Hall of Fame: Distinguished Community Contributors Bud and Laurel Cheff
Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana founders Bud Cheff Jr. and his wife, Laurel, along with Jo Cheff, their daughter and current museum director. (Lake County Leader file photo)
The Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana, located about four miles south of Ronan, was founded in 1997 by Vern (Bud) Cheff Jr. and his wife, Laurel. Even though the Cheffs started out as a small “mom and pop” operation, the museum is now a rich resource of Native and non-Native history on the Flathead Reservation and the state of Montana.
The Cheffs are among the 2023 inductees into the Ronan Hall of Fame, in honor of their contributions to the community.
The Mission Statement of the museum includes the following, “Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana’s purpose is to discover, memorialize, preserve, and protect the history and culture of the Flathead Reservation and early Montana. It is designed for the enrichment, education, and recreation of local residents and visitors to our valley.”
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