Unveiling Honorary Benches at Harrell Forest

A devoted passion project came to fruition this week as three beautiful benches were brought to Harrell Forest, dedicated to Don Schrage and his late wife, Delores. Their daughter, Linda, orchestrated a phenomenal team to manufacture and deliver the benches to three beautiful sites along the trail system.

A plaque on each bench honors Delores and Don Schrage. At the installation, Linda pointed out the irony of these beautiful resting places dedicated to her parents, since they have never been the resting kind. Don’s involvement in the project every step of the way speaks to that point. The gorgeous views from the benches of Flathead Lake and Swan Valley (where the family has owned land since the 1970s) do, however, reflect their love and appreciation for the incredible beauty of the area, where they loved to hike together.

Bob Martin led the team, with his many years of forestry and building experience. The process was many-faceted, beginning with selecting and cutting the 100+-year-old larch on Bob’s family homestead. We are so grateful to Bob Martin, Don Schrage, Linda and Darryl Thompson, Mark and Jennifer Schrage, Ken Myers, and the entire team for bringing these gorgeous benches to Harrell Forest for the public to enjoy!

Photos: Top: Bob Martin (lead builder), Don Schrage, Darryl and Linda Thompson and Paul Travis at bench installation.

Above: Linda Thompson and her father, Don

A project of this size takes months of collaboration and dedication, with countless hours of donated work time. Join this mini-photo journey of the process:

As benches were being manufactured, the good people at Trees for Life volunteered their time on Arbor Day to thin the vistas at the Flathead Lake and Swan River view points. Many thanks to Trees for Life!

Above: Before and after vista clearing

Bon Martin measures diameter of larch from his homesteaded property.

Team Leader, Bob Martin Moving logs at his sawmill

Linda Thompson trying her hand at carving out the base log saddle where the seat log will sit.

Bob Martin and Don Schrage during initial construction at Bob’s shop

The Team: Leader Bob Martin, Mark Schrage, Don Schrage, Linda Thompson

Darryl Thompson and Ken Myers secure a bench to the tractor for transport

Bob placing bench at the Swan River overlook at Harrell Forest

Linda Thompson and her husband Darryl Thompson testing out the bench

Bob Martin, Don Schrage, Darryl Thompson and Jen Guse at bench installation