2008 marked the 75th year of continuous service to Eastern Montana by the W. A. Mitchell Agency,  “the Agency of Service”.  The officers and many of the employees of the W. A. Mitchell Agency have always been deeply involved in community and school affairs, continuing the policy and foresightedness of  W. A. Mitchell, who often said “We appreciate your confidence and will work to keep it”.    The professional and full time real estate department deals mostly with residential and small rural tracts at this time.  Broker, Dorothy Armstrong, GRI, and Realtor Jim Bastian assist home buyers and sellers.   The insurance department provides the finest personal and business insurance available today from outstanding insurance companies including Travelers, Safeco, Philadelphia, Concorde, Progressive, Montana State Fund and Allstate.  John Menyhart, CIC, and Joel Larson, CISR, handle commercial and farm and ranch insurance. Dannette Cremer, CISR, is manager of the Personal Insurance department. Staff members Yvonne Jacobs, Toni Trogden and Carol Bartholomew assist the agents.   In 1933 W. A. Mitchell moved to Miles City from Roundup and opened an office at 9 South 9th Street.  He was the State Agent for many Eastern clients managing farms and ranches in Montana and western North Dakota.  In 1936 he moved his office to 519 Main Street, the old First National Bank building, now known as the Professional Building.  He hired John Braunbeck and added insurance to the business.  The country was in the midst of the depression and the first month’s insurance premiums totaled $32.50.   In 1940 the office moved to 906 Main Street.  Crop conditions improved and farms and ranches began to sell.  He hired additional help to service the many farms and ranches he was handling.  Mitchell entered the real estate business in the late 1930’s and after World War II built more than 60 homes in several housing developments.  Meanwhile, the insurance business continued to grow with the purchase of two long time insurance agencies in Miles City.   In 1944 he moved the office to 504 Main Street and in 1946 incorporated under the name of W. A. Mitchell Company.  His sons, Dick and Bill joined the firm soon after.  John Braunbeck, Bill Mitchell, and now John Menyhart have served as President of the Montana Insurance Association or Independent Insurance Agents of Montana. In 1970, W. A. Mitchell received a citation for Outstanding Realtor.   In 1994, Dick Mitchell, Jr. purchased the abstract and title portion of the business and moved Security Abstract and Title Company to 510 Main Street.  John Menyhart purchased the insurance and real estate departments the same year.  The W. A. Mitchell Agency continues at 602 Pleasant in an office building built in 1975 on the site of the former Miles City Opera House.    The W. A. Mitchell Agency wishes to thank their many friends and customers for making it possible to celebrate 75 years of real estate and insurance service to Miles City and eastern Montana.                                                                               January 6, 2010