US Congressman. A member of the Republican Party, he served Montana's 2nd District in the US House of Representatives from 1955 until 1957. He served as a pilot in the South Pacific Theater with the US Army during World War II, and upon his return home was co-proprietor of a clothing store in his hometown of Big Timber. Following his time in Washington, Fjare served in the Montana House of Representatives and was later director of the Montana Federal Housing Administration.
Orvin Benonie Fjare was born on April 16, 1918 in Big Timber, MT to Oluf B. Fjare and Abgael Hetland Fjare. He weighed in at 12 lbs according to a set of fish scales. On June 27, 2011, at 93 years old, he passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his oldest daughter, Gail, with Kitty curled in the crook of his neck. Orvin grew up on a sheep ranch outside of Melville, MT. He learned to work hard at a young age but he also played hard. Orvin attended Hedley School which was set in their pasture. During recess, he had to go out and herd the sheep back the other direction. He graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in 1937. In 1940 he volunteered in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the school as an instructor. During this time, his high school sweetheart, Sigrid Solberg, was on his mind. He asked her to marry him and she sent him back a telegram that read "Yes!" They were married on September 9, 1942 - a marriage that lasted over 66 years until Sigrid died in March 2009. He was transferred to the Army Air Corps, earned his wings, and piloted B-24 bombers. Orvin Flew missions in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, returning to Big Timber in 1945 as a Captain. He worked a variety of jobs in Big Timber, including Solberg's store and selling insurance. Orvin became active in many groups: Rod and Gun Club, Lions Club, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Big Timber School Board and he was selected as a Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Men of America. While he was the National Vice-President of Jaycees, he was persuaded to run for Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (1955-56), Orvin ran unsuccessfully for the U. S. Senate in 1960. He became the State Director of Advertising and Travel Promotion. In 1962-69, then was appointed the director of the FHA/HUD before retiring in 1978 and returning "home" to Big Timber. Throughout his career, he was often sought out to speak on Americanism and commencements. Orvin was famous for his one-day family vacations visiting Yellowstone Park, balancing cups of water over a cracked door on April Fool's Day, taking naps anytime, anywhere, in front of anyone, and talking without his teeth (to the delight of his grandchildren and chagrin of his wife and children) and smuggling trout from Hooper's ponds to trick others a the Annual Crazy Mountain Bash. Orvin was never without a hobby and fortunately for him, his wife and children put up with those as well. He had his tropical fish and photography phase. This led to more serious and lasting interests such as gardening and greenhouses. The house became full of orchids, hyacinths, and miniature roses. The yard and porches became full of roses, fuchsias, 12-foot corn stocks, tomato "bushes", hydrangeas, begonias, and pansies. Then he was persuaded into making Sigrd the dollhouse she always wanted, leading to his miniature furniture career. Even in the '80s, they traveled the country going to Miniature shows, taking children and grandchildren to chauffeur. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, and miniature furniture. Then Orvin decided to make wine out of chokecherries, leading to his winemaking career. He located the Fjare winery in his bedroom. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, miniatures, and trail of wine to the kitchen where it was bottled. Many, many family gatherings were celebrated with Fjare Wine bottled two months earlier, in recycled Cabin Still Bourbon bottles. Fjare Wine is best served cold, in small glasses.
