Semming (Sam) Aasheim, the youngest of five sons, was born Oct. 15, 1914 on the Aasheim farm 5 miles east of Reserve, Mont. to Norwegian immigrants Svein and Marthea (Akre) Aasheim who homesteaded the farm in 1907. Because Dad was the youngest of five boys, he sometimes felt left out of certain activities but that was outweighed by the older brothers' generosity, love, and kindness. One altercation occurred when Torley was being mean to Dad so Dad threw a rock and hit Torley in the head. Marthea scolded Sam and told him to go down in the trees and fetch his own "switch". One of the older brothers, full of advice, told Sam to pick out a little twig and when he was handing it to his Mother, to break it over his knee… That was a big mistake as his Mother then gave him a very lasting impression. Dad always said it was Torley that deserved the switching. Dad had vivid recollections of the horse and buggy days; the kerosene lamp, the bucket in the well, huddling around the stove on cold winter mornings while getting dressed. He recalled a certain nostalgia connected with the smell of wild hay and animals in the old sod barn. He was especially proud of his parents for building up the farm from the original homestead through hard work and perseverance, especially during the dirty thirties. The dirty thirties made a very lasting impression on all of the Aasheim brothers which they never forgot. 1944 was the beginning of a new lifestyle for Dad when he married my Mother Selma (Sammy) Larson. They were soul mates for 55 years. They bought the farm from Grandpa Svein, built it up, developed a herd of registered Angus cattle, had three children, and had a wonderful life. Dad was very active in the community - one of the many lessons taught to him by his very progressive mother. He volunteered his time and energy to things that really mattered to him and his family - Trustee of the various School Districts, Director and secretary of the Farmer's Elevator of Reserve, served on the ASCS committee, Supervisor of the Soil Conservation District, Director of the Medicine Lake Rural Fire District when new fire halls were built and furnished in Medicine Lake, Dagmar, and Reserve. He was proud of his affiliations with the Masonic Order, Scottish Rite and Shriners for over 50 years. We will never know for sure how many lives were touched over the years by Dad's generosity and kindness. These acts of love were kept very private so that they were always done for the right reasons. In October of 1997 Dad suffered a stroke which forced him and Mother to move from his beloved farm to the Pioneer Manor in Plentywood, Mont. Mom died in May of 1999; Dad moved to the nursing home in August of 2005. He passed away in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 2009. His three children: Max (Sheryl) of the family farm in Montana, Tammy (Mike) Anderson of Plentywood, Montana, and Myrna of Boise, Idaho, seven grandchildren Casey and Brock Aasheim of the family farm; Riley Anderson and Shelby Anderson of Plentywood, Mont.; Max Anthony of Boise, Idaho, Tara Anthony Landers of Anchorage, Alaska and Tobi Anthony Harvey also of Anchorage, Alaska; and nine great-grandchildren; Greisen, Taylor, Hailey, Erika, Shay, Alyssa, Bridger, Brody and Svea, survive him. Dad was preceded in death by his parents Svein and Marthea, my Mother Sammy, brothers, Olaf, Einar, Magnus, and Torleif and his first grandson, Vance Anthony. Dad lived a wonderful, fulfilled life and had no regrets. He has left a legacy of love and compassion to those of us who are left. Thank you Dad for everything - you will be loved and remembered by so many.

Published in Idaho Statesman from December 25 to December 27, 2009