Casey Overturf named new Ranger for Bear Paw Battlefield

Casey Overturf is the new ranger for the Bear Paw Battlefield south of Chinook. Growing up in both New York and Virginia, he graduated from Giles County High School in southwest Virginia. He wrote, "Even though I spent more time in New York, I think of Virginia as home." Overturf currently serves as a ranger at Mount Rainier in Washington state. He will officially start at the Bear Paw Battlefield toward the end of September.

After high school Overturf spent five years in the Marines. He was an intelligence analyst and primary marksmanship instructor from 2000-2005. He served in Okinawa, Kuwait, Africa and Iraq. From the marines he started work on an engineering degree from Virginia Tech. When someone asked about his plans he said, "I want to work long enough as an engineer so I can quit and get a job playing in the woods." He said, "That question got me to thinking and within a week I had switched my degree and signed up for my first summer job doing trail work with the US Forest Service in Virginia."

He was planning for a solitary job in a remote location or as a back-country ranger. A professor urged him to try his hand at 'interpretation' for a summer with the Arkansas State Parks system. Overturf said, "I fell in love with always being able to learn new things about new places and share those stories with others." Out of college he got his first job with the National Park Service at Mount Rainier, the end of 2009, and has been there until the move to the Bear Paw Battlefield.

At Mount Rainier his official title was Park Guide and he also held the position of Lead Interpretive Ranger. Those positions work the visitor centers and do the guided walks and talks. He did history based chats, worked with school groups and lead snowshoe walks in the winter. The Lead Interpreter also trains new staff and volunteers. He described his duties at Mount Rainier as "taking care of a thousand little things."

Looking to the

Bear Paw Battlefield

Several things attracted Overturf to apply for the position at the Battlefield. He wrote, "I've always been interested in Native Americans and being able to tell part of their story. And at the Battlefield the military story surely interests me given my experience." He added he's trying not to form any preconceived notions about moving to the prairie, noting, "Except when in the military I've always lived and worked in mountains, or at least foothills. I'll likely live in Chinook and it's a bigger town than where I last lived in Washington."

At Mount Rainier he worked with a large staff at a park that attracts many thousands of visitors each year. Overturf said, "An attractive part of this location was getting to work on my own. About the only person that could get in my way in this position is myself." When some of his co-workers learned he would be the only full time staffer at the Battlefield he said, "They nicknamed me the Lone Ranger."

He's heard about the weather in north central Montana and describes that as another plus. He wrote, "The long gray wet winters of western Washington have not been easy to endure. I don't mind how cold it is as long as the weather gives you some variety and some clear skies on occasion."

In his own future he sees "trying new parks and locations before I retire." He added, "They say a change can be as good as a rest sometimes. I'm looking forward to this change, making my own assessments about the Battlefield and developing a set of new friends as I settle in."

The "Journal" welcomes Casey Overturf to the Bear Paw Battlefield and wishes him a successful and enjoyable time in north central Montana.