For the past 20 years, Tony Edmundson has been a steady, thoughtful presence at the Flathead County Library, serving as what he proudly calls an “information professional.” This year, Flathead County recognizes Tony for two decades of dedicated public service, a milestone rooted in purpose, people, and community connection.
Before joining the Library, Tony’s employment was primarily financially focused, and he says it ultimately left him with a sense of “soul discontentment.” He knew he wanted something different; work that mattered, with a sense of purpose.
That turning point came unexpectedly. Tony had walked into the Library simply to brush up his résumé while searching for a new job. A conversation with a library employee changed everything: they were hiring, and he was encouraged to apply. What initially attracted him were stability that Flathead County offers and packaged benefits, but what kept him was the deeper meaning behind the work.
“Today I feel like I’m getting up every day and doing something good for my community,” Tony says.
Tony’s journey to Flathead County was shaped by a life of movement. As an Air Force brat, he lived all over the country. His father was a survival instructor stationed out of Spokane for much of Tony’s formative years, and family vacations to the Flathead Valley left a lasting impression. After living in several smaller Montana towns, Tony settled in Kalispell in 2002, where he knew he had found the right fit.
“It’s God’s country up here,” he says simply.
The Library has been more than a workplace for Tony, it’s been the setting for some of his most meaningful life moments. He remembers exactly where he was standing the day he met his wife, who had just walked through the Library doors to start working there herself. His best man at his wedding? A patron he first met at the Library.
“It’s a family here,” Tony explains. “People open their hearts here. You get to know your community really well, because what people come here seeking is more than commerce; they’re looking to feed something in their souls.”
Outside of work, Tony brings the same passion and discipline to his personal life. He’s a former MMA cage fighter, a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an avid reader, and a dedicated cyclist who has logged thousands of local miles, especially around Flathead Lake on his cyclocross bike.
Looking ahead, Tony says his guiding words are “core values and service.” As long as his work continues to support families, education, and community access to information, he knows he’s exactly where he’s meant to be. One of his future goals is to see libraries across the county better networked, strengthening service for all patrons.
After 20 years, Tony Edmundson’s impact reaches far beyond bookshelves and reference desks. His career is a testament to the power of meaningful public service, and to the idea that sometimes, the right path begins with a simple conversation in the right place.
Congratulations to Tony on 20 years of dedicated service to Flathead County and our community.