Lawrence C. Haas

HAMILTON - Lawrence C. Haas passed away June 19, 2017, as he would have wanted.  He was not in his easy chair in front of the TV, but out cutting hay on his yellow Cub tractor, his heart just gave out.  He was 95 years young.

Lawrence was born March 1, 1922 to Anna and John M. Haas in Hazen, ND.  As a young child they moved to Lewistown, MT and later to Hamilton in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley.  He graduated from Corvallis High School in 1941.  He then enlisted in the US Navy in December 1942 as a Motor Machinist Mate (Seabee's).  During his service he helped build entire bases and bulldozed and paved thousands of miles of roadway and airstrips and accomplished a myriad of construction projects on Kodiak Island and in the South Pacific Theater.  He was honorably discharged in January 1946. 

 Lawrence met his lovely bride Margaret (Peggy) Powe in 1946 in Hamilton and they were married in February 1947.  As a newly married couple they traveled throughout Montana with various road construction companies building roads and bridges.  In 1956, they moved back to Hamilton with their 3 children and started work for the Ravalli County Road Dept as road foreman, for the next 30 years.  They raised registered Columbia sheep and had a few cows and various other critters on their farm.  He never threw anything away, always saying you never know when you might be able to use it.   After retirement mom and dad traveled to all 50 states and also Australia and Ireland.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John E. Haas; and sister, MaryAnn Osburn; his beloved wife of 70 years Peggy, who recently passed in February 2017; and a grandson, Dusty Haas.  He is survived by his children, Kathy (Lawrence) Carpenter in Hamilton, Larry (Cindy) Haas in Yakima, WA and Connie (Doug) Frazier in Missoula; his grandchildren, Travis Haas, Colton (Veronica) Haas, Kristie (Jon) Randolph and Juli (Matt) Franklin; 3 great grandchildren, Devin Randolph, and Braelyn and Braxton Franklin; and his 4 legged granddaughter, Laci Frazier.

At Lawrence's request there will be no formal service and arrangements have taken place with Daly Leach chapel.In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to a charity of your choice or to the Bitterroot Humane Society or to the American Heart Association.

Dad was a man of few words but had a heart of gold.  Mom must have been calling for him to join her in Heaven.  We love you and will miss both of you.