Catholic Hamburgers Hit 75 Years At Stampede

For 75 years now, one of the greatest and certainly the tastiest attractions of the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede have been the hamburgers served from the stand by the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish of Wolf Point.

“The onions probably,” Eileen Karge, chair of the project for the last 30 years, said of what makes the hamburgers so tasty. “A part of it is tradition. People need to have their Catholic hamburgers during Stampede. It’s something that you do.”

The stand will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday and then from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Karge has been busy trying to find volunteers to fill the four-hour shifts. A sign-up sheet has been located at the church since early June, and she has been conducting calls since mid-June. The late-night shifts have the most spots still open.

“I think my biggest task is scheduling, getting people to sign up,” Karge said.

She explained that all the volunteers were Catholics years ago, but they now count on community volunteers to help with the cause.

“Once you get there, you’re busy and having fun,” Karge said of volunteering.

The menu includes hamburgers, polish dogs, hot dogs, chips, nacho cheese and pop.

“During those four days, I have about two hamburgers,” Karge said. “But I like the polish dogs.”

She noted the organization used to sell 10,000 burgers during Stampede. Karge has ordered 7,600 for this year’s celebration.

“We’re not selling as many as we used to, but the rodeo isn’t drawing as many people,” she added.

For many years, the stand was open around the clock during Stampede. She said some farmers would come in for a hamburger before hitting the fields.

“That was their early breakfast,” Karge explained.

Although Catholic hamburgers is being recognized for its 75th year at Stampede, Karge said church’s historical minutes show that the hamburger stand netted $227.11 back in 1936.

“Whether the stand continued each year is not indicated in the minutes. I believe that it probably did, but maybe not every year. At least we know that as early as 1936, the idea of a Catholic hamburger stand during Stampede was a reality,” she said.

Although Jim and Martha Neutgens allowed the hamburger stand to be erected on their property on Main Street for many years, the hamburger stand was originally on Front Street and later on Second Avenue. Another location was a lot near the old JC Penney’s store. In 1989 and 1990, many hours were spent building and welding the frame for the portable stand that the organization had been using for 27 years. The stand was designed so the tent top could continue to be used and so that the stand would fit into the metal storage garage located near the alley of the church’s property. The new stand contained a hot water tank, allowing for running water.

“Water would drain into pails and would need to be hauled away, but having hot, running water was a great improvement,” Karge said. “No longer would customers gather all around the stand to yell out an order. They could line up, place and receive their order, and move down the line to get their drinks and then pay. Workers no longer would be handling food, pop and money. The stand provided shelving for supplies, designated places for coffee and pop and, of course, the much-needed grills.”

The current permanent stand was purchased in January 2019. Karge said the new facility was a great success when used for Stampede during 2019 and for the oneday sale at 2020’s Stampede.

Some of the actual food items have also changed throughout the years. At one time, ranchers of the parish would donate beef which was all ground into hamburger. The hamburgers were pattied daily at the Parish Hall.

“The hamburger was measured with an ice cream scoop and smashed flat with a full juice can,” Karge said. “Wax paper was placed between each burger. As the demand for a Catholic burger increased, it was necessary to purchase frozen burgers.”

Different vendors have been used for hamburgers with the goal of purchasing Montana beef. In 2002, the group started purchasing Cloud Burgers.

Onions were originally peeled and sliced daily at the Parish Hall.

“Onions filled the Parish Hall with their aroma,” Karge said. “I am sure many ladies were teary-eyed doing that duty.”

Onions were later sliced with an electric slicer in the church’s rectory. Patricia Wilkinson was the chairperson of Onion Day for many years.

“After the onions were peeled and sliced, they were placed in gallon food bags and hauled to the bus to be placed in freezers,” Karge said. “Each year, the Onion Day crew peeled and sliced 1,000 to 1,200 pounds of Walla Walla large onions on the Wednesday before the stand was to open.”

Starting in 2009, the group began ordering fresh, sliced onions.

“Our slicer was getting to the point where it needed to be replaced, and I wasn’t sure if we could find enough men who could do the slicing on a work day,” Karge explained.

Karge noted many individuals have made the hamburger stand a great fundraising throughout the years. Those people have included Susie Brown, Kerry Hanks, Patricia Wilkinson, Harriet Friesen, Irene Draper, Martha Neutgens, Ann Wienke, Keri Sansaver, Karen Sorley, Ellen Sievers, Donna Wimmer, Shelly Rodenberg, Gayle Green, Ginny Ulrickson, Carol Neutgens, Joelle Page, Rosalie Juve, Trudy Fox, Catherine Wylie, Irene Rathert, Nancy Hopson, Diane DeWitt, Loy Sprague, Karen Shaide, Carl Karge, Jim Rodenberg, Les Wienke, R.J. Doornek, Jim Neutgens, Larry Neutgens, Myron Long, Ken Wylie and Ross Sansaver. Priests including Father Gary Gunville, Father Steve Zabrocki, Father Jolly Pathiyamoola and Father Martin Ezeihuaku have also been very supportive.