Eagle Transit director retires after 20 years

If a retirement gift from coworkers is any indicator of what she'll do after working 20 years for Eagle Transit, Deanna Thielman has naps and lazy mornings in her future.

Thielman recently retired from her position as the director of Eagle Transit, the county's public bus program. At her farewell party last week, coworkers gave her an assortment of gifts, including a plush stuffed eagle - and pajamas.

"What are your plans?" a coworker at the party asked. "Sleep?"

"I woke up thinking about Eagle Transit for 20 years," Thielman said with a laugh.

Thielman helped start the program 20 years ago and continued to nurture it for two decades. The program started with one bus and has grown to include six buses that give about 50,000 rides per year. The service is available for anyone to use, but elderly and disabled riders each make up one-third of users.

"It was her dream, her baby," said Jim Atkinson, director of the Flathead County Agency on Aging, which offers Eagle Transit as one of its services. "She gave birth to it, and she raised it. And it is a full-fledged adult and she's proud of it and able to let go of it now."

One of the biggest challenges the program has faced since its inception is money. Hard work and plenty of grant writing, though, has enabled Eagle Transit to expand its services and fleet throughout the years. The program now receives funds from various sources, including the federal government and local organizations such as North Valley Hospital and United Way.

"It all came together simply by Deanna and the means she had in creating alliances," Atkinson said.

During Thielman's tenure, Eagle Transit not only added more vehicles, but it also built a new bus barn three years ago and added administrative offices to the barn two years later. From the praise that flowed, along with many jokes and well wishes, at her farewell party, it's clear Thielman will be missed.

"Its going to be tough shoes to fill," said new director Cheryl Talley.

But she's eager to take on the role of director, she says. Talley previously worked at Plum Creek and also for a California-based wood products company for which she bought and sold energy and wrote legislation. She lives in Kalispell and has been in the Flathead Valley for 13 years.

"I really was interested in this organization because it's part of the community," Talley said.

Talley started working for Eagle Transit in early December in order to learn about the organization before Thielman retired. One of her goals for the program is to increase public awareness of how important driving is for many people and consequently why public transportation can be a substitute for driving oneself. She also plans to ride one of the buses soon.

"I'm told that when you get on the bus," she said, "is when you really see the heart of the organization."

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com