A grand trio Longtime businessmen named Grand Marshals

Longtime local business owners Harry “Chip” Beadell, Ron Haslip, and John Scholljegerdes have been named the grand marshals of Waterville’s 2022 Bullhead Days celebration. All three men have recently retired.

Scholljegerdes and his wife, Patricia, owned and operated Feed Store and More in town for 23 years and Sakatah Bay Resort on Lake Sakatah for 15 years. The couple sold the resort in 2020 and the mill property in December 2021 and have since retired, but remain active in the Waterville Lions Club and the Waterville Chamber.

Beadell and his wife, Denise, owned and operated Harry’s True Value (formerly Coast to Coast) for 31 years. The couple, who has been active in the community since they moved to town in 1991, sold their hardware business to Dan Maples in December.

Haslip is the most senior businessman in the trio, having owned and operated Ron’s Hardware Hank (formerly a Gambles store) for 42 years.

“It doesn’t seem like it was that long,” Haslip said with a smile. “I’ve really enjoyed helping people over the years, helping them find just the right thing to solve their problems… I already miss the people.”

Officially, Haslip retired in April, after ensuring the business would continue on with new owner Stephen Cofield at the helm. “If I couldn’t have gotten it sold, I would’ve kept it open until I fell over dead on the floor,” he said.

Haslip and Beadell operated their hardware stores...

To see more on this story pick up the June 9, 2022 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.