Briggs Distributing

Fred L. Briggs started the business in 1934. Fred was a master plumber in Lewistown, MT, and had no intention of pursuing any other career than the plumbing business. Through some unforeseen circumstances, however, Fred ended up with a wholesale beverage license. Rather than stay in Lewistown, he and his wife, Georgia, moved to Billings and began selling Great Falls Select out of an apartment at the Lincoln Hotel. She was the bookkeeper and Fred did all the rest! Pete Decker joined Fred in the business in 1951. A recent graduate of Montana State University with an accounting degree, Pete was anxious to get into business. Because Fred and Georgia had no children of their own, over the course of time Fred sold the business to Pete. In 1979, Pete’s son, John Decker, joined the business, taking over the reins in 1991 upon his father’s retirement. A MillerCoors distributor, Briggs Distributing Company, Inc., also distributes craft and imported beers, flavored malt beverages, fine wines, and several non-alcoholic beverages. The following Montana counties are serviced out of the facilities in Billings: Big Horn, Carbon, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Stillwater, Wheatland, and Yellowstone. Briggs Distributing is located at 3545 Hesper Road, near the Zoo Drive exit off Interstate 90.