ALFRED DRAEGER obituary

Alfred V. Draeger, 88, lifelong north Havre farmer, died of natural causes Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at Northern Montana Care Center.

His funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial with military honors will fol-

low at the Highland Cemetery. There will be a fellowship luncheon at the church immediately after the service at the graveside.

Alfred was born Sept. 16, 1916, to Emil C. and Anna (Boettcher) Draeger at Cottonwood, where the family homesteaded. Alfred attended schools in Cottonwood.

He married La Vearn Frey on Aug. 29, 1942, in Havre. They made their home north of Havre, where they farmed for 35 years and raised their four daughters. Alfred served in the U.S. Army at Walla Walla, Wash., from September 1942 until September 1943, when he was honorably discharged. He also was employed by the Burlington Northern Railway for a short time.

Alfred was a member of the Farmers Union and served on the Grainbelt School Board of Trustees. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, making yearly hunting and fishing trips to Augusta and to Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan. He retired from farming in 1977, and he and La Vearn moved to Havre. They moved into the Eagles Manor in 2001. Alfred entered the Northern Montana Care Center in September of 2004 and remained there until his death.

After retiring, Alfred enjoyed his afternoon trip to the mall for coffee, a short walk and an afternoon drive with his coffee buddies.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 62 years, La Vearn, in February 2004; daughter, Betty Knutson in 2002; and son-in-law, Ron Stephan.

Survivors include his daughters, Marilyn (Mike) Wojtowick of Havre, Patricia (Everett) Thomas of Keller, Texas, and Rita (Les) Zuehlsdorff of Battle Lake, Minn.; son-in-law, Roland Knutson; grandchildren, Jacinte Knutson of Chandler, Ariz., Chad Wojtowick of St. Paul, Minn., Brent (Trisha) Thomas of Alliance, Neb., Marra Thomas of Littleton, Colo., and Nicholas Stephan of Elk River, Minn.; step-grandchildren, Chad (Sue) Zuehlsdorff of Watertown, Minn., Chris (Heidi) Stephan and Ron (Shanda) Stephan, all of Elk River, Minn., and Jessica Zuehlsdorff of Battle Lake, Minn.; one great-grandchild, five step-great-grandchildren, and special friend and caregiver, Ramona Anderson of Havre.

Memorials in Alfred's honor may be made to the Diabetes Association, Montana Division, P.O. Box 2411, Great Falls, MT 59403, to the First Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 66, Havre, MT 59501, or to a memorial of one's choice.