It's Always Been About Family
Since its origin as Boston Height's Dairy (BHD) in 1891, the Udder Company's delivery service has always been by families and for families.
Boston Height's Dairy
Peck Family
Erastus and Estella Peck established BHD in 1891, delivering milk to local homes from their dairy farm. Located by Eddies Supper Club in Great Falls, MT, the dairy's name came from being located in the "Boston Heights" part of town.
In the early years, milk was delivered by wagon. Large milk containers were wedged between blocks of ice to keep the milk cool. Customers would come to the curb as Erastus came by to fill their containers with fresh milk. To avoid continuing to haul the containers, BHD became the first dairy to introduce glass bottles to the Great Falls area.
The Pecks delivered milk to the area stores at 10 cents per quart until 1915. Under the ownership of Erastus' son Walter, the dairy milked 60 head of Holstein cows and had the top single producer of milk in the state of Montana for two years.
As the years progressed, BHD passed through three generations of the Peck family. When Delbert Peck, the grandson of Erastus, and his wife Kathryn took over operations of the dairy, the farm was closed down, and they started ordering milk from an area dairy packaged in BHD glass bottles. The Pecks set up a cooler in their garage to store the milk and delivered in a small truck.
Bob and Louise Falk
When they were all out delivering in the early hours in the morning, local milkmen would gather together for coffee. Del Peck, tired of the risk of owning his own business, spoke often about wanting to sell out.
Robert (Bob) Falk, who had been delivering for Ayrshire Dairy for eight years and for Meadow Gold, took him up on it. Boston Height's Dairy was sold in April 1980 to Bob and Louise Falk who continued the tradition of delivery to homes and businesses in Great Falls.
For the Falks, the purchase was the continuation of a family legacy. Louise grew up delivering milk, eggs, and cream to town in Cascade, and her grandparents had owned Green Meadow Dairy in Helena.
When they bought the dairy, Bob and Louise acquired the delivery truck and rented space in the Pecks cooler until they were able to build a cooler in their own garage.
At the time of the change in ownership, milk was selling for less than 50 cents a quart.
Everything was done from the Falk's home until 1998 when they bought the Sperry's Market building in downtown Great Falls and moved the whole operation. They began running a grocery store in the front end of the building and became incorporated.
In August 2001, with too many looming building repairs, Bob and Louise decided to close the store and concentrate on the delivery services.
The Udder Company
Bob and Louise's nephew, Jeff Linabary, assumed management of the company in 2003. In October of that same year, the company started delivering Darigold products in a move to allow expansion throughout the state.
The company's coverage was expanded to Helena with the purchase of Lazy Daisy Dairy from Dennis and Louise Vogt in April 2004.
In April 2005 with the purchase of the Home Delivery Service in Billings, the Udder Company was formed to consolidate all locations under one branded identity. Jeff Linabary took over the ownership in August 2005.
In March 2006, the Udder Company took over the wholesale distribution of Darigold products in Bozeman.
Today the Udder Company continues the tradition started with the Pecks, delivering to over 2000 homes and businesses in Montana and continuing to grow.
The Udder Company ... a combination of histories rolled together to create a whole new breed of dairy delivery service in Montana -- providing modern convenience and variety with old fashioned qualities, values, and local service. Local cows, local people working hard for you.
