The Memorial and grave in honor of Charlie Tordik.
Director, Hill County Council on Aging
Originally I received a call from a State of Montana employee who said that there was a senior citizen who had serious difficulties due to his diabetes and some other problems. The gentleman would be coming to the Northern Montana Care Center and they would like me to visit and see what I could do to help him. And so I began my 11 year association with Charlie Tordik. Those years were in knowing a unique, intelligent, feisty man who never thought he had ever done anything spectacular.
After meeting this interesting man I discovered Charlie wanted to go out to the ranch partly because of his dog Poppy, whom he loved dearly, and partly because he felt he could go home if he had help. Charlie told me of a neighbor that he felt could help and, after talking with her, I concluded she was very capable and it would work for Charlie.
This worked out well for a period of time and then this neighbor had some family business and Charlie decided to go live in Fort Benton where again his diabetes and other problems got him in trouble. A friend called and told me it was a court situation and would I come. I said yes. Charlie and I again came to the Northern Montana Care Center where he remained till his death. I was appointed Charlie's guardian and got to know him very well. I told Charlie I would never lie to him: he would bring up issues, I would not agree and tell him the truth, so he would fire me. I would tell him "how can you fire me when you never hired me" and I would leave. Then he would call me and say "where are you? I need you to come". I would say "you fired me" and he would say "that was last week".
During this period of time there began the association and ultimate friendship between Charlie and my husband Duane. Duane was Charlie's driver. They made more trips to the ranch than I can possibly accurately remember. They also made a couple of side trips that I do remember clearly. I came to the conclusion they were good with each other, but not always good for each other. I made several trips with Charlie to Great Falls, Chinook, and Fort Benton. During those trips I got to know a lot of history of the Big Sandy area, and many stories of Charlie's experiences.
One of his stories was about a horse that he loved so much he couldn't get rid of him. That horse he buried out on the ranch. Then he couldn't bring himself to buy another horse, so he bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle to check on all those cows. He said a bunch of people told him he would kill himself on that motorcycle and that there were a couple of times he thought they might be right. But his biggest memory was that he paid $1100 for the Harley and sold it 9 years later for $900. He read the Big Sandy Mountaineer and studied the stock market every day. A man with a humble beginning achieved enough to become very successful .
Charlie and Dorothy were financial supporters for community projects. Right before Charlies's death he wanted to give to the library and scholarship for a student going into the fish and game or farm college degree. And Tordik Wild Life Association agreed.
Charlie's love of his wife Dorothy, Poppy (the dog), and the land never waivered.
Charlie told me once "when you're gone, you're gone. No one will ever remember you". I disagreed. After he died I contacted the people handling his estate who got permission from Tordik WildLife Assossiation to do a memorial for him. I contacted Neil Larson, owner of Midwest Diesel, Inc. of Havre. Neil designed, built, and installed a metal memorial to Charlie on the original homestead land south of Big Sandy. It is set in cement. It's a forever type thing.
There are some people who pass through this life who leave a bigger mark than others. Charlie was one of those people. He was always a part of the history of that community. He will continue to be always a part of that community for the generations to come.
So Charlie, this one's for you!
There are some people who pass through this life who leave a bigger mark than others. Charlie was one of those people. He was always a part of the history of that community. He will continue to be always a part of that community for the generations to come.
So Charlie, this one's for you!
Charlie Tordik
By Robert Lucke
It is good to put up a memorial to Charlie Tordik on his old home place by the Judith Road because to this day many old time Big Sandy residents do not know that Charlie even died.
I knew because I kind of listened to what I heard about Charlie and, of course, when I began to know Keith and Midge Edwards, I found out more as Charlie had married Dorothy Runnion, Keith's sister.
I first met Charlie and Dorothy when I lived on Pike Street in Havre. They bought the house next door to me to live in weekends as they loved to come in from the ranch and dance the weekend away in one of Havre's hot spots.
I had by that time in my life gone bald enough that I had a comb over that blew wildly up, down, over and under whenever the wind blew. What amazed me about Charlie, the first time I met him (and I must add, the last time I met him as well) is that he had a comb over as well but he had the situation nailed down firmly by the use of bobby pins in strategic places.
No bobby pins for me. I was in trouble enough with the comb over but I admired Charlie's tenacity to be able to walk the streets of Havre, Denver, Chinook or Big Sandy using bobby pins to hold his comb over in place! What a man!
As I got to know Charlie and Dorothy better (difficult for when they showed up on Friday afternoon, I was on the way to my cabin in the Bear Paw Mountains) I learned of both their great love of animals and the wilderness which mostly included the Missouri breaks and all the wildlife that lives in that large area.
Charlie and Dorothy had an idea that they wanted some sort of a modular house put on his land just north of the Missouri at Judith Landing. I was in the mobile home business at the time and started working with them to find a showcase house that would show them their beloved land and wildlife through large windows looking in all directions.
While I never did end up selling them the house, I had a very good time learning more about Charlie and Dorothy and thought anyone thinking this much of land, wildlife and their own dogs and cats, must be some of the best people anywhere.
As long as Charlie and Dorothy lived, nothing ever stopped me from thinking about that loving couple in those words.
In the early years of their marriage, not only were they in love with each other but they were so in love with the environment as well and had the where with all to do something about it as needed.
Well, all things have to come to an end. Many years have passed since I spoke to either of them. Lots of water under the bridge.
Both passed on and with each other, maybe not on such good terms, but I don't really even know that.
All that I know is that it is well and good to have a memorial to Charlie on the Judith Road. I will think of it as a memorial to both of them and their beloved dog and the wildlife that has flourished because of their efforts beyond the grave.
Charlie and Dorothy, I miss both of you and boy oh boy, Charlie, how bold was that thing with the comb over and bobby pins!
