Archived Story

Reader sheds light on beer-sippin' deer
By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian

We kicked off this series about U.S. Highway 2 on Thursday, with a story about Happy's Inn and a deer that used to wander into the bar and drink beer with the boys back in the 1950s.

They had a photo to prove it.

We received a number of e-mails about the story, including one I have to share with you:

Vince, my name is Rob Swenson and my parents Everett and Ruth Swenson owned Happy's Inn when that picture was taken. We named the deer Pat and one of her favorite snacks was cigarettes, but a beer after an unfiltered Camel was in line.

One hunting season I was afraid that the deer would get shot, so I put her in the barn and closed the door. As I was walking away I heard this crash, the deer broke out the window and jumped to freedom. I cried to my Dad and he tied a red scarf around the deer's neck. Well that did not last long either. Now keep in mind, I was about 6 or 7 at the time. As a last ditch effort to keep the deer from getting shot, I painted her red. I am sure the paint was lead-based and I darn near killed her. My Dad shaved her hair off, but she was sick for several days.

The Happy ending was, she did not get shot. However, she was killed by coyotes several years later. Pat and I were best friends.

Thank You,

Rob Swenson
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