Harlen Gerdes, 75

August 24, 1950 – February 1, 2026

If you ever crossed paths with Harlen Gerdes, you probably walked away with a story — and maybe a sore belly from laughing.

A rancher, cowboy, adventurer, and self‑proclaimed free spirit (others preferred “force of nature”), Harlen lived his life wide open and rarely said no to a good time. He never met a stranger, only future friends, and he collected them everywhere he went.

Harlen was born on Aug. 24, 1950, to Herman and Ramona Gerdes in Britton, S.D. The third of four boys, he grew up on the family farm near Hecla, where he learned early the value of hard work, mischief and brotherly competition.

He graduated from Hecla High School in 1968 and attended the North Dakota State School of Science for a year before deciding he’d rather choose his branch of service than let the draft choose for him. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 1970 and served until his honorable discharge in 1974.

During his service, he married Delores Maddock, and in 1972 they welcomed their daughter, Shawna — though Harlen didn’t get the news until she was over a week old due to his deployment to Vietnam. After returning stateside, he was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, where he fell head‑over‑boots in love with Montana.

When his service ended, the family returned to the Dakotas and bought a dairy farm near Guelph, N.D. Their son, Rance, was born in 1975, and the kids learned early how to “hang out” in the dairy barn — sometimes literally.

After a few years of milking cows and chasing kids, Harlen and Dee decided it was time for a new adventure. Montana was calling, and Harlen never ignored a call to adventure.

In 1980, they purchased the Hangin’ G Ranch west of Ronan, where neighbors quickly became friends and eventually like family. The ranch produced beef cattle and American Quarter Horses, and Harlen had a particular fondness for the Leo and Hancock bloodlines — tough, versatile, hardworking horses that reminded him a little of himself.

The ranch provided numerous character-building opportunities as well as many great memories of friends gathering for brandings, bonfires or just good old-fashioned visiting around the kitchen table. That small house always seemed to have room for one more friend.

Harlen and Dee eventually parted ways but remained friends and celebrated many holidays together with their kids and grandkids.

Harlen retired from the Flathead Irrigation Project after 32 years in 2012, but retirement didn’t slow him down. If anything, it gave him more time to roam.

He traveled wherever the wind blew his figurative sails, spent winters down south — especially in Arizona — and filled his days riding horses in the desert, team roping with his brother, and exploring the backcountry in his UTV. He proudly attended every sporting event, dance recital, and performance his grandkids were part of, cheering loudly and bragging often.

Harlen passed peacefully with family by his side in Chandler, Ariz., on Feb. 1, 2026.

He is survived by his children, Shawna (Ty) Daniels and Rance (Christy) Gerdes; his grandchildren, Mackenzie Daniels, Sydney (Stanley) Koho, Cade Gerdes and Avery Gerdes; his brother, Gale; numerous nieces and a nephew; many cousins; and more friends than most people gather in a lifetime — all of whom he considered family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Carson and Harold.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ronan on Friday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. at Terrace Lake Community Church, with an additional service in Hecla, S.D., later this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice.