Anaconda's Dee Motor Company celebrates 80 years of family business

It wasn’t long after World War II that Army veteran Leonard Dee returned home, married, settled down and started his own business.

Dee Motor Company opened its doors on April 24, 1946, with the desire to “serve the public in every way.”

Eighty years later, the Anaconda dealership, through prosperous times and economic downturns, remains in business.

What has also endured is the Dee family name. The business was passed down to Leonard’s son, Bill, and later, to his grandson, Robbie, making it one of Montana’s oldest family-owned dealerships.

Selling cars seems to be in the Dee family’s DNA. Great-grandfather William T. Dee was also an automobile salesman in Butte and Anaconda.

As a thank you to its customers, the dealership will celebrate its 80 years in business with food, drinks, and giveaways from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at 1200 E. Commercial Ave. in Anaconda.

Knowing Dee Motor has been in business for the past eight decades is a source of pride for Robbie, who has been running the business since his dad, Bill, retired nearly six years ago.

“There is a sense of accomplishment carrying on the tradition,” said Robbie.

Being a car salesman was not what Robbie had planned for his future when he graduated from college in 2002.

With degrees in both education and criminal justice, he had every intention of getting a teaching position but needed a summer job while applying to school districts.

Dee Motor was a familiar workplace for him, having worked there throughout high school, so he asked his dad for a job.

The position came with a surprise warning. Bill cautioned Robbie that once he came back on board, he might never leave.

Father apparently knew best.

“I got my first paycheck and never left,” said Robbie. “I never applied for any teaching job.”

According to Robbie, Dee Motor not only serves Anaconda, but outlying areas, including Butte, Deer Lodge, Philipsburg and Dillon, with an inventory that includes Dodge, Jeep, Chevrolet and Chrysler vehicles.

“All are under one roof, which is unique,” he said.

Robbie said one of the highlights of working at Dee Motor is interacting with its customers, which includes generations of families that have purchased vehicles.

“The best part of the job is the relationships you build with your customers,” he said. “Treating the customer right is paramount in our business.”

During his downtime, Robbie has started another project: working on an antique truck.

While a big fan of the Chevy Corvette, old and new, Robbie said he is not really into vintage vehicles.

That all changed more than a year ago when the grandson of a long-ago customer contacted Robbie wanting to know if he wanted to purchase a 1957 Chevy Apache truck.

Robbie nearly said no, but it turned out his grandfather, Leonard, sold the truck to the present owner’s grandfather nearly 70 years ago.

“I wanted it to stay in the Dee Motor family,” said Robbie. “It still has the original Dee Motor metal placard.”

A lot of the restoration is complete, but more repairs are needed.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said.

Robbie hopes to have it completed by July and enter it into Anaconda’s Fourth of July parade.

“I can’t wait for it to be done,” he said. “It’s been a fun project.”

Robbie said he enjoys the ups and downs of running a business and instinctively knows that as he leaves the office each day, it will all be there tomorrow.

“Every decision we make centers on the betterment of the business,” he said. “Of course, it can always be better, but the lights are on and the bills are paid.”