Roland J. “Ronnie” Wirt, 87, died Monday Oct. 1, 2007, at his home in Havre from leukemia on October 1.
His memorial mass is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at St. Jude’s Catholic Church with Father Robert Grosch officiating. A committal rite will be celebrated, following the Mass at the Highland Cemetery. After the committal there will be a fellowship reception at the St. Jude Parish Center. Roland J. Wirt was born on July 1, 1920, to Charles and Josephine (Wilhemli) Wirt at Langdon, N.D. He was the third of nine children. He attended a one room country school and St. Alphonsus High School in Langdon. He worked for several farmers around the area and in the fall of 1939 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was stationed at Kremer, N.D. for 12 months and Bismarck for six months. His older brother went into the U.S. Army and Ronnie went back home to care for his dad and mom and four younger sisters and brothers. His dad was very ill at the time and could not farm. In April of 1943, he met the love of his life, Gloria Haug. He said it was love at first sight. They were married June 18, 1945, at St. Alphonsus Church in Langdon. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the marriage of their granddaughter, Jessi Wirt and Paul Zenker at Napoleon, N.D. in 2005. Jessi chose her grandparent’s wedding anniversary to be married. Gloria and Ronnie and their children moved to the Hogeland area in the Spring of 1958 and farmed on the Gilbert- Flaskerud farm which they later purchased. He served on the Equity Co-op Board for the Harlem, Turner and Hogeland area for 16 years, he was a 4-H leader for 15 years, and president of the Blaine County 4-H Council. He retired in 1988 and moved to Havre. Ronnie and Gloria spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz., for the past 20 years. Ronnie Wirt loved being a farmer and working in the dirt. Ronnie had a green thumb and grew the best flowers in Havre. He enjoyed golfing, dancing with his wife, singing in church and socializing. Ronnie was a very religious man and lived by the bible and showed his love through his family. He enjoyed good health until April 2007. He is preceded in death by a son, Terry Wayne at age 3; his mother and father; three brothers, Vic, Jerry and Johnnie; and three sisters, Agnes, Lillian and Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Gloria of 62 years; his children, James (Sheila) Wirt of Havre, Carla (Dave) Milam of Havre, Terryl (Terry) Hanson of Raleigh, N.C. and Brian (Lila) Wirt of Napoleon; sisters, Maryann Hall of Langdon and Barbara VanAckeron of Mohall, N. D.; nine grandchildren, three great-granddaughters and several nieces and nephews. Memorials in Ronnie’s honor may be made to the Sletten Cancer Center, c/o Northern Montana Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501, Bear Paw Hospice, 30 W. 13th St., Havre, Mt 59501, The Gift of Life Housing, c/o Benefis Healthcare Foundation, P.O.Box 7008, Great Falls, Mt 59406 or to one’s choice. The Wirt family has entrusted the care of Roland to Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook.
