Wold always looked for ways to help others on mail route

Tim Wold says he’s always looking for an opportunity to help others.

A few of those occasions have occurred while he was on the job during his 35-year as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service.

There was the time he found a toddler in a parking lot near a busy street, so he picked him up and was walking to a nearby house when the youngster’s grandfather came out of the door looking for him.

One time he noticed an older gentleman hadn’t picked up his mail for a few days, which was unusual, so he contacted a neighbor who was able to get in touch with the man’s family. Turns out the older man had suffered a stroke and was in need of medical attention.

“I enjoyed it when it was more personal,” Wold said. “That was the fun part of the job, whether that be with coworkers or customers.”

Wold, who retired recently, began his career as a mail carrier in Casper, Wyoming, applying for the job after earning an art degree. He spent the last 17 years in Whitefish.

Wold fondly remembers about 10 years ago when he was asked to speak to students at Muldown Elementary School for dog bite prevention week. He wrote a song called “Don’t Let Your Dog Bite the Letter Carrier” to perform in class.

He notes, he was only bitten by five dogs during his whole career and all those incidents occurred in Wyoming.

He’s been a community volunteer also, serving as chair on the committee for the Flathead Valley Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, playing and singing in Joyful Noise at Northridge Lutheran Church.

Wold grew up in Cut Bank, where his kindergarten teacher predicted he’d be an artist. He studied art in high school and college, but it’s largely been a hobby as he worked and he and wife, Kim, raised their two children. They also have one grandson.

Now, Wold is looking forward to spending time in his home art studio.

“It’s always been something of a passion of mine,” he said. “Painting is relaxing — you get in a groove and you start working and time just starts flying.”

His miniature oil paintings of Glacier National Park and other landscapes are for sale at Going to the Sun Gallery downtown. In sizes no larger than an 8 by 10, his work is popular with visitors who want to carry home a painting in their suitcase.

With more free time during the day now, he plans to try more plein air painting, or painting outdoors. He’s also like find a group of painters to share the experience with.

“I’d really like to get out and paint on location,” he said.