Gene Albert Haverlandt, 63,

Longtime Montana resident, Mr. Gene Albert Haverlandt, 63, died peacefully, Saturday, March 13, 2010, surrounded by family in his home in Wasilla, Alaska. Memorial services were held March 20 at the Valley Funeral Home Palmer Chapel, in Palmer, Alaska. A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. on April 10, at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge, 6510 Hwy. 93 South, Whitefish, in the Yaqamin Room. Mr. Haverlandt was born Sept. 8, 1946, in Kalispell. He grew up near Eureka where he learned to fish, trap, hunt and work. He graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1963. He married Linda Herron and had three children, Daphne, Darcy and Deanna, and from 1965 to 1975 they lived in and around Trego, Fortine, Deep Creek and Whitefish. He worked many professions " as a logger, a laborer for Burlington Northern and construction worker of the Libby Dam. Gene moved to Alaska in 1975, first to Anchorage, then to Chugiak, and finally to Wasilla in 1983, where he resided near his daughters until his passing. He worked construction in Alaska and as a contractor until 1986 when he began his most passionate job as a fabricator/designer/shop foreman, at Plaschem in Anchorage. He referred to himself as a jack of all trades and master of some. Gene s hobbies included flying, fishing, camping, trapping, hunting, drawing, writing, cooking and making anything he could with fiberglass. He was passionate about storytelling and often shared stories about his youth and growing up near Eureka. The family and their history was the most important in his life. He also enjoyed country music and gospel and played the guitar, teaching his girls how to sing and enjoy music. Gene s hearty laugh and generous nature will be missed. He was generous with his knowledge and would give the shirt off his back to a co-worker or employee who needed help. Even during some of his toughest financial times he would find a way to keep his employees afloat, the family wrote. Awaiting him in Heaven are his wife of 25 years, Linda W. Herron-Haverlandt, who passed away in 1990; father, Louis John Haverlandt Sr.; mother, Thelma Ruth Haverlandt; brother, Joe Neil Haverlandt; as well as many other aunts, uncles and friends he held very dear to him. He leaves behind a multitude of family and friends, including but not limited to, daughters and sons-in-law, Daphne and Greg Gurley of Chugiak, Darcy and Tim Schachle of Wasilla, and Deanna and Scott Humphreys of Wasilla; grandchildren, Chelsea and Tyler Gurley, Timothy, Jaclyne and James Schachle, and Alyssa and Alex Humphreys, all of Alaska; brother, Louis John Haverlandt Jr., of Colorado; sister and brother-in-law, Ginger and Ed St. Onge of Montana; dear nieces and nephews, Jay, Kelly, Kathy St. Onge, Suzie, Charie and Diane McDonald, Tehila, Onawa and Neil Haverlandt, Beau Hanson, and Tangie, Treena and Tricia Dickinson.