Ronald Fredrick Gagner, 80, a longtime business owner from Shelby, passed away Thursday, June 8^th, 2006 at the Marias Medical Center from natural causes. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 11, from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 12, at St. William Catholic Church with burial to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.

Survivors include his two daughters, Rhonda Wiegand and husband Will of Shelby and Sandra Haley and husband John of Creston, B.C.; brothers, Ed (Buster) Gagner of Shelby and Darold Gagner and wife Beverly of Kalispell; five grandchildren, Ron & John Haley, Becky Tooke, Bill & Kathy Wiegand as well as seven great-grandchildren.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lois; sisters, Beatrice Atkins, Della Daley, Lorraine Quinlan and Viola Gagner; and brothers, Emmet & Vincent Gagner.

Ron was born Jan. 5, 1926 at Shelby to Onisme (Gene) & Mederise (LeDoux) Gagner where grew up and graduated from high school. He had suffered from polo in his teen years and later attended watchmaker’s school and AFM Tech School.

On June 7, 1948, Ron and Lois Jean Schroer were married and the couple lived in Shelby where Ron worked for Pfannsmith Jewelry. They moved to Los Angles where he worked for McDonald-Douglas for 2 years working on the hydraulics and the guidance system for bomber aircraft. They then moved to Chester where he owned Gagner Jewelry for 7 years. In 1960 they moved back to Shelby where they owned and operated G&G Bowling Lanes before retiring in 1988.

Ron was a licensed private pilot and also enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, and attending high school sporting events, playing cards and keeping up on current events around town. He also loved visiting with his coffee buddies.  

 He was a great husband and father. His familiar face will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.