BILLINGS - A more than 40-year Christmas tradition continued for the Knights of Columbus Christmas tree lot on Sunday.
Part of the tradition is the trees arriving the Sunday before Thanksgiving from Sand Point Idaho at St. Pius X and St. Bernard's.
Every year, Billings Central High School students help unload the truck-full of trees.
A nationwide Christmas tree shortage has made for about 737 at St. Pius, as compared to more than 1,000 in previous years
This is the first year without Lou Adler, who died at the age of 85 in April.
"It's kind of sad," said Phillip Zeeck, tree lot manager. "Lou was a very big part of this. He was Mr. Christmas Tree and he is greatly missed. He resides right over here in our cemetery now. But I'm sure he's keeping an eye on us now and probably telling us we're not doing it right. But none the less, we'll soldier on but he's always in the backs of our minds. And i think the first question we ask each other is what would Lou do?"
Hours for the St. Pius lot at 717 18th Street W are on the Knights of Columbus Facebook page.
