Dahlia society remembers the 'Rose Gal' at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo

Sharon McLeod-Askelson was often better known as the Rose Gal, so much so that the license plate of her car displayed the nickname.  

A Kalispell native, Askelson would often be found in the gardens of neighbors and friends, helping them with their flowers and plants, or at the Flathead County Fairgrounds getting the floriculture building ready for an upcoming event.  

That commitment to service, and floriculture, was exemplified at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispell, where she was named exhibitor of the year six times.  

Though the champion florist passed away in April following a five-year battle with cancer, her legacy will live on at this year’s fair. 

“She was amazing. She never talked much about what she did, but she always did it. She was always there.” said Martin Rippens, Montana Dahlia Society member and Askelson’s former assistant.   

Askelson, treasurer of the dahlia society, was also the superintendent of the floriculture building at the fairgrounds. Every year, she would win dozens of ribbons at the fair in multiple fields, mainly crafts and flowers, according to Rippens.  

She even entered a few international competitions with her roses, he said.  

“There was no one at the fairgrounds that was there before [Askelson]. She had been there forever," said Rippens. 

 Askelson was also a member of the fair’s board — she brought food for the members every meeting.  

Despite the paperwork, time and effort required of a superintendent, Askelson never once asked to be in the spotlight. She preferred staying behind the scenes, ensuring things went to plan. She was integral to the fair, Rippens said, and to the dahlia society overall.  

“Sharon ran the show, and she was a good leader. She had a comradery of a group behind her," said Jesse Malone, a dahlia society member who worked with Askelson for over 15 years. 

BORN IN Kalispell, Askelson graduated from Flathead High School in 1963 and attended Kidman Business School in Spokane. She later returned to Kalispell to work for Jordahl and Sliter CPA.  

It wasn’t until the early 1970s that Askelson’s love for roses and flower arrangements took hold.  

“She became a member of the National Rose Society and served as president of the Local Rose Society. Her dedication to the art of roses led her to attend numerous National Rose Conventions,” her obituary, published in the Inter Lake in May, read.  

She was an active member of the Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead for three decades, also serving as the treasurer for that group. According to Rippens, her basement put Hobby Lobby to shame.  

“Sharon was kind of like one of those unsung heroes,” said Marolyn McLeod, Askelson’s sister-in-law. “We’re talking decades of service.”  

THIS YEAR, the floriculture building will have a different ambiance, according to Rippens, with the intention of remembering Askelson with class. 

A display, featuring Askelson’s photo and a few of her designed silk flower bouquets, will be among the hundreds of flowers that will be judged. When Askelson passed away in the spring, her original memorial service was also held at the fairgrounds.  

“There’s a comradery there. There's a bond, and it must be partly due to the flowers, but it's all about the people,” Malone said.  

This year, the floriculture building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds will be full thanks to competitors and Askelson’s spirit. Floriculture judging will take place Wednesday morning and dahlia and gladiolus judging will occur Friday morning. 

“There’s a whole different story in our building than the rest of the fair,” said Malone. “From us not having any animals to being right where Sharon would want to be.” 

The Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo begins Aug. 13. Tickets for all grandstand activities can be found at www.nwmtfair.com.  

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459. 

    Martin Rippens, left, and Jesse Malone, right, hold a photo of longtime Montana Dahlia Society member Sharon Askelson. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
 Kate Heston

 

    Dahlia show Superintendent Sharon Askelson and Kathy David write down entry information before the show at Flathead County Fairgrounds on Friday, Aug. 18. (Avery Howe/Hungry Horse News)