There’s no questioning the commitment of the Neils family to Libby and south Lincoln County.

More than a century after Julius Neils arrived here and built a wood products industry that sustained it for several generations, family members are still endeavoring to help improve it.

The St. Joseph Catholic Church, located on Utah Avenue, is in need of major renovations. Family members of J. Neils are working with other community members to raise the necessary funds for the work.

Pat Neils, the wife of the late Herb Neils, one of Julius’ grandsons, explained her relationship to the church.

“To my surprise as I looked around inside the church, I saw that there were many people attending with whom I was already acquainted,” Neils said. “Since I have no children and the brothers and sisters I grew up with all live far away, I unofficially “adopted” St. Joseph’s Catholic Church as my new family.”

Part of the effort to raise the money is a series of presentations and dinners at the church. The second will be held Thursday at the St. Joseph Parish Hall. 

Beverages on the lawn begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. in the parish hall. Neils will give a presentation, “The Neils Family and the J. Neils Lumber Co. of Libby, Montana,” at 6:30 p.m.

Following the 45-minute presentation, a special raffle will be drawn for a pre-1964 Winchester 30-06 rifle from the collection of Herb Neils.

Tickets can be purchases by contacting Pat Neils at 808-348-3011, [email protected] or buying them at Thursday’s event.

The buffet dinner and beverages are complimentary, but free will donations will be accepted for the Parish Hall renovation.

Herb and Pat were married for 31 years before his death in 2009.

Pat stayed busy from 2010 until the present, playing golf and meeting many more Libby residents at Cabinet View Golf Course.  

“During all those years I would occasionally visit The Western News and read stories about the Neils family and the J. Neils Lumber Company of Libby, Montana,” Pat said. “As a historian, and for personal reasons, I was fascinated with that era from 1919 when Walter Neils (Herb’s father) arrived in Libby and began managing the mill here, until his death in 1975.”

Pat explained that one day during a visit to her brother in Arizona, the two octogenarians spoke about what the Catholic Church means to them.

“I told him that I wanted to see my book published, donate it to the Libby Heritage Museum, and become a good Catholic,” Pat said. “He said he wanted to share his wealth with many and diverse charitable organizations. I asked him if he would consider helping St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Libby and he said he would pledge $100,000 to that cause if the Church would agree to raise an equal amount in matching funds.”

Pat explained that the series of presentations is being organized not only to promote friendly community gatherings, but as a matching-fund-raising endeavor to renovate the parish hall for baptisms, weddings and countless other God pleasing events. 

“We invite the public to join us in this ecumenical event, welcoming every one of all Christian faiths,” she said.

The presentations will be once per month, on the second Thursday of each month. 

The next one will be Aug. 11. Jeff Gruber and Vince Backen will jointly present, "The Unravelling of the lumber industry and the future of Libby."

There will be another presentation on Sept. 10. The topic has yet to be decided.

For more information, contact Pat Neils at 808-348-3011, [email protected] or St. Joseph administrative assistant Katie Hennigan at [email protected] or at 293-4322.