Robert Dugald Hagadone, or Bob as he was known by so many, passed away on January 10, 2024 at the age of 80, with his loving wife by his side. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and so much more. He was a man of true faith, love of family, and friend to all. He may have been a man of few words, but when he spoke, you listened.
Bob was born on August 13, 1943 to Dugald (Duke) J. and Nancy (Reid) Hagadone. He was the oldest of three children. Bob grew up in Poplar, working on the farm with his dad. He graduated from Poplar High School in 1961 and was the class valedictorian. While in high school, Bob was active in band and had a great love for music, something that was instilled in both his children and his grandchildren.
After high school, Bob attended Montana State University in Bozeman—Go Cats! He started out wanting to major in Chemical Engineering but decided that since farming and ranching was in his blood, he majored in Agricultural Science graduating in 1965.
After college, in January of 1966, Bob made the decision to attend Officer Training School in Rhode Island, thus beginning his six-year career in the US Navy. He then went to flight school in Pensacola, FL and was a RIO aboard the F4 Phantom. He was part of the VF 151 Fighting Vigilantes (a squadron that his oldest grandson would later become part of almost 50 years later) and would later be stationed in San Diego, CA. While in the Navy, Bob did two tours in Vietnam—one aboard the USS Coral Sea and the other aboard the USS Midway. Also, while in the Navy, he met and married his wife Beth in March of 1971, and in June of 1971, they welcomed their son, Geoff.
In the winter of 1972, Bob, Beth, and their son Geoff moved to Poplar, thus beginning his new career of working on the family farm/ranch with his father raising Black Angus cattle, harvesting wheat, and bailing alfalfa-just to name a few. A farmer’s life was never dull, never boring, and always full of keeping busy. In January of 1974, a daughter, Susan, was added to the family, making it complete. His strong work ethic, love of family, and being a great friend were just a few of the things instilled into his children and is something that will be remembered about him.
In 2015, Bob retired from the farm and ranch. It was hard for him to let go because it was in his blood, but due to his health, it was time to step down. Once a farmer, always a farmer. Once a rancher, always a rancher.
Bob is preceded in death by his father, Duke (1999) and his mother (2000). He is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Beth, his son, Geoff Hagadone, his daughter Susan (Josh) Twichel, his brother, Tom Hagadone, his sister, Peg (Don) Sillivan and daughters Donette Sillivan, and Kim (Bryan) Garland and children Berlyn and Hudson Garland, eight grandchildren—RJ (Cierra), John, Barbara, Brenda, and Paula Twichel, Emily (EJ Ollinger), Nancy, Tracy Hagadone and Jazmine BlackDog and their mother LaVonne BlackDog, and one great-granddaughter Willow Ollinger and many other family and friends.
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