By Jolene Farley
When Rick and Lila Tatge purchased Beaver Creek Lumber in June 1995, neither was a stranger to the lumber business.
Rick graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School on a Friday evening in 1971 and began working at Beaver Creek Lumber the next morning.
Lila worked as an employee at the lumber yard.
Rick managed the lumberyard for 25 years before the couple decided to buy the business from a cooperative ownership.
The Tatges' sons are carrying on the family tradition by also working at Beaver Creek Lumber. Shannon works full-time and Jeff part-time, while he attends college.
The business has one employee besides family members. It is "truthfully a family business.
Besides selling construction materials through the lumberyard, the Tatges do all types of construction work, new or remodeling.
According to Rick, remodeling is more of a challenge than new construction. "You go on your reputation," he said.
The couple eventually hopes to purchase another storage building in Beaver Creek, but there isn't a lot of property for sale near them.
"You keep accumulating but donÕt have a place to put things," said Lila. "There are always more products to have."
Both Rick and Lila (Doorneweerd) were born and raised in Beaver Creek and graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School. "We are very proud of our community and our school district," said Rick. "You should be if you live in a community."
Beaver Creek Lumber is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon.