Holly Behm and Crystal Donovan have always enjoyed hunting through thrift stores looking for a great buy. For years they talked about opening a store of their own, but it was the death of a friend that made them realize it was time.

“He always did everything — he didn’t just talk about it,” Behm said. “This was a good way to honor him.”

Their friend, Brett Thoft, died in an airplane accident in December 2014 just outside of Ronan. Thoft was a professional bush pilot based out of Wasilla, Alaska, who left behind a wife and two children when he died. Both of their husbands worked with him in Alaska.

Ten days after Thoft’s death, the women made a commitment to creating their business and opened Big Mountain Thrift shop in March on Highway 93 just south of Dalen Dental Clinic.

The store operates as a profit business, but has dedicated itself to giving back to the community. They have made a number of donations already to the Whitefish Community Library, North Valley Food Bank, The Springs at Whitefish, Family Friendly Flathead and Relay for Life. They have also created the Brett Thoft Memorial Fund, which gives scholarships to children who have lost one or both of their parents.

“It was really important for us to give back,” Donovan said.

“We wanted to support families,” Behm added.

In addition to monetary donations, they also save up items to donate to specific groups. They recently gave a box filled with tap shoes to Whitefish Dance. They’re preparing clothing to send to Heart Butte and Browning.

Big Mountain Thrift takes donations of clothing, household goods, shoes, furniture, bedding and toys. The women say they operate as a profit business so they can bring their kids along to work and run a business that can give back.

“We’re family-friendly,” Donovan said. “Usually there’s a kid running around in here without shoes or in a diaper. We want people to bring in their kids with them and not worry about breaking something.”

The store sells some items on consignment. They also have a selection of Montana made products including soaps, headbands and candles.

Both women base the store on their own experiences thrift shopping and wanting to find a bargain. Donovan recalls the time she ran down the street and tripped getting into a thrift store because of her excitement spying a designer label purse in the window.

“It’s modern-day treasure hunting,” Behm said. “I want to go dig around and say ‘Look what I found!’”

“The prices are so low because people were kind enough to donate to us,” Donovan said. “We know that shopping in a thrift store is about getting a good deal.”

Big Mountain Thrift is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information call 730-2305.