Willard Stanley Aggson

Willard "Bill" Aggson passed away peacefully after a short illness, on Jan. 27, 2005, at his home in New York City. A number of relatives had come from great distances to say goodbye.

Bill was born in Kalispell in 1927. He attended Flathead County High School, the University of Montana, Arizona State University, and San Francisco State University.

He enjoyed working for the Park Service as a trail boy in Glacier Park. During the last years of World War II, he was at sea in the U.S. Navy. Fluent in Russian, he later operated listening posts in Eastern Europe. He had a long career as an educator in the California school system. He received several citations for his work with high school dropouts.

In retirement, Bill spent much time at his beloved Ashley Lake. He also traveled all over the world ... including several trips to Nepal. At his death, family members proposed that it was easier to understand that he had just "hiked on ahead."

A memorial service is planned for Bill at the Aggson cabin on Ashley Lake later this summer.

Bill is survived by daughter, Peggy Koen and her husband, Phil; grandchildren, Clare, Will and Ted Koen; a brother, Tom Aggson and wife, Betty; nieces, Laura Holland, Marie Ryan and Kitty Prendergast; and nephews, Alan Aggson and Josh Aggson.