A quiet revolution in veteran support began a quarter-century ago, directly in the heart of Montana’s Flathead Valley. Before the new millennia began, before cellphones, internet, or social media, Allen and Linda Erickson, a couple deeply rooted in the community, launched the Northwest Montana Veterans Stand Down, a two-day event designed to offer homeless, low-income, and at-risk veterans a “helping hand up.” They did it with grit and determination. What started as a simple outreach has blossomed into a full-service veterans center, marking its 25th anniversary this year. Their story is one of organizational growth and it is a testament to personal resilience. Family bonds, and an unwavering commitment to those who’ve served have driven this moment, step by step.
Allen Erickson, now 86, knows hardship firsthand. Born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised on a farm in Lewistown, Montana, he came from a herd of four brothers and seven sisters. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy at just 16, serving from 1957 to 1963. “Well, on my first tour we went from Guam to Japan. And the electrician transferred off and went back to the states. So I was an electrician and a seaman,” Erickson recalled. His time in the service left lasting scars, including exposure to Agent Orange that later led to cancer, a battle he fought while the government denied the possibility of such contact outside Vietnam. Discharged a month before deployment to the war-front, Allen returned to civilian life grappling with alcoholism and homelessness in Spokane. “I hated everybody in that part of the country,” he once recalled in an interview with the Bigfork Eagle, prompting a move to Columbia Falls at his cousin’s urging. There, he rebuilt his life, achieving sobriety (now over 52 years) and working as a gas station manager and diesel mechanic. But a back injury in his 60s forced early retirement, leaving him restless. Seeking a “hobby,” Allen volunteered at stand-down events in eastern Washington, where he saw veterans like himself struggling to access basic needs. That sparked the idea: Why not bring this support to northwest Montana, home to one of the nation’s highest per-capita veteran populations?
Linda, 74, stood by his side from the start. Married since 1977, she balanced raising six children with earning an associate degree in small business management from Flathead Valley Community College in 2005, all while juggling full-time work. Her role as co-founder, secretary/treasurer, and executive administrative assistant turned the operation into a well-oiled machine. She’s the secret sauce behind the day-to-day operations. “Veterans normally aren’t going to utilize other programs because they don’t feel they should have to ask for charity,” Linda has said. “But veterans helping veterans is different. We’re breaking down barriers through camaraderie.” The couple’s motivation was personal; they’d quietly housed homeless friends, many veterans, in their own home for years, even as their kids grew up.
Key milestones punctuate their journey. The first Stand Down in Libby drew over 1,500 attendees, far exceeding expectations in a sparsely populated area. By 2002, they opened the food pantry in Kalispell, distributing boxes to hundreds monthly. Expansion has persistently followed: a thrift store for affordable goods (with veteran discounts), durable medical equipment (DME) loans for items like walkers and wheelchairs, showers and laundry for the homeless, and computer stations for job searches and VA benefit checks. Today, the organization serves thousands annually, including at the annual Stand Down, which can assist up to 2,500 in a weekend. In 2018, their efforts earned the Brent Hall Award from the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce, recognizing their spirit of giving and community leadership.
Personal anecdotes reveal the heart behind the hustle. Allen, an avid hunter and gardener, cherishes family time with grandchildren amid his “retirement” years, though he jokes there’s been no day off since stepping back from daily management in 2023, in fact many days he’s busier than ever. Linda, who loves sewing and canning, ensures every veteran feels welcomed, often providing new quilts for beds in move-in kits. One story stands out: Allen starting with a truckload of potatoes for hungry vets, evolving into a lifeline bridging veterans to services they might otherwise avoid.
Their ongoing commitment shines through phrases like “a helping hand up,” emphasizing empowerment over handouts. Even in semi-retirement, they remain active, dreaming big for the future. A recent lease on 80-acre Camp Ponderosa in Bigfork aims to create a retreat for veterans battling PTSD, with volunteer-driven construction underway.
Allen envisions more: enhanced mental health support, expanded outreach, and national awareness for Montana’s vets. “If I can pull someone out of a hole and make their life better, that’s cool,” he says. Recently, Allan and Linda hosted award winning tribute artist Ben Klein at Camp Ponderosa to promote their Swan Valley retreat, dedicated to helping veterans.
As the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry celebrates 25 years, the Ericksons’ legacy endures, not in buildings or awards, but in lives transformed. In a world quick to forget, they’ve reminded us: Service doesn’t end with a uniform.
