by Donald R. Wax (Author)
The author describes his experiences as the oldest of five children, his place in the family and in the community. You meet the neighbors and employers who influenced and guided him, classmates and friends that challenged him, and parents and relatives that allowed him to set his own goals. He recalls stories with emotions that are at times sensitive and other times humorous. You learn why he thinks of himself as a "Son of Montana". He has questions about himself and seeks to find answers to those questions. He introduces you to his grandparents who came to Montana as homesteaders in the early 1910s, and his parents' efforts to escape the drought and depression of the 1930s to make their own place in which to raise a family. You learn about the hard work and dedication required from everyone to build their farmstead and develop a successful small farm in western Montana in the 1940s and 50s. He includes details along with photos and documents which captures a slice of history during the time of his youth in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. It is a place and a community that will always be dear to him.
Author Biography
The author retired in 1999 after a 30 year career with General Electric working as a technician, field engineer and manager installing control systems in steel mills. He lived in a number of different countries and traveled widely during his career and in retirement. He has many different interests, but has spent more time recently writing about his family's history and preserving old photos. His first effort was a Wax family history book "Descendants of Peter Wax" which was distributed in 3-ring binders to historical societies and libraries. His second was a book of photos of his maternal grandparents and each of their descendants distributed to relatives on CD. "Son of Montana" is the first to be published.