John Eric DeGroot mixes the centers of bon bons while working with his mother, Michele DeGroot, at Big Sky Candy in Hamilton. After returning last fall from service in the Marine Corps, DeGroot works two days a week at the candy shop while studying business administration at the University of Montana.

Michele and John DeGroot, bought Big Sky Candy in January 2002, while their son was stationed in Egypt as part of Operation Bright Star. And once their treat-laden care packages to their son started arriving, John Eric became one of the most well-liked members of his platoon.

"I guess I was a pretty popular guy with my buddies," he said. "They got to sample all the different candies. I think the cinnamon glazed almonds were probably their favorite."

John Eric DeGroot worked full-time at the family's candy store from late August until January, when he started school full time in Missoula at the University of Montana pursuing a degree in business administration.

"I'm going to school on the G.I. Bill, and the whole plan is to apply the business models I learn to Big Sky Candy," he said. "I want to make it through school in three years if possible."

DeGroot attends classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each week, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays he puts in a half day at the candy store. And while many of his fellow servicemen and women are having a hard time readjusting to civilian life, he said his own transition has not been so difficult.

"I didn't do any real combat, so I'm not having to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder," he said. "The hardest part of my readjustment is seeing how the rest of the youth of America are living. Guys that are going to class at 8 a.m. are whining about having to get out of bed before 10. The atmosphere is very different from the military."

Initially, when he started working at the store, he ate a lot of candy, he said, but that subsided after a couple weeks - except for his one luxury.

"The one thing I need every day is a little sliver of plain fudge," he confessed.

After more than four years of following orders from his military superiors, taking cues from his mother is a little different, he said, and something he tries to avoid.

"Basically, I come in at 9 and start warming caramel in the double boiler," he said. "That takes about an hour, so I also heat the chocolate in a slow cooker. Then I get the list out, inventory the front case and make whatever needs making.

For Michele DeGroot, having her son join the candy-making team couldn't have come at a better time. Big Sky Candy has more customers than ever, and the succession of holidays from Christmas to Mothers' Day makes this a busy time of the year.

"Christmas is huge because it's so long," she said. "And Valentine's Day, Easter and Mothers' Day are all very popular. The longer we're in business the more popular the holidays are for us."

Since she and her husband purchased Big Sky Candy three years ago, DeGroot said the quality and selection of candies at the Main Street store has steadily improved. And while she couldn't say exactly how many different types of candies they make, she's confident it's more than 100.

"Basically everything in our display case is handmade from scratch in our kitchen here," she said. "We've got toffees, fudges, creams, chocolate-covered strawberries, beaver dams, ...."

In addition to the plethora of sweets made at the store, Big Sky Candy also features a wide selection of purchased confectioneries, including hard candies and suckers, jelly beans, and Montana-wild Huckleberry products.

DeGroot credits heredity and a lifelong devotion to baking for prompting her to get in the candy-making business, but aside from that she said she has no special training.

"I've always baked and cooked," she said. "And my grandmother's family were bakers in Holland. So for the most part I've just figured it out."

Some of the most popular candies include toffees, bear claws, truffles and creams, she said, and most people like to come in and mix and match to suit their sweet tooth's.

"We have a lot of regulars, and I know what they want," she said. "Sometimes they just come in and chat - that's the old-time candy store appeal."

While the majority of their business is from walk-in customers, a number of people order Big Sky Candy from the store's Web site - www.bigskycandy.com - although DeGroot has learned from experience when and when not to ship.

"I will not ship in the summer," she said. "And if people order from far away, I'll check the weather in the area before I send off a package."

While her son was overseas in the military, DeGroot acquired four different molds to honor a different branch of the service - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. She's still trying to find a mold for the Coast Guard.

And even though John Eric DeGroot knew nothing of candy-making before coming home last fall, his military experience helped him develop a few new candies.

"He came up with coconut and caramel glazed nuts to complement the cinnamon glazed nuts his buddies liked so much," she said. "We put them out and people really like them."

Big Sky Candy is located at 319 W. Main Street in Hamilton and is currently open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Reporter Rod Daniel can be reached at 363-3300 or rdaniel@ravallirepublic.com

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