Alton Lagerquist

Alton Lagerquist, 70, died peacefully on Jan. 3, 2014, at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins, Utah, after a 17-month long battle with brain cancer.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held in Glasgow, Montana later this spring.

He was born on July 8, 1943 in Plentywood, Mont., to Elvin C. and Mildred (Myars) Lagerquist. He lived on the farm in rural Westby and graduated from Westby High School in 1961. He entered the Army in February, 1964 spending a seven-month tour in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in January, 1966, and then went to work for Sheridan Electric.

In September 1966, he married his soul mate, Sharon Black, in Plentywood. Shortly after they moved to Billings where he attended flight school and obtained his cherished Commercial Pilot's License. He never lost his passion for airplanes and flying. In 1974 he and Sharon moved to Glasgow, where he was employed by Scottie Homes, Corps of Engineers in Fort Peck, Montana Highway Dept. in Glasgow, Northern Bloom Honey and later Newton Motors in the parts department.

Later he moved to Westby and opened Lagerquist Tires with his uncle. Due to economic conditions, the business closed and they moved back to Glasgow and started Valley Radiator with long-time friend Jack Nelson. In 2001 he sold Valley Radiator and moved to Beaver Dam, Ariz., where he worked as a security officer for Black Gaming at the Casa Blanca Casino and Resort in Mesquite, Nev., until retiring in July, 2008.

He was a member of Westby American Legion Post 229,Westby Fire Department, Glasgow Elks Lodge 1922, and a Lifetime Member of Glasgow VFW Post 3107. He will be remembered for his ear-to-ear grin, his quick one-liners and his great sense of humor that he retained until his death. He was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was his wife's "Mr. Fix-it."

Survivors include his wife Sharon; one daughter, Debbie Bowland and her husband, Dave, of Casper, Wyo.; one son, LeRoy "Pete" Lagerquist and his wife, Candy; grandchildren, Ashley and Jeremy Bowland of Casper, Shanice and Kylie Lagerquist of Glasgow; and great-granddaughter, Harper Bowland of Casper; brothers, Loren Lagerquist and his wife, Donaleen, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and John Lagerquist and his wife, Susie, of Helena; several nieces and cousins; and very special friends, Jack and Rita Brooks, Reed and Paula Bown of Beaver Dam, Ariz., Veon "Chris" and Barbara Christensen of St. George, Utah, Terry and Barbara Mercer of Houston, Texas, and Ken Alto and April Wamhoff of Glasgow.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.