Fred Hager

NINE MILE – Fred Hager died Friday, April 26, 2013, at his home in the Nine Mile Valley of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 84 years old. Fred was born Dec. 17, 1928, in Minneapolis. His parents were Carl August Hager and Hulda Karlson Hager, who emigrated from Sweden in 1926. After graduation from South High School in Minneapolis in 1946, he enlisted in the Army, ending up as a neuro-psychiatric technician at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich.

In August 1948, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he continued his love of playing football and basketball and studied to be a coach one day. During these years he spent three memorable summers in Arizona, mostly on the Apache Reservation out of White River. Fred enjoyed his adventures so much that he wrote stories about his times there. He called them "My three Summers in Arizona."

At the university, Fred met another student, Shirley Sherman. After a few years, he realized that he wanted to: quit school, get married, go back to Arizona and earn enough money for a down payment on a small ranch. Shirley agreed with the plan and by way of Arizona, California and Minnesota, eventually ended up in Montana in the beautiful Nine Mile Valley where they were able to raise cattle, horses, dogs, cats and three children – two boys, Steig and Krist, and a girl, Britta, who died of cancer in 1983.

During this time he worked at the Frenchtown Mill for 37 years. He enjoyed his work, family, friends, reading, parties, travels, hiking – just life in general.

Fred was a good man, kind and funny, and had a good life.

He is survived by his family in the Nine Mile along with numerous relatives and friends, his three siblings having died over the years.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Missoula for its care during the last few months. There will be no funeral, but a memorial get-together will be held later this summer in the Nine Mile.

Read Fred Hager's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.