John F. Lager, 69, a farmer from Shelby , died of complications of diabetes, congestive heart failure and renal failure on May 6, 2007 at the Marias Care Center .  Visitation will be from 1-8 pm on Thursday, May 10, at the Whitted Funeral Chapel with Rosary that evening at 7 pm.  Funeral mass will be at 11 am Friday morning, May 11, 2007 at St William Catholic Church with burial to follow at the Mountain View Cemetery .  Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com. 

John is survived by his wife, Arlene (Alme) Lager of Shelby; a daughter, Melora (Steve) Kopp of Otsego MN; sons, Michael of Nampa, ID and Patrick (Joanne) of Efland, NC; seven brothers, Jerome (Bonita), Don (Judy), Ted (Joy), Gary (Kandie), Tom (Ileen) Louie (Paula) and Jim (Cindy); seven sisters, Mary Logan, Judy (Ed) Holtman, Virgina (Gene) Miller, Joan (Jude) Gillahan, Donna (Ken) Green, Juanita (Tom) Pritchard and Lucretia (Dave) Hartman; seven grandsons, Derek (Miranda) Fox, Ethan Granzow, Alex, Nick, Ben and Zack Kopp and Jack Lager; two great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Jasmine Fox; his mother-in-law, Irene Alme; brothers-in-law, Marvin (Rosemary), Henry (Diana), Steen (Gayle), Terry (Connie) Alme and a sister-in-law, Mary (Pat) Bergman. 

John was preceded in death by his daughters, Leanne Lager and Geralyn Granzow; by his parents, Vincent and Anna (Wiederholt) Lager; an infant brother, Vincent; his father-in-law, Henry Alme and a brother-in-law, Don Alme. 

John was born January 22, 1938, in Clyde , MO , the oldest of 16 children born to Vincent and Anna (Wiederholt) Lager. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1956 and attended an airline trade school in Tulsa , OK .  He came to Montana in 1957, met the “girl of his dreams” and stayed long enough to consider himself a native.  On June 11, 1960, he was united in marriage to Arlene Alme in Sunburst, Montana .  He managed the elevator in Sunburst, moved south to Shelby and managed Taylor Soil Service for Ben Taylor.  Then after seeing that side of the Ag business, became a farmer, which was his lifelong dream—he loved being a farmer.  He was a true farmer, designing and building whatever he needed to get the job done.  He loved his family, his extended family, his faith, his many friends, gardening, woodworking, coaching little league, playing the harmonica, and his job as director on the Marias River Electric Board.  He served on the city council in Sunburst, drove school bus and ambulance, too.  John liked to travel with Arlene (he napped while she drove!) and really enjoyed rock hounding (strange for a farmer who hated to pick rock!)  . 

Memorials may be made to the Iacocca Foundation, The Faustman Diabetes Research, 17 Arlingon St . , Boston, MA, 02116.

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