Orvin Benonie Fjare was born on April 16, 1918 in Big Timber, MT to Oluf B. Fjare and Abgael Hetland Fjare. He weighed in at 12 lbs according to a set of fish scales. On June 27, 2011, at 93 years old, he passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his oldest daughter, Gail, with Kitty curled in the crook of his neck. Orvin grew up on a sheep ranch outside of Melville, MT. He learned to work hard at a young age but he also played hard. Orvin attended Hedley School which was set in their pasture. During recess, he had to go out and herd the sheep back the other direction. He graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in 1937. In 1940 he volunteered in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the school as an instructor. During this time, his high school sweetheart, Sigrid Solberg, was on his mind. He asked her to marry him and she sent him back a telegram that read "Yes!" They were married on September 9, 1942 - a marriage that lasted over 66 years until Sigrid died in March 2009. He was transferred to the Army Air Corps, earned his wings, and piloted B-24 bombers. Orvin Flew missions in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, returning to Big Timber in 1945 as a Captain. He worked a variety of jobs in Big Timber, including Solberg's store and selling insurance. Orvin became active in many groups: Rod and Gun Club, Lions Club, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Big Timber School Board and he was selected as a Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Men of America. While he was the National Vice-President of Jaycees, he was persuaded to run for Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (1955-56), Orvin ran unsuccessfully for the U. S. Senate in 1960. He became the State Director of Advertising and Travel Promotion. In 1962-69, then was appointed the director of the FHA/HUD before retiring in 1978 and returning "home" to Big Timber. Throughout his career, he was often sought out to speak on Americanism and commencements. Orvin was famous for his one-day family vacations visiting Yellowstone Park, balancing cups of water over a cracked door on April Fool's Day, taking naps anytime, anywhere, in front of anyone, and talking without his teeth (to the delight of his grandchildren and chagrin of his wife and children) and smuggling trout from Hooper's ponds to trick others a the Annual Crazy Mountain Bash. Orvin was never without a hobby and fortunately for him, his wife and children put up with those as well. He had his tropical fish and photography phase. This led to more serious and lasting interests such as gardening and greenhouses. The house became full of orchids, hyacinths, and miniature roses. The yard and porches became full of roses, fuchsias, 12-foot corn stocks, tomato "bushes", hydrangeas, begonias, and pansies. Then he was persuaded into making Sigrd the dollhouse she always wanted, leading to his miniature furniture career. Even in the '80s, they traveled the country going to Miniature shows, taking children and grandchildren to chauffeur. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, and miniature furniture. Then Orvin decided to make wine out of chokecherries, leading to his winemaking career. He located the Fjare winery in his bedroom. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, miniatures, and trail of wine to the kitchen where it was bottled. Many, many family gatherings were celebrated with Fjare Wine bottled two months earlier, in recycled Cabin Still Bourbon bottles. Fjare Wine is best served cold, in small glasses.
US Congressman. A member of the Republican Party, he served Montana's 2nd District in the US House of Representatives from 1955 until 1957. He served as a pilot in the South Pacific Theater with the US Army during World War II, and upon his return home was co-proprietor of a clothing store in his hometown of Big Timber. Following his time in Washington, Fjare served in the Montana House of Representatives and was later director of the Montana Federal Housing Administration.
Orvin Benonie Fjare was born on April 16, 1918 in Big Timber, MT to Oluf B. Fjare and Abgael Hetland Fjare. He weighed in at 12 lbs according to a set of fish scales. On June 27, 2011, at 93 years old, he passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his oldest daughter, Gail, with Kitty curled in the crook of his neck. Orvin grew up on a sheep ranch outside of Melville, MT. He learned to work hard at a young age but he also played hard. Orvin attended Hedley School which was set in their pasture. During recess, he had to go out and herd the sheep back the other direction. He graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in 1937. In 1940 he volunteered in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the school as an instructor. During this time, his high school sweetheart, Sigrid Solberg, was on his mind. He asked her to marry him and she sent him back a telegram that read "Yes!" They were married on September 9, 1942 - a marriage that lasted over 66 years until Sigrid died in March 2009. He was transferred to the Army Air Corps, earned his wings, and piloted B-24 bombers. Orvin Flew missions in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, returning to Big Timber in 1945 as a Captain. He worked a variety of jobs in Big Timber, including Solberg's store and selling insurance. Orvin became active in many groups: Rod and Gun Club, Lions Club, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Big Timber School Board and he was selected as a Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Men of America. While he was the National Vice-President of Jaycees, he was persuaded to run for Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (1955-56), Orvin ran unsuccessfully for the U. S. Senate in 1960. He became the State Director of Advertising and Travel Promotion. In 1962-69, then was appointed the director of the FHA/HUD before retiring in 1978 and returning "home" to Big Timber. Throughout his career, he was often sought out to speak on Americanism and commencements. Orvin was famous for his one-day family vacations visiting Yellowstone Park, balancing cups of water over a cracked door on April Fool's Day, taking naps anytime, anywhere, in front of anyone, and talking without his teeth (to the delight of his grandchildren and chagrin of his wife and children) and smuggling trout from Hooper's ponds to trick others a the Annual Crazy Mountain Bash. Orvin was never without a hobby and fortunately for him, his wife and children put up with those as well. He had his tropical fish and photography phase. This led to more serious and lasting interests such as gardening and greenhouses. The house became full of orchids, hyacinths, and miniature roses. The yard and porches became full of roses, fuchsias, 12-foot corn stocks, tomato "bushes", hydrangeas, begonias, and pansies. Then he was persuaded into making Sigrd the dollhouse she always wanted, leading to his miniature furniture career. Even in the '80s, they traveled the country going to Miniature shows, taking children and grandchildren to chauffeur. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, and miniature furniture. Then Orvin decided to make wine out of chokecherries, leading to his winemaking career. He located the Fjare winery in his bedroom. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, miniatures, and trail of wine to the kitchen where it was bottled. Many, many family gatherings were celebrated with Fjare Wine bottled two months earlier, in recycled Cabin Still Bourbon bottles. Fjare Wine is best served cold, in small glasses.
