Wayne Arthur Hegdahl, 71

Wayne Arthur Hegdahl, 71 years of age, died Dec. 26, 2016, at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle from a pulmonary embolism after suffering from a brain aneurysm.

He was born on Feb. 27, 1945, in South Dakota to Adolph Hegdahl and Lois Irene Downs Hegdahl, who both preceded him in death, along with his first-born child, Deanna Lynn.

He is survived by his daughter Deanné Hegdahl of Kalispell, foster son and daughter David Sheldon of Billings and Leanna Horn of Helena; and also survived by his wife of 31 years, Sandy Hegdahl; sister Carol Porter of Shelby, and brother Jerry Hegdahl of Glendive; nephew Tim Porter of Alaska, and nieces Kathy Holdren and Joni Juntz, both of Alaska.

Wayne graduated from Shelby High School in 1963 and Spokane Community College as a mechanic in 1965. He served as an X-ray tech in the Army during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged as a sp5.

He was employed as a controller at Meadow Gold Dairy many years until his retirement in 2008. Throughout the years he was very active in his church, serving in many capacities such as sound tech, working with teens, Bible studies and had a puppet ministry.

He had volunteered the past 22 years at Sykes’ grocery on Thanksgiving Day feeding the less fortunate and volunteered at the Kalispell hospital delivering mail.

Two of his greatest passions were shooting and fishing. He shot competitive rifle, shotgun, archery and black powder, taking second in his last national shoot. His hobbies were making fishing rods, tying flies and making beautiful wooden ammunition boxes. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A memorial will be held for him in the late spring.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent in his name to the Flathead Animal Shelter in Kalispell; 752-1310.

We have put up a Facebook page where memories, thoughts, or wishes can be left about Wayne and for the family; https://www.facebook.com/wayne.hegdahl