NEWS

Great Falls’ ultimate volunteer needs a hand

Kristen Inbody
kinbody@greatfallstribune.com
Paul Grosvold bows his head in prayer during a Boy Scouts court of honor meeting. Although the Montana Council of the Boy Scouts of America says scouting is safer than ever, the organization currently faces multiple lawsuits over sexual abuse lawyers say stretches back decades.

Great Falls Boy Scouts are lifting up the man they call “Papa Paul.”

Last year, Paul Grosvold volunteered more than 1,100 hours as Troop 1 scoutmaster, Order of the Arrow adviser and a Kiwanis member, part of a long record of service to his community. This year, Grosvold is battling esophageal cancer.

Scout families are putting on a spaghetti dinner Dec. 6 at the Celtic Cowboy for Grosvold, a self-employed contractor.

Colton Monroe, 15, is among the hundreds of boys whose lives are better for knowing Grosvold.

When his dad deployed, twice, Colton found campouts much harder. But he also found a mentor in Grosvold.

“He helped a lot. He was caring and kind,” he said. “He showed me how to be more independent.”

Even without his dad, Colton still had to meet Grosvold’s high standards. He became a patrol leader.

Grosvold is a strong, silent type, though Colton said he gets chatty on car rides as they travel around the state for camps and campouts.

“He tries to figure out who you are. He always wants to know the person. He cares about them instead of talking about himself,” Colton said. “He tells stories about his youth and when he did things wrong. He’s not worried about looking perfect but shows it’s OK to make mistakes.”

Colton remembered Grosvold helping him start a fire with flint and steel at the Scouts’ winter survival campout, an urgent matter at 17 degrees below zero with windchill factored in.

“He taught us to make shelters. We didn’t have tents,” he said. “He’s very patient.”

Colton Monroe talks with other members of Troop 1001 before a court of honor meeting. He said Grosvold helped him get through his father's deployments.

Grosvold has modeled service, too, and how to interact with people, whether veterans at the annual pancake breakfast or families at St. Vincent de Paul, Colton said. Colton said he has seem people warm up as he’s visited with them when they come for food and presents to put under the Christmas tree.

“When you take it all out to the cars and talk to them, they like to say thank you a lot. It changes their outlook on the world knowing people want to help,” he said. “I was timid to talk, but now I can. He tells us to look our best and to show it, that it means something to you and you care about them.”

For boys without dads, “He tries to care for them a little more because they need a father figure,” said Colton’s mom, Kim Monroe. “He doesn’t pick one kid, but he loves them all. It’s amazing how he keeps track of each boy on his Scouting journey. He encourages them to find their purpose and passion.”

Grosvold helped Elliot Roberts, 13, earn his tenderfoot rank.

“He sat with me three hours helping me finishing the requirements. He asked lots of questions,” Elliot said. “He showed me what it means to be a Boy Scout. Everybody knows him and loves him. He’s so friendly and kind.”

Colby Aderhold, 14 and a patrol leader, said Grosvold “has always been there.”

“When I was working on tenderfoot, he took me under his wing and helped me figure out all my knots. He was my personal fitness counselor, and when I got lousy with charting, he motivated me to get it done,” Colby said. “Cooking was one badge I left hanging, and he pulled me back in. He pulls me aside and tells me, you’ve had this merit badge open for a long time, and he helps with skills. He pays attention to everybody.”

Kyle Roberts stepped into Grosvold’s “rather large footsteps” as Troop 1 scoutmaster.

“Troop 1 has a long history, and he’s been everything to Troop 1 in recent history,” Roberts said. “Paul came in a time when parental involvement was lower, and he kept it going and made it thrive. He’s well respected. Everybody knows what Paul stands for. People joined Troop 1 because Paul was the scoutmaster.”

Grosvold organized his time around Scouts’ needs.

“Scouts do a lot of things, and service is one of them. It’s always been huge for Paul. This is a very service-oriented troop, and it’s because of Paul,” Roberts said. “He retired as scoutmaster but stepped up to be adviser for the Order of the Arrow. He’s still leading boys.”

Eagle projects under Grosvold’s leadership have touched numerous organizations, among them schools, churches, Malmstrom Air Force Base and Flag Hill.

Colton said Grosvold was reluctant about the benefit — he’s more comfortable serving others — but the dinner will “show I’ve learned what he’s taught me, that we listened to him.”

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.

To contribute

WHAT: Benefit for Paul Grosvold spaghetti dinner, silent auction

WHEN: 4-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6

WHERE: Celtic Cowboy,116 1st Ave. S.

COST: Freewill offering

If you can’t make it:

Embark Credit Union

Atten: Benefit to Paul Grosvold

P.O. Box 2649

Great Falls, MT 59403