During his first three years there Bill completed a number of volunteer improvement projects on the three block main-street. All of which respected the town’s character and heritage. He met many of the local residents in town and far out into the countryside during those years. Among them were Evan and Mert Granrude. A retired couple who moved to the area from northwest North Dakota 50 years ago, Among their career(s) was a successful business called Granrude’s Lefse Shack. This Lefse making endeavor, still running strong today, was initially in a portion of their home south of town.

An unplanned offer from Evan to Bill one day when they were out driving around town, lead Bill to purchase a vacant grocery building and two lots from the Granrudes. Bill knew soon after what the future would bring to this property, it was early 2003. After completing his conceptual perspective illustrations of the future building’s exterior and the new interior floor plan, and then receiving the necessary approvals for construction, Bill set about work on a renovation that spanned four years during his generally every other week travels there.

The town’s current population is 100. At its peak there were 400 residents. In the heart of the great-plains, Opheim occupies the highest ground in the region. The Montana handle of ‘Big Sky Country’ is very appropriate for this area. Opheim was the last name of one of the first permanent European American homesteaders who began arriving in the area in the early 1900’s. He was Norwegian, the name Opheim in Norwegian means "farmstead on higher ground!"

The town is well-maintained. Its residents largely have great pride in their community. The water and sewage systems are well-maintained. Crime is rare. A remarkable volunteer group oversees the ambulance and fire department. Though having a small enrollment, Opheim has an excellent school -grades 1-12. Additionally there is a post office, mechanic, grain elevator, gas station, rural electric co-operative, three churches, two bars and a grass strip airport with adjoining four hole- golf course.

For all of its history there has always been a town café and up until February 2008 there was one; The Homestead Café. It closed not for lack of customers, but so that its newest owner can complete a renovation, a renovation that has run into numerous difficulties and code compliance issues. As of this writing there is no reopening date.

Oheim is in far northern Valley County, a large county 75 miles in length north to south and nearly as wide east to west. Founded in 1915, Opheim is eleven miles from the Canadian port of entry and two hours from North Dakota. It was the terminus of a spur line from the Saint Paul based Great Northern Railroad. This railroad which ran from Saint Paul up to and then across northern North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Washington to its Seattle terminus was completed in the late 1800’s. The Opheim spur line which began at Culbertson, reached Opheim in 1927. This line closed in 1980.

The landscape to the distant horizons is farmland - primarily wheat, and grasslands. While the immediate area around Opheim is level, the topography in all directions from town begins either a gradual decent when heading east or south, or a more dramatic drop when traveling north or west.

The county seat is Glasgow, pop. 2,000, it lies 55 miles south. To the east 50 miles is Scobey, pop. 1,000. These communities provide most needed supplies and services. Opheim is well situated for travelers. It lies directly on north/south Montana State Highway 24. Many heartland towns have met their demise when highways constructed decades ago bypassed their main-streets or their towns all together. Additionally, Opheim is the terminus of Highway 5 from the east. These well-maintained highways ensure there is a light, but generally steady stream of traffic year-round.

More about northeast Montana

Glasgow, named after its famous sister in Scotland, provides weekly bus service to Billings, pop. 110,000. Billings is Montana’s largest community and is located four hours southwest of Glasgow. Glasgow’s airport has two daily flights to Billings International Airport. Daily passenger train service is also available from Glasgow to destinations west such as Seattle and Portland, and east to the Twin Cities of Saint Paul/Minneapolis and Chicago.

Montana Highway 2 passes thru Glasgow. It is the northernmost east - west artery between Minnesota and Washington State. In southern Montana running east - west is Interstate 94. The area adjacent to Highway 2 in Montana on up to Canada is known as the Hi-Line. Highway 2 across North Dakota will soon be entirely four-lane and plans are under way to do the same in Montana. Many I-94 travelers will begin using this northern route once the project is completed; this route leads westbound tourists directly to Glacier National Park in northwest Montana.

Just south of Glasgow is the massive Fort Peck Dam and Lake. This immense and very scenic lake is surrounded by the Charles Russell Wilderness Area; a rugged semi-arid region world renowned for the findings of dinosaur fossils. Almost in the shadow of Fort Peck Dam is the town of Fort Peck, it was created during the construction of the 1930’s era dam as a place for workers to live. Its Fort Peck Theatre and Hotel are still operational and remain two of the regions most noted architectural landmarks.

Much of southeast Valley County lies within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, their seat of government is in Poplar an hour east of Glasgow on Highway 2.

The Missouri River winds thru this region, which for historians is of great interest because early America explorers Lewis and Clark traveled its waters and adjacent countryside two hundred years ago.

Southwest of Opheim is a remote region known as the Bitter Root Wilderness Area. North of this area and to the west of Opheim lies the Theony country. Theony, (pronounced Teeny), appropriately enough, was once a small community in the midst of this remote region with outstanding grasslands scenery. A few stone foundations, a one room school, a steel truss bridge spanning picturesque Rock Creek and a hillside cemetery are just about all that remain to let folks know there was a bustling farm and ranch village here seventy five years ago.

To this area’s west is the Frenchman River region, another scenic and in places rugged area of grasslands and badlands. Lastly, just over the border is Canada’s Grasslands National Park.

A Summary

So, here’s the deal. There is a little café, in a little town, in Big Sky Country Montana waiting for someone to believe in it and that little town’s future as much as I do. I will be there to lend help and support to the future members of The Outpost Co-operative. Patrons of The Outpost were from near and very far. Here are just some of the many compliments I have received:

* Twice two couples from Glasgow flew their plane(s) up to Opheim to have a Saturday breakfast. They, with their children, came the last Saturday I was open just to see it again before I closed. They believed in it.
* In late August a couple drove down many miles from Assiniboin, Saskatchewan to have lunch. Her baby was due soon. He was a Canadian Law Officer. They had heard about The Outpost from a friend. When they signed the guest book in the little Visitor Center, they saw the name of the realtor who had sold then their house. They believed in it.
* By bus from Scobey the ‘Red Bonnet Babes’ came for lunch one day. These colorful seniors with equally colorfully dress had a memorable time. They believed in it.
* My last week open, a farm and ranch wife reserved the Rosewood Room for the 88th birthday party of a well known retired first grade teacher. They had great fun visiting, taking tea and coffee, and eating the little sandwiches and home made cookies I prepared. They believed in it.
* On one of my first days open my first customer of the day came in - I learned later he was an out of state seed buyer. As he walked in he stopped and looked around for a few moments, with a smile he said “Now this is an uncommon surprise”. He believed in The Outpost Café.

Best Regards,
Bill Hosko