Miriam Lewis was born and raised in Canada and spent most of her time between Lethbridge and Waterton. Upon graduation from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, she loaded her backpack and set out on a solo trip to see the world.

Her year-long travels took her through Europe and the South Pacific. Deciding it was time to establish roots, and being familiar with Whitefish, she bought The Place restaurant from Gary and Bev Elliot. It was there that she met Kurt, who was destined to become her husband.

The old adage about the way to a man's heart was proven true. He liked the food, and the rest is history. They have two daughters — Hanna, a sophomore, and Delaney, a fifth-grader. An "outdoorsy" family (Kurt is a fishing guide), they enjoy all the amenities — hiking, camping, cycling, skiing, etc.

Miriam points out that parents are led in the direction of their children's activities. Thus, she is or has been involved in various activities, such as swim team, softball, drama club and mentoring programs, and she is co-president of the PTA.

She is dedicated to the community and asserts that moving here was definitely the right move, saying, "Whitefish has sold itself to me over and over again." She is impressed by the cohesive quality of our community, saying, "Members of the community care about each other — they applaud positive accomplishments while giving support to the less fortunate."

She speaks highly of the North Valley Food Bank, where she has volunteered for years, and the Whitefish school system, toward which she directs most of her free time. She genuinely enjoys helping others and urges everyone to become involved, saying, "No matter what a person's status, that person's life is made richer by volunteering."

Miriam, your enthusiasm is infectious, and your good works are beyond measure. You have helped many people in many different ways, and we thank you.

— Jake Heckathorn

This column is dedicated to those who give freely of their time and energy to worthwhile community projects, but whose efforts often go unnoticed. If you know such a person, please e-mail [email protected].