Orvin Benonie Fjare was born on April 16, 1918 in Big Timber, MT to Oluf B. Fjare and Abgael Hetland Fjare. He weighed in at 12 lbs according to a set of fish scales. On June 27, 2011, at 93 years old, he passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his oldest daughter, Gail, with Kitty curled in the crook of his neck. Orvin grew up on a sheep ranch outside of Melville, MT. He learned to work hard at a young age but he also played hard. Orvin attended Hedley School which was set in their pasture. During recess, he had to go out and herd the sheep back the other direction. He graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in 1937. In 1940 he volunteered in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant and was assigned to the school as an instructor. During this time, his high school sweetheart, Sigrid Solberg, was on his mind. He asked her to marry him and she sent him back a telegram that read "Yes!" They were married on September 9, 1942 - a marriage that lasted over 66 years until Sigrid died in March 2009. He was transferred to the Army Air Corps, earned his wings, and piloted B-24 bombers. Orvin Flew missions in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, returning to Big Timber in 1945 as a Captain. He worked a variety of jobs in Big Timber, including Solberg's store and selling insurance. Orvin became active in many groups: Rod and Gun Club, Lions Club, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Big Timber School Board and he was selected as a Jaycees 10 Outstanding Young Men of America. While he was the National Vice-President of Jaycees, he was persuaded to run for Congress. He was elected as a Republican to the 84th Congress (1955-56), Orvin ran unsuccessfully for the U. S. Senate in 1960. He became the State Director of Advertising and Travel Promotion. In 1962-69, then was appointed the director of the FHA/HUD before retiring in 1978 and returning "home" to Big Timber. Throughout his career, he was often sought out to speak on Americanism and commencements. Orvin was famous for his one-day family vacations visiting Yellowstone Park, balancing cups of water over a cracked door on April Fool's Day, taking naps anytime, anywhere, in front of anyone, and talking without his teeth (to the delight of his grandchildren and chagrin of his wife and children) and smuggling trout from Hooper's ponds to trick others a the Annual Crazy Mountain Bash. Orvin was never without a hobby and fortunately for him, his wife and children put up with those as well. He had his tropical fish and photography phase. This led to more serious and lasting interests such as gardening and greenhouses. The house became full of orchids, hyacinths, and miniature roses. The yard and porches became full of roses, fuchsias, 12-foot corn stocks, tomato "bushes", hydrangeas, begonias, and pansies. Then he was persuaded into making Sigrd the dollhouse she always wanted, leading to his miniature furniture career. Even in the '80s, they traveled the country going to Miniature shows, taking children and grandchildren to chauffeur. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, and miniature furniture. Then Orvin decided to make wine out of chokecherries, leading to his winemaking career. He located the Fjare winery in his bedroom. Now the house was full of plants, sawdust, miniatures, and trail of wine to the kitchen where it was bottled. Many, many family gatherings were celebrated with Fjare Wine bottled two months earlier, in recycled Cabin Still Bourbon bottles. Fjare Wine is best served cold, in small glasses.
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