The word beacon has its origin in Old English when its meaning referred to a signal or lighthouse. Beacons were used not only by ships and later by airfields as a warning or guidance system but as a means for carrying news. A fire or light set up in a high or prominent position could also provide a sign of celebration. Since the 1600s, the word beacon has figuratively referred to a person or thing that illuminates or inspires.

Drawing from these historical meanings, once a month, the Journal will run a story in a Feature Forum called Blaine County Beacon, which will illuminate the achievements of Blaine County residents. This beacon will shine not only in celebration but as a means for bringing the celebrated person "back home." Anyone wishing to recommend a person for consideration for this feature should contact Donna L. Miller or the Journal.

When Rachel (Hansen) Thompson was asked whether she would agree to be featured in the Blaine County Beacon, she was honored but hesitant because she no longer lives in Blaine County, although her roots are here and she has a strong, local customer base as well.

After learning that beyond illuminating the achievements of Blaine County residents, this beacon shines as a means for bringing the celebrated person "back home," she was on board and immediately wondering how her story might provide "an empowering piece for women in general on forging their own paths in life for what's best for their families."

As she reflected on her path to becoming an entrepreneur, Hansen recalls an experience in junior high: "Our school counselor had us pick 2-3 places to go and job shadow in fields we might be interested in pursuing for careers when we were older. I knew I wanted to work as either a dental hygienist or a cake decorator, so those were the two professions I chose to job shadow."

After graduating from Chinook High School in 2005, Hansen's collegiate career began with swimming at Washington State University and ended with a degree from Great Falls College of Dental Hygiene-MSU as a Registered Dental Hygienist.

"Although I loved my career choice, as I progressed through college, I knew that one day I would want to stay home to raise a family. After graduating, my first dental hygiene job was challenging because I worked at a facility that, before I arrived, did not have a dental hygiene protocol for its patients. As the only hygienist, I formulated and built a strong, thriving, and successful dental hygiene practice under two dentists at a community health clinic, keeping patients' dental needs at the forefront.

"Something I learned while working at the clinic was that, even though there were some incredibly challenging times mentally, I could build something out of nothing and do it while making a positive impact on others," Hansen said.

When Hansen married, she and her husband Johnny Thompson moved to another state. As her two children grew, the now Mrs. Thompson began transitioning to a stay-at-home mom, although she continued to temp at dental hygiene offices when time allowed in her husband's rigorous collegiate schedule.

Similar to the experience of that of many mothers, Thompson knew she wanted to maximize her time with her children, but she also knew that the formula of a husband in college and a wife at home did not provide much income to pay the bills.

In January of 2014, on one of the family's return trips to Montana for a visit, Thompson discovered WineShop At Home (winesmything.com), and at her husband's encouragement, she decided to start her own wine business under that company's umbrella.

"Although I had no clue how I was going to begin a business venture in a place where I had only met my two neighbors, I did know that the perseverance and determined mentality I had cultivated in my endeavors growing up from sports to academics meant I could at least try," Thompson stated.

With both "belief and try," Thompson went to work. As with every fledgling enterprise, she experienced peaks and valleys,

but what came from those undulating experiences were lessons and growth in both professional and personal life.

During her seven years with WineShop At Home, Thompson has faced multiple relocations, various life circumstances, and even a more independent step to owning her very own business.

"Do not get me wrong; I still do my wine business across 38 states and enjoy all the laughter and joy it brings to those around me," she was quick to point out.

Thompson credits her experiences with WineShop At Home for giving her the confidence to launch a second enterprise in November 2019– A Touch of Buttercream. With this venture, she creates custom cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcake bouquets, and other desserts. Her mission with A Touch of Buttercream is to focus on "bringing back the beauty and taste of the past."

"I laugh as I look back and realize I again chose to start something from scratch in order to fulfill a need of those around me in a positive and impactful way. As I was doing cakes and other baked goods for fun, I realized that I was also finding a niche for creating buttercream flower creations."

Thompson not only puts the flowers she creates on cakes but on cupcakes, which she then arranges into a bouquet so that individuals can enjoy them or can gift them to others.

"The baking community around me encouraged and told me, 'No one else does anything like this here; you have to keep going with this,' so I have, and my skill has grown dramatically over the course of the past year."

On a day-to-day basis, Thompson homeschools the couple's two children. She and her husband recently sold their house, and the family is again moving. "Although many might give up or become overwhelmed with these constant changes, I am thankful for the lessons of resiliency and continued perseverance that I will be teaching along the way, not only to my own family but hopefully to others I encounter as I share my story," she said.

For Thompson, one of the most unexpected rewards of having taken steps to independent business ownership has been immersing her children into all of it because the family is together every day, all day long. Her youngest was just shy of a year old when she began her entrepreneurial endeavor with WineShop. Now, Josiah is eight, and Ananiah is ten years old.

"Diurnally, as my kids immerse themselves in and pay attention to what is going on around them, I am in awe. I notice how they are taking what is happening, and with positive, powerful thought, they are cultivating creative ideas and invoking constructive change for the betterment of the future.

"When I started on these business ventures, I did not realize that I would ever have this effect on those around me, but I also feel like that may be true of anyone who starts something new. I hope while you have read this article and my story that you have been encouraged through my journey and in turn you will understand that in whatever you do now or are planning to do in the future, your presence and effort matter and make a difference to those around you," Thompson claims.

In her baking and decorating endeavors, Thompson was inspired by her mother Renella Hansen, who always baked the family birthday cakes from scratch. "She is an amazing baker and cook," Thompson reports.

Thompson also credits that junior high school job shadowing experience when she shadowed Jean Kokkeler at Jean's Bakery. "She let me fully decorate two cakes on my own, and I loved it! Now, my daughter wants the two of us-she and I-to have a store front together."