Dennis R. Hafla, 76, passed away on February 17, 2025, at his home in Miles City, Montana, after a short battle with severe pulmonary fibrosis.
Dennis was born at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, Montana on December 24, 1948, the son of Anton & Lydia (Erlenbusch) Hafla. The 4th of 7 children, he was part of a large ranching & farming family with brothers Marvin, Glenn, & Gene, and sisters Shirley, Sharon, & Cheryl. The family grew up on the Hafla homestead in Cohagen and it was here that discipline, responsibility, & hard work were learned and perfected and then passed down to the next generation. A huge yet basic and fundamental life lesson his children carry in their hearts from their dad is “listen and pay attention”. He also taught them to strive to do the best they can at the simplest of things to make life easy and full and it will be something they do forever because of their Dad. It was at the family ranch that he learned to love animals, especially horses. With his mother’s guidance, Dennis also learned valuable veterinary medical procedures that would serve him well later in life when he designed a dressing for the Mayo Clinic that kept Fritzie alive after her surgery. She also taught him one of his favorite hobbies-gardening.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 BSB, that is the word of our Lord and thanks be to God
For Dennis, learning and growing was life and equally important was enjoying and having fun doing it. He attended the Hafla School in Cohagen for preschool, elementary school, and middle school with family and neighbors, all a part of it. He then attended Garfield County High School in Jordan. After graduation in 1967, he enrolled at Miles City Junior College and completed 2 years, after which he attended Northern Montana College in Havre pursuing an agriculture degree. After just one quarter, he decided it was “too cold for a boy from Garfield County” and went on to complete a quarter at Dawson Community College in Glendive. Along the way, he held jobs at the Ross/Whiteside farms/ranches, the Tenth Spot, and eventually Beacon Carter working for his Uncle Bob Cremer as a serviceman. He then ventured into a career with the Milwaukee Railroad as a trainman & conductor, enjoying the railroad very much. At the railroad, Dennis met Bill Beever who just happened to be the father of his future wife Fritzie. When the Milwaukee went bankrupt in 1981, he hired on at the Fort Keogh Range Station Nutrition Department where he treasured years of being a cowboy again and really doing one of the many things he was one of a kind at and so very naturally talented at – a horse man. He was also very proud of the surgeries he was able to perform on test animals. It was also at Ft. Keogh that he bought his favorite horse “Lady” as a filly. The two were truly inseparable. They were a great team because they both knew what each other wanted. In 1986, he joined the Montana Highway Department where he started out as a mechanic, then became the roads operator and eventually regional carpenter. After retirement, he was remembered as the person who always got the job done and it was done well.
Dennis came into God’s covenantal love when he met Fritzie Beever in 1971. They were married at the Lutheran Church on September 30, 1972. They were blessed with a son, Galen, in October 1974, and a daughter, Rachel, in January of 1978. Dennis learned the fruit of the spirit from the Holy Spirit’s work in Fritzie: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. It was in raising a family with Fritzie that God’s humanly gift to him was so very evident. He was the most capable person around as there was not a person better at building, repairing, or finding a solution to something. Raising a family with a loving wife made Dennis’ heart whole.
Although Dennis always wanted to be a bronc rider as a kid, he found his passion in breaking colts in his spare time. And he was one of the best around! He also loved the outdoors, enjoying activities like fishing and hunting, especially at the family cabin in Checkerboard. However, one of his favorite pastimes was just sharing a cold one with family and friends and enjoying everyone’s company.
He and Fritzie recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. One of their first life accomplishments as a married couple was building their dream house with Dennis’ brother Marvin. It was meticulously built – Dennis knew exactly how many nails were used in the build. In the summers, he put his love of gardening to use and raised a beautiful garden that every year would yield bushels of delicious vegetables for his family and friends to enjoy.
Dennis cherished his family, especially his grandchildren, and they so loved and cherished their Pa and his love. Gehrig came first and catching the football with passes from Pa and having his Pa listen to his life, a gift God only gives. Then came Isabelle, she being the jewel of Pa’s eye just like her Mom, Rachel. To the very end he loved to watch her dance. After that, it was Delaney who knows how Pa saw her uniqueness and the talents she alone has been given from above. The two youngest, Rhian and Oaklie and their spit fire personalities made Pa smile and hug them as well. His advice for his grandchildren was simple: Life is a journey. Work hard but play hard. And remember that Nanny and Pa will always be there as your guardian angels to help guide you and keep you safe. In retirement, Dennis also enjoyed being a guardian angel for the kids at Garfield School.
The mortal side of eternity, Dennis has his son Galen and his wife Lauren Hafla, daughter Rachel and her husband Russell Nemetz; grandchildren Gehrig, Delaney, and Rhian Hafla plus Isabelle and Oaklie Nemetz.
He will be remembered as a person who always put others first and for being an amazing Dad and Pa.
Services will be performed for both Dennis and Fritzie Hafla, including their Boston Terrier Zeke’s ashes, at Stevensons Funeral Home and the Custer County Cemetery on Saturday, March 29, 2025. More Details to follow.
“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 BSB, that is the word of our Lord and thanks be to God
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Michael Brabant says
Just chatted with him last week , neat man to chat with , , rest in peace.
Denise and Jay Harvey says
We are so very sorry. Our thoughts are with you all. Your mom and dad will be missed by many.
Kennedy Jens says
So sorry to hear. My condolences to you and yours.
Diane Welbes says
Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Tom and Kathy Wankel says
Our deepest condolences for Dennis’s family. We have been Dennis’s (and Fritzi’s) neighbors for years in Miles City and had many good visits as Dennis’s would go by walking the dog or heading down to take care of the “pasture”. So hard to lose a parent! Sending prayers for strength and peace!
James Arneson says
My deepest condolences to you and your family. May God bless you with the best of memories now and always.
Martha Crandall says
my sympathy
Janice and Ervin Laib says
Very sad to see this Dennis had become a good friend always stopped by to see if we needed anything and always shared his garden Prayers for family and he will be missed RIP Dennis
Lori Clark says
Sad to see you are gone from here. But I know your wife is there by your side. Was so good to see you again. Rest easy my friend.
John Munsell says
Dennis and I have visited numerous times since Fritzi passed. He was always more concerned about me than his own medical condition, thinking about others rather than focusing on himself. Invited him over for supper last week, but he said he just wasn’t feeling well enough. In spite of his health, he had stimulating conversations, and was a pleasure to visit with. Will miss him.
Jayne Davis says
So sorry to hear about your loss Galen and Rachel. Sending prayers and thoughts to you.
Mark and Jill List says
None finer and the likes of which will not be seen again.
Kathy Ugrin says
Dear Galen,
We are so sorry to hear about your Dad passing. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Greg and Kathy Ugrin