Allen Haas

Allen Joseph Haas, 80, passed away on Monday, November 8, 2021 of natural causes.at Benefis Teton Medical Center in Choteau.



Allen was born on March 3, 1941 in Missoula, Montana to Rose (Cutler) Haas and Peter Frank Haas. He graduated from Loyola High School in Missoula in 1958 and from the University of Montana in 1966. Going to classes was not his forte. He stayed out a quarter each year to work at gas stations and in the sugar beet factory and also to fish and hunt.



He met his future wife, Sally Swenson, while in college. They were married in Bremerton, Washington on August 14, 1965. They raised 3 children and were blessed with 4 grandchildren.



Allen taught and coached football and track in Baker, Montana. The family moved to Browning, Montana where he taught and coached football, basketball and track. He also had a small ranch on the Two Medicine where he raised cattle and pigs. In 1979 they moved to Choteau, Montana. He gave up teaching and coaching to manage the Circle 8 Dude Ranch (aka Pine Butte Guest Ranch.) There he started his second love of outfitting. In 1987 he went to operating his outfitting business full time in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, A Lazy H Outfitters.



Al always had to be working, so in the winter months he went back to logging. He and his friends cut many trees in the forest for their own firewood and sold firewood to everyone around the Choteau area. He also helped clear the trees off the ski slopes at Teton Pass. Al took great pride in being able to "fell" a tree into an exact spot.



Al loved sports. He played baseball in high school and followed that up with coaching while he was a teacher. When that ended, he went to traveling all over the state to watch his kids participate in athletics for Choteau High School. After his kids graduated, he followed his grandkids around the state and his daughter, Ann, as she coached volleyball teams.



He loved to hunt and fish and tell stories of his great adventures. He was quick to show you his prize bull elk he harvested from the Badger-Two Medicine area. Thanks to the aide of his son-in-law, he was finally able to harvest a Big Horn Sheep ram from Ear Mountain in 2012, which was his last hunt.



Al had a horrific accident in 1990 that severely limited his mobility and ability to work and recreate. He couldn't ride his horse into the wilderness anymore. First his son-in-law and later his son took over running the outfitting business. Al the looked forward to being in a gym someplace, any place, any time, watching the bulldogs. He enjoyed playing cards weekly at his daughter Ann's house. He also enjoyed playing Pokeno and Bingo at Skyline Lodge retirement home.



He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally; daughter Ann (Haas)Funk of Choteau; sons Joseph Haas of Choteau and Peter Haas of Battleground, Washington; granddaughter Christine Funk; grandsons Dirk Haas, Matthew Haas and Kyle Haas and Al's brother, Stephen Hass of Missoula, Montana.



Cremation has taken place under the direction of Gorder-Jensen Funeral Home and a celebration of life will take place at a later date. Al loved his cats and dogs; therefore, memorials are suggested to Bright Eyes Care and Rehab Center, PO Box 1498, Choteau, Montana 59422.



Condolences may be left on-line at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com