Daycare director found career in working with children

When Tammy Braseth moved to the valley in January of 1980, inflation was high and jobs were scarce, but she thought, “If I find a job, I’ll stay.”

By word of mouth, she found her place at Smith Memorial Daycare and what started as a short-term job turned into a passion-filled career.

“I just really love children. I love their innocence. I love that they make you laugh. I just love their thought process. They're kind of like little angels, but not always,” she laughed.

Now, after 40 years at the daycare with 30 of those serving as director, Braseth is retiring to enjoy the next chapter of her life as a grandmother.

“I think when you work with grown-ups, they can be kind of hard and moody, but when you work with kids, even if they come here unhappy or they're having a hard time, you can change that,” she said. “Every day is different when working with kids.”

Braseth has had a generational impact as some of the children she cared for when she first started at the daycare are now bringing their own children to Smith Memorial.

“I love all the parents and I feel like they’re family and all the kids here feel like my kids,” she said. “It makes my day seeing these kids grow up.”

Smith Memorial Daycare opened in 1966 on the third floor of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell. It was the first licensed child-care facility in Montana. It was Marguerite Smith, a longtime member of Epworth Church and school teacher, who provided the financial means to develop the center that has also been long supported by the church.

The daycare has and continues to focus on keeping its rates low.

“The generosity of this place is amazing. We keep our rates low. We’re the lowest in the valley, always have been,” said Braseth. “We’re for the parents.”

Braseth has been involved in purpose-driven work at the daycare such as service projects, school supply drives, and a scholarship program for parents.

“There are times when [parents] just run out of luck and they have everything go wrong and the board will forgive their bill and give them a scholarship so they don't have to pay for it. And that changes everything for them. This is a very giving church,” she said.

BASED IN downtown Kalispell, Braseth says the daycare benefits from its location.

“Something I absolutely love about this place is the location because I could take the kids to the library and the Hockaday museum, and in the 80s, there was a pet store, and we took them into stores and toured the Conrad Mansion. In the summers, it was like not even working. We just walked all over the place and it was super fun.”

Braseth has certainly had her fair share of adventures and has accumulated a wealth of wisdom over 40 years.

“Something I’ve learned is… don’t get upset if things don’t always go right. Kids are so forgiving and flexible,” she said.

As Braseth reflected on some of her favorite memories, she recalled at last year’s Christmas party asking the kids about their favorite thing they did that year. One little boy who she describes as quite shy, replied, “Spending time with you.”

“And I was taken aback,” she said. “That was very special.”

While Braseth plans to continue subbing at the daycare, her retirement will be bittersweet for many. Braseth looks forward to finishing projects around the house, fixing up furniture, traveling, and finally meeting her first grandbaby.

Reporter Summer Zalesky may be reached at szalesky@dailyinterlake.com.