A group of Christmas heroes: Havre Eagles Club

The Havre Eagles Club is always full of people celebrating something.

In many ways, it is the center for social life in Havre.

On an average night, people will be gathering at the bar while social groups, fraternal organizations or political organizations will be meeting in the assembly room or in the basement rooms. Or perhaps a group will be holding a benefit for someone who is ill or has sustained an injury.

Veteran Eagles manager Tom Farnham helps put on the benefits for the community.

It's a role that Eagles Club members cherish, Farnham said.

But if the Eagles Club is busy throughout the year, it reaches its busiest at this time of the year.

Lots of groups hold Christmas celebrations.

And on the Sunday before Christmas, the club always holds a party for area children. Kids from all around Hill County are invited to visit Santa and enjoy treats, get gifts and and take part in games.

But the highlight of the year's activities come on Christmas Day.

For the third year in a row, the Eagles will put on the annual community dinner.

For many years, Bob Sivertsen ran the Christmas Day dinner, and then it was taken over by Jerry Bergren, the owner of PJ's Restaurant and Casino in downtown Havre.

When Bergren started looking for someone to take over, it was natural for people to look toward the Eagles, which had hosted the event for years. What makes the day special, Farnham said, is that everyone is invited. It is for rich, poor and in-between. Families come to enjoy as well as couples who don't want to fix a dinner just for themselves or single people. Some are new to Havre, others lifelong residents.

"All you have to bring is yourself and an appetite," he said

Several hundred people usually show up.

It will run 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It's great to see people from different walks of life gathering for the fun, Farnham said.

As well as Eagles, people from the general public are invited to come and help out, too.

Every year, Farnham said, new people show up to help out. Many volunteers come back year after year.

One couple has come from the Bear Paw Mountains south of Chinook for almost 20 years.

Events such as the Christmas dinner are one thing that makes the Eagles popular with the public, Farnham said.

While some fraternal groups have had time maintaining membership, the Eagles are doing quite well.

"We have 300 on the men's side and 150 on the women's side," he said.

In addition to the main Eagles Club, there are subgroups that Eagles organizations throughout the nation are allowed to form.

For instance, in the past there has been a Havre Bald Eagles Club, for members who have lost their hair.

An active subgroup in Havre is the Eagle Riders.

Motorcycle enthusiasts formed the group under the leadership of Brian Carpenter.

In summer, they take rides around the Hi-Line. They hold several fundraisers, including a raffle and a chili contest.

Local nonprofits benefit from the fundraisers. This year the local Shriners, Hi-Line United Soccer and the Girl Scouts received contributions from Eagle Riders.

Being involved in such efforts is what makes being an Eagle so interesting, said Farnham, who has been in the organization for 31 years.

"It's all about community," he said.