Rauch Makes Last Stop For Wolf Point Students

After being one of the dedicated bus drivers in Wolf Point to make sure students arrive at school on time, Virgil Rauch has decided to retire after 46 years of service.

“I never thought I would drive that long,” Rauch said. “I thought it was just something to do part-time.”

The Wolf Point School District held a retirement party in honor of Rauch on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The district presented him with a musical clock to highlight the event.

Rauch began working in the position during 1974.

“The one that was driving quit, and they needed a bus driver,” Rauch explained. “I needed a part-time job to go with my farming. At that time, I was farming with my dad.”

Rauch’s route consisted of about 35 miles each way and included Highway 250. Living in northeastern Montana, the drive wasn’t always an easy one.

“There was a bunch of times that it was nice here, and half-way through the route you couldn’t see the road,” Rauch noted.

He woke up at 5:45 a.m. each school day to begin his route. He said there were 35 children on his route when he started in the 1970s, and now there are only about five students.

“I got to know them fairly well,” Rauch said of the children. “I have driven long enough to see my route kids grow up. Many of my route kids rode on the bus from kindergarten through high school.”

Along with driving the route bus, he sometimes drove the activity bus on trips to schools such as Glasgow and Sidney.

“It was fun,” he said of those trips.

Although he is now retiring from bus driving and being a wheat/hay farmer, he isn’t taking it real easy. He wakes up a little later, about 7 a.m., and runs the Tic Toc Clock Shop where he repairs and creates clocks.

He explains that he started fixing clocks in high school under the guidance of Frank Eastman.

“That’s my hobby now,” Rauch said. “I enjoy doing it.”

The clock shop has been in existence since 1980 and can be called at 406-392-5235. Highlights have included repairing clocks from the 17th and 18th century.

He looks back on his time driving the school bus with fond memories.

“I enjoyed knowing I was helping kids with their future,” Rauch said. “My wife, Kathy and I enjoyed working for the Wolf Point School District. We both would like to see the Wolf Point School District to continue to thrive and be successful.”