Mark D. Hader, 51

Mark Duane Hader, 51

Born to Jack and Marge Hader of Columbia Falls on Feb. 10, 1965, Mark Duane Hader was the eighth of 10 children. On June 4, 2016, Mark passed away at his family’s homestead near Columbia Falls.

Throughout his life, Mark left an impression on nearly every person that he met. His care-free attitude and sense of humor were infectious. His heart was too big for his chest, and his talents were endless.

At an early age, the love for sports was instilled in Mark’s heart. Baseball, football, wrestling and basically any game that had a clear winner was cherished by Mark. His proudest moment as a sportsman was when his team, the Columbia Falls Wildcats, dominated a high-ranked Class AA Flathead Braves in a gridiron matchup. This game was the one-and-only time in school history that ended with a Flathead upset. His performance on that field earned Mark a special award. Mark would never let anyone forget about that game. Mark kept sports as part of his entire life, coaching endless Little League teams and teaching the love of sports to his children and a select few that he considered children.

After graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1983, Mark landed a job as a cabinet maker’s helper, working for Renfro’s Cabinet Shop in Columbia Falls. Mark had a talent that he was able to tap into while working for Renfro’s. He earned his Cabinet Makers Apprentice Certifica-tion and excelled in his craft. If it was 1-inch out of square or a mile out of plumb, Mark had the talents to create the illusions of sheer perfection. This is a talent that is not possessed by many.

Eventually Mark started Hader’s Custom Cabinets and Construction, where he employed a fair number of young men. His two prized carpenters ended up being his son Jonathan and, who would eventually become his son-in-law, Laramie. With those boys Mark and knew he had created something that had the ability to be great. Throughout his years of operation, Mark left his signature scattered across the Flathead Valley. Even though he is gone, he still lives in the spirits of his carpenters. He took extreme pride in knowing that he was able to share his talents. If you worked at Mark’s side, you were forced to learn something, whether it was a new skill or a bad joke. Mark never stopped using his skills and he wore his nail bags until the day that he passed.

The outdoors was one of Mark’s prized possessions. Fishing, hunting, camping and, above all, floating the rivers was more of a way of life than it was anything else. If it was an option, Mark would have lived on the river. It was a place of solitude and tranquility for Mark. No matter what life throws at you or how much things change, the rivers and the wilderness are constant and reliable, always available, and they never pass judgment. As Mark raised his children, he knew that was a passion that he had to pass on. He was very successful instilling this into not only his children, but he was well underway planting this love in his grandchildren.

The light of Mark’s life, in any instance, was his family. He wanted nothing more out of life than to watch his grandkids grow and thrive. Each and every one of them was put high on a pedestal and could do no wrong in grandpa’s eyes. They were his “pride and joy.”

He was preceded in death by both of his parents; his brother, Larry, and his sister, Kathy.

He is survived by his children, daughter Melissa (Laramie) Gonzales of Columbia Falls, their kids Tucker, 9, Olivia, 6, and Adalyn, 3; son Jonathan Hader, and his daughter Alahna, 7, of Kalispell; son Derek (Kaelee) Hader of Watford City, North Dakota, and their daughter Embrielle, 1; son Jacob Hader (Hannah Lovelace) of Columbia Falls, and their unborn son Jack; and son Mark Thomas Hader of Columbia Falls. He is also survived by his siblings, brother John (Kip) Hader of Washington; brother Lance (Sharon) of Nevada; sister Debbie Emerson of Hungry Horse; sister Tama Hader (Mark Guse) of Columbia Falls; brother Chris (Debbie) Hader of Columbia Falls; brother Brad (Crystal) Hader, and brother BJ (Crystal) Hader, both of Columbia Falls; along with 23 nieces and nephews, 44 great-nieces and nephews, and countless cousins and extended family members.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 10. Services will be held at the Columbia Falls Mortuary, followed by a gathering at Chris Hader’s house off of Aluminum Drive in Columbia Falls. His wishes were to celebrate his life with a party at Graves Creek, which we will do Saturday evening. Friends and family are invited.