One Resident’s Vision, Community Support Brings Ike’s Pond To Life

Before it became a place to cast a fishing line, walk a dog or enjoy a quiet moment beside the water, Ike’s Fishing Pond and Walking Trail was a horse pasture — and an idea Ken Forbregd was determined to pursue.

Today, the 1.73-acre pond offers a gathering place for neighbors and families. Four laps around the pond make a mile, giving walkers a place to stretch their legs while young anglers try their luck nearby.

The pond bears the name of Isaac “Ike” Goodson, the original owner of the land. Bringing it to life took years of planning, donated land, help from public agencies and contributions from people who believed in creating something lasting for Culbertson.

Forbregd, a longtime resident and member of the Culbertson Lions Club, spearheaded the project with a simple goal: Give children a local place to fish.

His inspiration came partly from watching families ice fishing and children skating on the river. Having grown up in the area, he knew how unpredictable the ice could be and began thinking about another option for young anglers.

While serving on a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks citizens advisory council, he visited Glasgow’s Home Run Pond. Seeing that community’s fishing pond helped him picture what might be possible in Culbertson.

Forbregd had spent nearly his entire life in Culbertson, apart from time in Billings for school and work. He and his wife, Karla, returned to raise their family, and the pond offered another way to invest in the place they called home.

Finding the right location took patience. Forbregd explored several sites before approaching Butch and Chris Finnicum about their horse pasture. The couple initially wanted to keep the property for possible future use by their grandchildren, but a conversation several years later reopened the possibility.

An initial plan for a long-term lease eventually became a donation of the property to the Town of Culbertson. According to Forbregd, the arrangement calls for the land to return to the Finnicum family if it is no longer used as a pond.

With a location secured, the Lions Club helped move the idea forward.

“They were all on board with it,” Forbregd said.

He took the lead in coordinating the work, navigating agency requirements and finding people willing to help. The first design was a pencil sketch of a pear-shaped pond drawn over an image of the pasture. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks helped turn that drawing into plans.

Turning the plans into a pond proved more complicated than Forbregd expected. Floodplain concerns added engineering expenses, and groundwater created another obstacle when an early excavation quickly filled with water.

At one point, he wondered whether the project could be built at all.

Plans for a National Guard earthmoving unit to excavate the site were later delayed by COVID-19. Hurley Oilfield Services then offered workers and equipment, allowing construction to proceed.

Nearby property owners Joe Falcon and Bruce Walters provided space for the excavated dirt, Forbregd said. Others contributed soil testing, surveying, materials, water and labor.

The pond’s initial fill required approximately 4.23 million gallons of water, according to Forbregd. More was needed as water soaked into the ground.

Support also arrived from beyond Culbertson. Forbregd recalled applying to the Williston STAR Fund for assistance. A representative later noticed the pond while traveling through the area, recognized it from the application and helped secure a $10,000 contribution.

At the time of the interview, Forbregd said the project had received approximately $274,000 in cash and grants, along with more than $63,000 in documented in-kind donations.

Even those figures do not tell the whole story. Many people who donated work never provided an estimate for their services, he said, leaving some contributions uncounted.

The Lions Club’s annual gun raffle has provided additional support, bringing in about $10,000 a year, according to Forbregd. One of the pond’s most distinctive features also connects it to the region’s history. A bridge dating to 1908 was donated by the people of Richland County, a gift Forbregd wanted the community to receive credit for.

Its decorative pattern became a common thread throughout the grounds. Bob Peterson incorporated the design into the kiosk, gate and benches, giving the gathering place a look tied to the historic bridge.

“The bridge is the theme,” Forbregd said.

Memorial benches and donated picnic tables offer places to rest, visit and watch the water. Forbregd added a personal touch by building the pond’s water feature in his shop while recovering from multiple shoulder surgeries.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks continues to manage the fishery. Forbregd said rainbow trout and perch inhabit the pond, with bluegill stocking planned for the fall. A stocking date has not been specified.

His hopes for the grounds continue to grow. He would like to see a covered gathering area and a walking trail extending around the swimming pool. A second, shorter bridge from Richland County could become part of that route, he said.

When Forbregd talks about the pond, he returns again and again to the people who made it possible — the family who donated the land, the workers who brought equipment, the neighbors who supplied materials and everyone who contributed money or time.

What began as a pencil drawing is now a place where a child can cast a line, neighbors can meet for a walk and families can spend time together beside the water. Each visit adds another small chapter to a project built through community generosity.