Gary L. Hall

Great Falls native Gary L. Hall died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, in Portland, Ore., of natural causes.

He was born in 1945 at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls. After moving around Montana, his family settled in Great Falls. In 1953 they moved to Gibson Flats, just south of Great Falls, where he lived until he was 19 years old. Then he moved back to Great Falls, where he met his wife, Lora Whitaker, at Hauer's Roll-O-Rena where he worked. Gary loved the roller rink and his family of friends that he made there.

He started there in 1965, working for his friend and mentor, Nick Hauer, until 1978 when he moved to Shelby, Mont., and managed the Merry-Go-Round roller rink. After a short time, he bought Russ-Dee's Roller Rink in Havre. In 1980 he opened Little Wheels Roller Rink, which he loved, but had to close in 1987.

He packed up his family and moved to Hillsboro, Ore., where he took a job with the Hillsboro School District as a custodian for the next 23 years.

Gary loved each and every one of the hundreds of children he knew during that time. He considered all of them to be like grandchildren to him.

Gary is survived by his wife, Lora; and four children, William and Debra Hall, Wendy Hall, Jody and Matt Buttrell, and Dan and Teri Hall.

Gary had 13 wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandson whom he loved very much; a nephew, Jeff Hall of Columbus, Mont., and sister-in-law, Madeline of Moses Lake, Wash.

A funeral will be at 2 p. m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Hillsboro Presbyterian Church.