Bennington book recalls living in the Mission Valley
BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years AGO
"Blind Date" by Bill and Joyce Bennington
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | October 19, 2023 12:00 AM
A resident of the Mission Valley for more than 20 years, Bill Bennington taught at Salish Kootenai College, as did his wife, Joyce.
In “Blind Date” Bill has written about their adventurous life, and Joyce has added her reflections.
With a photograph of the old Dupuis barn gracing the cover, there are several chapters, 8-10 and parts of 11, that talk about their love of Montana, teaching at SKC, and people in the area.
Bill offers an informative perspective on events and local history, including anti-tribal factions on the Flathead Reservation, the Hellgate Treaty, the General Allotment Act, and water rights.
At its heart, though, the book is a love story about a couple who were married as teenages: “Hard work, respect and mountains of love saw us through thick and thin, rough times and wonderful times, sad times,” writes Bill. “It is still true that when I look at Joyce I will forever see that lovely young girl that blew me away on a blind date.”
For more information on their book, go to benningtonauthor.com.
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