Ronald Victor Hattel, 84

Ronald Victor Hattel, 84, was born April 6, 1932.

Ron passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s on April 20, 2016. His wife Adrienne was at his side.

Ron was born in Grenora, North Dakota, and then settled in Crosby, North Dakota.

Ron went to Divide County High School in Crosby. He was the vice president of the student body, lettered in football for four years, playing left end and running back. He also played fast pitch softball. He met and married his high school sweetheart Adrienne Sand. They were married in Crosby on March 13, 1952. They were married for 64 years.

Ron farmed with his dad and mom (Eakness and Rose Hattel) for two years after graduating from high school. He then managed the Exxon gas station and bulk plant in Crosby. Ron went to work for the Crosby Creamery and worked there until he moved his large family to Montana.

After numerous vacations to Montana, Ron and Adrienne fell in love with the Flathead Valley and the mountains. They packed up and moved their family to Kalispell in 1969. Ron worked for the Skyline Dairy for another 10 years, then Eddie’s Bread and Equity Supply. Ron and Adrienne ran an antique shop in Kalispell and a secondhand store in Libby for a couple of years before purchasing paper routes for the Daily Inter Lake. Ron and Adrienne moved to Creston and spent their retirement years in a home they loved by the Flathead River.

Ron spent his retirement years tinkering with tractors, collecting junk and raising Boston bull dogs. He was a dog lover and had numerous “man’s best friends,” from Fred the paper fetcher to Gopher the tough little Chihuahua that followed him everywhere. They got their first Boston bull dog, Mugsey, and the love of Boston bulls was planted. They raised numerous litters of Bostons and loved them all.

His other passion, collecting junk was instilled at an early age. He always thought that he would use it for something someday. Some of that junk he brought home was some of his grandchildren’s favorite toys, from three-wheel bikes, to four wheelers to golf carts and wheel chairs of all sizes and shapes.

Ron loved having family gatherings. When all of the kids and grandkids got together he always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, and we were always wondering what he was up to next, as he was quite the prankster!

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Eakness Hattel and Rose Hattel, and his son Donald.

He is survived by his wife Adrienne, and his children, Brian (wife Lilia), Arlen (wife Donna), Linda McHenry (husband Kelly), Steven (wife Marsha), Dean (wife Kellie), and Laurie Rebuck (husband Ned); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Ron will be at 10 a.m. on June 21 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. Cremation has taken place. There will be a luncheon to follow.