Carnival king, queen crowned

The Daily Inter Lake

The 50th annual Whitefish Winter Carnival is gathering steam on its way to a time-honored grand finale Feb. 7-8 in the resort community.

More royalty was crowned on Saturday - Rick Donahue as King Ullr L and Rochelle "Bee" Bickel as Queen of the Snows.

Donahue's Whitefish family heritage dates back to 1913; most of his family worked for the Great Northern Railway.

After graduating from Whitefish High School in 1973, Donahue became a two-sport letterman at the University of Montana, then turned to professional golf in 1978 when he became instrumental in starting the Junior Golf Program in Whitefish.

He competed as a professional golfer in 13 countries, including the 1980 British Open in Muirfield, Scotland, and the 1981 South American Tour.

Donahue owns and operates Rick Donahue's Golf Academy and teaches at various golf facilities around the Flathead Valley. He is also an account executive with Whitefish Radio.com.

Donahue has been involved in the Winter Carnival for decades in many capacities: three decades on the board of directors, 24 of 49 years as a member of the Royal Court with appearances as Prince Frey, prime minister and 22 years as Herald the Hark, the royal trumpeter. He has assisted in fundraising for the American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Red Cross and Special Olympics.

Bickel is a Whitefish native who attended the very first Whitefish Winter Carnival and began her path to carnival royalty in 1972 with her selection as a Winter Carnival princess. Most recently, she has spread carnival cheer and goodwill as one of the original Viking "divas."

A graduate of Whitefish High School, Bickel left the Flathead Valley to serve in the military and returned home in 1992. Since then she has participated as a charter member of the Whitefish Ambassadors, now known as the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. In 2008, she was named the first Ambassador of the Year. Other volunteer activities have included Relay for Life, Climb the Mountain and Taste of Whitefish. She is a member of WIBS (Women in Black adventure group), Kiwanis, WOW (Women of Whitefish), and the Whitefish Winter Carnival Board.

Bickel is an agent at Big Mountain Insurance and has been a Mary Kay consultant for 17 years.

She enjoys travel at any opportunity, spending time outdoors whenever possible as well as her hobby business of 17 years as a Mary Kay consultant.Ê She has a son, Greg Hamilton.