Hal Fisher, 68

Hal Fisher, 68, was born on Feb. 5, 1957, to Fay and Virgil Fisher. Hal was a character through and through. He never spent a day living on anyone’s terms but his own. 

He grew up doing what he loved, raising many different types of animals, including rabbits, pigs, cows and horses. In 4-H, he showed champion shorthorn steers. At the young age of 12, he bought his first piece of property. He loved sports, starting out winning multiple western region Punt, Pass and Kick titles. As he entered high school, his focus was basketball. 

Hal played basketball for the Whitefish Bulldogs and was a powerhouse on the court. At 6 feet and 3 inches, he was a dominant center who was on varsity all four years, as well as one of the top scorers and rebounders. 

He attended college in Havre and completed his associate degree in agriculture technology. 

Hal spent time in Wyoming on a ranch working with his great friend Willie Patzer and always cherished time with the Patzer Family. 

Hal was mostly always self-employed alongside his father and mentor, Virgil Fisher. Together they raised cattle, Belgian horses, horse logged, put up loose hay, fed cattle and horses with a Belgian team, cut firewood, and bought and sold farm equipment. 

Aside from his years of ranching, Hal spent several seasons working for outfitters in British Columbia and Alaska. He enjoyed his time there and was even left in the backcountry to take care of a camp alone for a month at a time. 

Later in life, he went to Saddle Making School under the direction of Don Carter (Dixon Saddlery). He loved his time there. 

Aside from saddles, Hal also built beautiful handmade furniture for his family. Each piece had a "Hal touch" with unique wood knots he collected.

For a time, Hal also loved to travel. He went on many memorable trips to warmer weather with his sister (Linda) and daughter (Molly). 

He absolutely loved to hunt and fish. Some of his most cherished hunting and fishing trips involved hunting with his nephew Ryan Fisher and great friend Matt Walhus, as well as fishing trips with Molly and nephew Joey Kettel. He cherished spending time on his ranch with his nieces, Renee Kesler (Fisher) and Christy Kettel. Hal also enjoyed passing on his skills and extensive knowledge of harnessing and driving teams to his nephew, Mark Fisher. Hal had recently begun to build up his cow herd again and had many projects in the works with Molly. He loved telling stories and tinkering with his farming equipment with Chance Paradis. 

He was preceded in death by Fay, Virgil, his brother, Harley Fisher and sister, Libby Kettel. 

He is survived by his daughter, Molly Fisher (Chance Paradis); sister, Linda Fay (Jim Fay); cousin and great friend, Duane Moore (Jim and Penny Horner); many nieces, nephews and great friends — Matt and Greg Walhus and Lance and Norma McBroom. 

A memorial will be held at the Whitefish Community Center at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 4.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you come with stories and pictures (if possible).