Montana Tow Operators to Be Remembered with New Memorial

The Montana Wall of the Fallen Tow Operator Memorial will be dedicated on Tuesday, September 9, at 1 p.m. at the Headwaters Rest Area near Three Forks.

The project began after a tragic 2020 accident near Columbus, when tow operators William Casie Allen and Nicholas Ryan Visser were killed while assisting a motorist in winter conditions. At a Montana Tow Truck Association board meeting soon after, members decided to create a memorial honoring operators lost in the line of duty.

According to board member Lori Tribble, six tow operators in Montana have died serving the public. “Other first responders have monuments. Tow operators deserve the same,” she wrote.

Past President Jim Dusenberry and fellow committee members Tribble, Spencer Hanser, and Dennis Frownfelter led the effort. Local businesses donated materials, while bronze artist Mary Michael created a soaring eagle sculpture to crown the wall.

Governor Greg Gianforte will dedicate the memorial, believed to be the first of its kind sponsored by a state towing association. It will honor fallen operators while educating the public about the importance of slowing down and moving over. Source: https://www.threeforksvoice.com