Carson City woman helped keep home fires burning

Marian Casey Setterfield celebrated her 85th birthday on July 29. Earlier last month, on July 11, she and her husband Bob celebrated their 65th year of marriage.

Recently, Ken Beaton sat down with the longtime Carson City resident to talk about growing up in Helena, Mont. During the interview, the coffee shop was playing music from the '40s, perfect to take Marian back 67 years to a time when she was known as Casey.

Marian was born July 29, 1924 in Great Falls, Mont., the only girl in a family with five sons. Both of her parents were teachers. The Great Depression affected her family when her dad lost his teaching position, and the family moved to Helena around 1934.

After high school, Marian, whom everyone called Casey, worked in an office of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Helena as a secretary transcribing letters from a Dictaphone. She saved to attend the University of Montana in Missoula.

The First Special Service Force trained at Fort William Henry Harrison just west of Helena. Casey enjoyed dancing with and attention from members of the force almost every Saturday night.

The U.S. troops began arriving at Fort William Henry Harrison on July 20, 1942, just before Casey turned 18. Six hundred Canadian troops arrived on Aug. 5, 1942. Between troops and support personnel, there were over 2,500 men to go into Helena to spend money and help the local economy.

The soldiers were transported into Helena on Saturday nights if they had a pass to attend dances at the exclusive Montana Club. There was a live band. Col. Robert T. Frederick, commander of the force, instructed the boys to "be on your best behavior." Casey and the other girls wore dresses, high heels, and makeup to the dances.

The soldiers could have dates with the local girls. Casey went to movies or had dinner dates.

"There was one guy from Ohio who had dinner a few times with my family. My mother got to check him out. He wanted to get serious, but I wasn't ready to get married," she said.

Casey said the boys never talked about their mission or anything to do with their training. Conversations were about their hometown, family, movies, music and other safe topics.

On April 6, 1943, the members of the force dressed in their uniforms with helmets and weapons to parade through the center of Helena, "Last Chance Gulch."

Casey and most of the citizens of Helena attended the parade to say good-bye.

During World War II everyone at home worked to support the boys in the frontlines to defeat the Axis powers. They made it possible for everything we have today. Today, we stand on their shoulders.

• Ken Beaton, 68, of Carson City is a retired teacher.