Whitefish Moose Lodge welcomes new administrator

Robert “Bob” Lund, in many ways, has come full circle. After a lifetime of service and travel, he and his wife Renate have settled in Whitefish “for good.”

“It doesn’t get any better than what we’ve got here,” Lund said.

Lund is taking his role in the Whitefish community seriously, having accepted the position of lodge administrator at the Whitefish Moose Lodge in November.

“The Moose Lodge is a gem and has been a gem in this community,” Lund said. “I believe it’s key to holding the community together.”

Lund’s Montana roots run deep, with grandparents who homesteaded near Wolf Point. Lund was born and raised in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1961. He spent summers on his grandparents’ wheat farm.

Lund worked for the Great Northern Railway for six years while finishing high school and then while attending Montana State University in Bozeman. He graduated from MSU in 1965 with a degree in military science.

He said that while his time on the farm and working for the railroad was valuable, it was when he joined the U.S. Army that the adventures really began.

“[The Army] was one interesting job after another,” Lund said.

Lund’s first assignment landed him in Germany, serving as a second lieutenant. It was there that he met his future wife, Renate, whom he describes as “big medicine for me.”

In 1969, Lund was sent to Vietnam.

“I learned more that year than any other in my life,” Lund said. “In Vietnam ... It was a draft army. It was all colors, all beliefs, and everyone was in it together. We had to live with it together.

“All those people count; they’re all out there still. That’s America.”

Lund and Renate returned to the United States to raise a family after his time in Vietnam. Lund went on to work for several different companies over the years, including technology and software companies and an insurance company. The work took the family all across the United States and Canada.

During that time Lund remained involved with the Army Reserve, and when the Gulf War began in 1990 he went back to active duty.

The family moved to Washington, D.C., where Lund served the Army Materiel Command. After his time there, Lund retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel.

The Lunds have two children — one son and one daughter, both currently serving in the U.S. military — and five grandchildren.

“The basis of military science is the need to lead a balanced life,” Lund said. “You take care of yourself first, then family, then neighbors, then community.”

Retirement has allowed Lund to focus on the balance in his life. After all the moving and traveling during his career, Lund said he and Renate found their way back to Montana. The pair made Whitefish their home base in 2012, and Lund said they have no plans to do any more moving.

“Whitefish is just way ahead as a community,” Lund said. “It’s just right.”

Lund said he has been enjoying having more time to spend with his family, and also enjoys skiing and fencing.

Lund began fencing about 10 years ago, when a friend invited him to a beginner’s class. He said one class was all it took to get him hooked.

“I guess it’s a little boy thing that’s always in the back of men’s minds ... fighting with weapons,” Lund said, laughing. “Fencing is intense; it’s a fight.”

Lund is a member of the Whitefish Fencing Club, which meets weekly at the Whitefish Moose Lodge.

It’s just one of many new activities Lund is promoting as the new lodge administrator.

“For many new people who have just moved to the area, [the Moose Lodge] is off their radars,” he said.

Lund said the biggest challenge he faces in the new position is getting people involved.

“I’ve got lots of ideas,” Lund said. “But I need sergeants!”

Lund said the next big event at the Moose Lodge is the New Year’s Eve dinner and dance. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, with live music by Silvertip beginning at 8 p.m.

Lund said he hopes the new year brings new life to the lodge, and wants the entire community to be part of it.

“It’s such a good place to bring neighbors together,” Lund said. “I want to open the doors so the community can see what we do and what we have to offer.

“This belongs to the community.”

The Whitefish Moose Lodge is located at 230 10th Street West in Whitefish. For more information, call the lodge at 406-862-2669 or visit www.lodge642.moosepages.org.

Entertainment editor Stefanie Thompson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.