Bear Paw Lumber closing after 44 years

After 44 years of business in Havre, Bear Paw Lumber, a third-generation family business, will be closing.

The store is now in the midst of its "closing down" sale that started Thursday and will continue until every item in the store is sold including its fixtures, furniture and equipment.

A press release from the business said this sale is both a thank you to its loyal customers, and a goodbye to the surrounding community.

"Now, in 2020, it is a new business climate for all retailers, one with a lot of uncertainties for the future," the press release said, "The retail business has changed and our lives have taken different directions, now it's time to focus on our family and see what the future holds for all of us."

David Lohse, who owns the business along with his son Jess, said his son was presented with a great opportunity that would make it impossible for him to take over the business and that this parting of ways is the primary reason the business is closing.

"My son had a very good opportunity to take on a job working for another firm. We discussed it, we decided that that would be the best thing for him to do," Lohse said, "After that I decided, 'Why am I gonna stay here?' It's been our goal to have him take over the same as I did with my father, I decided 'Well, if it's not gonna be to pass it on to the family maybe it should be time for me to go and do something else, something a little easier.'"

Lohse said he's proud and happy that his son was given this opportunity and he doesn't have any regrets or sadness over Bear Paw Lumber's closure.

"I think I'm gonna just take a little time off to look at my options and see what I feel like doing," he said.

The business was started in 1976, by David Lohse's parents, Clarence and Ramona Lohse.

David Lohse said he worked there with his parents until it was time for them to retire, after which they began setting things up for him to gradually buy the business out from them eventually becoming the full owner of the business.

The press release said Lohse fondly remembers taking a young Jess on lumber deliveries after the store would close while his son was still in diapers.

Jess Lohse would become a full partner in 2010 after working there after school and during the summers.

"We decided to work together with each other," David Lohse said, "He was very interested in trusses."

Lohse said there have been plenty of difficult days running the business over the years, but he said, overall it's been a good time.

"This has been a good living and I've enjoyed my work," he said, "It's pretty much like any job, you know not every day has been like sunshine and roses, but all in all it's been a good work experience and I'm happy with it."

"Working for yourself is hard, but you put a lot of pride into it," he added.

Lohse said he's got a lot of his heart bound up in the place, but while the closing may be emotional, it's not a negative event for him.

"It's like all things in life you have to turn a page once in a while," he said.

He said no specific decision has been made just yet about what will be done with the property, but they are looking to rent, lease or sell the place.

"We're open to ideas," Lohse said.

Lohse said he had one final message to the surrounding area before he moves on;

"Thank you to the Havre community supporting us all this time," he said.