William R Dagel

William Ralph (Bill) Dagel, 76, died of natural causes at his home Friday (May 3) at Cut Bank.  Services will be Friday May 10 at 11:00 a.m.  at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Cut Bank with celebration of life to follow at the Saddle Club.

Born October 6, 1936 at Troy, S.D. to Margaret and Bob Dagel, Bill attended school through the 8the grade and left home at the age of 13.  He served in the United States Army with the 4 ^th Armored Division beginning December 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955.  He met and married Loretta Catchpole in 1954; they had four children and later divorced.  He met and married Sadie Trainor and together had three children, later divorcing.  In 1976, he married Betty Copenhaver and together they had two children.

Bill held a wide variety of jobs including, but not limited to Barnum and Baily Circus, journeyman hot roofer, crane operator, iron worker and finally, in 1976, became a farmer, an occupation that won his heart.  While farming he worked for Cut Bank Hide and Fur and was manager of Cenex as well as other part time jobs.

He is survived by Betty, his wife of 37 years; sisters Bonnie (Ray)McGowan of Helena; and Martha Lee of Ledger; his children, Diana Williams and Deena Dagel Tribby, both of Great Falls;  Edward (Carlene) Dagel, Micky (Lori) Meismer, Robert “Joe” Dagel, and Todd Dagel of Helena; Wayne (Jen) Dagel of Billings; and Clinton (Shellisa) Dagel of Cut Bank; 12 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Rosie Korst and son William Jr. “Billy” Dagel.