If you ever wanted proof that a small town shows up when it matters most, you didn’t have to look any further than the Montana Nightriders Snowmobile Club grooming shed on Saturday, April 25.

By the time the bonfire was crackling, the spaghetti was steaming and laughter filled the spring air, it was clear: this wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was a full-on community embrace for Jesse Chapen; a man many here simply describe as “the one who always says yes.” 

From a poker bar hop and cornhole tournament to silent and live auctions stacked high with donated goods, the day-long event had something for everyone. But at its heart was one purpose which was helping Jesse and his family through a stretch of medical challenges that have temporarily sidelined the hardworking logger.

Jesse’s grandmother, Anita Parkin, who is proud and loves him dearly said, “If he hadn’t been so obstinate about getting them fixed years ago when he should have, it would have helped. He’s worked through a lot of pain and misery just to avoid it to take care of his family.” 

That stubborn determination is something those closest to him know well. Lacey Hojem, Jesse’s partner of seven years, stood smiling as she looked over the bustling crowd. The couple shares three children and a love for the outdoors that runs as deep as the roots in the surrounding forests. 

“We enjoy all of the fun activities,” she said with a big grin referring to 4-wheeling, side-by-sides, ATV’s, and snowmobiles. “That’s how we get our enjoyment. We enjoy this beautiful place here.” 

But years of that rugged lifestyle like logging, hunting, and what Hojem jokingly described as being as active in the woods as Sasquatch, have taken their toll. Jesse recently underwent ankle surgery to reattach ligaments after years without proper support. Another ankle surgery is scheduled for May 14, with an elbow repair waiting in the wings. 

“It was difficult to climb trees and it’s hard to pull a chainsaw with a bum elbow and hardly any balance because of two rotten ankles,” she said.

With Jesse out of work during recovery, the financial strain has been real, and that’s where the community stepped in. When people talk about how the fundraiser came together, one name comes up immediately: Ronna LaPierre. She didn’t hesitate when asked why she organized the event. 

“He always says yes, even when he shouldn’t and he deserves some payback. He grew up with my children and he’s always fun, helpful, happy and parties. He’s a great guy.” 

LaPierre was quick to turn the spotlight back on the crowd that filled the shed. 

“I just want to say thank you to the whole community that came here today and donated items. This means so much to him and it shows how much this guy means to us.” 

Hojem echoed that gratitude, gesturing toward the packed tables of auction items. 

“Everybody here came together with this live auction. People helped with the decorations. Tom and Sue got the groomer shed ready for today. Ronna has done all of the food and bringing everybody together. I mean everybody in general has been a huge support. People have been reaching out left and right with auction items, as you can tell,” she said. “This is going to help pay for our mortgage, and our bills and food for the kids and for his surgery and all of the medical costs while he’s laid up and out of work.” 

Support, she noted, has poured in not just from Mineral County, but from Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.

If anyone needed a reminder of where Jesse’s spirit comes from, they only had to listen to his mother, Angie Parkin, who kept a circle of listeners entertained with stories from his childhood. 

“He’s got a no-stop button when it comes to living,” she howled. “He was never not like this,” meaning full of life and always available to help or have a good time. “He and Derek (Gull) used to disappear for like a week at a time with their frying pan and .22’s. They’d just take those, maybe some bacon, but just eat what they killed and then wonder back home eventually.”

Jesse himself remains characteristically humble about it all. 

“A lot of hiking, crashing things. Working hard and playing hard,” is how he admits his joints are in need of medical attention. Asked what advice he’d give others who live life at full throttle, his answer was simple and hard-earned: “Go to the doctor. No matter how expensive it is, just do it. I went too many years without. It’s not worth it.”

One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Mineral County Sheriff Ryan Funke arrived. In front of friends, family, and neighbors, Funke presented Jesse with an award for going above and beyond the call of duty this past winter with an act that saved a life. Responding to a call from his mother, an EMT with the Superior Area Ambulance Service, Jesse used his snowmobile to navigate steep, dark terrain in search of a missing individual. Within 30 minutes, he returned with the person, found sleeping under trees in the snow. The individual survived because of it. Funke noted that while Jesse was not a member of Search & Rescue at the time, he is now.

For many in attendance, the recognition came as no surprise. After all, as one fundraiser poster put it best: 

“We all know Jesse as the father, the fixer, the firewood getter. The always lending a hand and getting the job done guy.” 

On this particular Saturday, it was finally his turn to receive a helping hand, and it was delivered in a big way.