills, and we got married. She let me have 99% of my wants. She only asked for one percent, so that made it easy for us to get along,” reminisced Virgil with a twinkle in his eyes. “She was very knowledgeable in merchandising, and she knew what people wanted and the sizes and colors to order it in.” Jane passed in 2006, leaving Virgil to run the store with the help of his family and several faithful employees.

“All three of our kids, Susan, Sara, and Ed, started working in the store in the summers during their high school and college years and continued helping out over the past 40 years,” Virgil explained. “Now, they are sort of boosting me out. I mostly just show up every day.

Virgil’s daughter, Susan St. Germain, noted, “Our customers have been amazingly loyal--especially during this pandemic. They have been very patient about waiting for their orders to come in. We are constantly trying to find new ways to advertise and bring people into the store. Dad created Gust’s Bucks as a reward system long before chain stores started using reward systems. Probably about a third of our business is our custom t-shirt and embroidery business.”

“I have had a lot of people help me. My mother passed away when I was a sophomore in high school, and a woman named Margaret Plot and her family took me in. A small community is about helping each other. We have many customers who just don’t want to drive to Billings or Bozeman, and we also have good tourist traffic in the summer,” Virgil emphasized.

Virgil enjoys hunting, camping, boating, bowling, and gardening. He has no immediate plans to retire and pursue leisure pursuits; although he did build his own greenhouse during the store’s Covid slowdown.

“Big Timber has been very good to us. It has been a great place to live and raise our family. The Sweet Grass County people are loyal and take care of their own,” Virgil concluded.

If you get a chance, thank Virgil and all the Veterans you meet for their service to our country! Thank you for your service to our country and our community, Virgil Gust!

Although we weren't able to do any tailgating this year, we can still crack out some of our favorite tailgating recipes for holiday dinners. This week I would like to share a few ideas for the upcoming holidays!

Seven Layer Mexican Dip:

1 lg. can refried beans

1 tub guacamole dip

16 oz. sour cream

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 lg. tomato, diced

4 green onions, chopped

1 can sliced black olives

1 C. grated cheddar cheese

Frost a large platter with refried beans; top with guacamole. Mix sour cream and seasoning and spread this layer on top of the other two. Sprinkle chopped onions, tomato, black olives, and cheese over all. Serve with tortilla chips.

Homemade Irish Cream:

1-3/4 C. of your favorite whiskey, brandy, rum, bourbon, or Scotch

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 C. whipping cream

4 eggs

2 T. chocolate syrup

2 t. instant coffee

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 t. almond extract

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Keep refrigerated. Serve over ice or add to coffee as desired. Notice that this recipe contains raw eggs!

Hot Chili Dip:

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. Velveeta, cubed

1 can diced tomatoes with green peppers

1 can green chilies

garlic, onion, and chili powders to taste

2 T. sour cream (optional)

Brown beef and drain; combine with all other ingredients in a crockpot. Cook on high at least one hour, stirring often. Great with chips or crackers. (You may substitute canned chili for the burger.)