William Arden Rader

William Arden Rader

Dr. William Arden Rader died Tuesday, Aug. 21, of natural causes at a Great Falls hospital.

He was the only child born to William Loy and Nadine Snyder Rader in Glasgow, Mont., on March 17, 1930. Due to his father's continuing newspaper publishing business, he attended schools in Winnett, Stanford, Kalispell and Conrad, graduating from Polson High School. He went on to Kemper Military Academy, Montana State University in Bozeman, and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Nebraska. He entered the Navy as an ensign, serving on several ships in the Pacific Theater and the Alaskan/Arctic Circle.

Dr. Rader returned to Havre and set up practice in Havre in 1957. He met and married Gail McLain Rader in 1959, which resulted in two sons, Jeffrey and Jonathan. He had offices with Dr. R. C. Gallus, D.D. S., Dr. George Johnson, O.D. and Dr. Frank Searl, D.D. S.

Ever an active community leader, he served all the local offices and some state offices in the Havre Jaycees, ultimately co-chairing the creation of the H. Earl Clack Museum in the Hill County Fairgrounds with Jim Sleeter in 1964 and serving as president for 28 years. He was nominated for and included in the 1965 edition of "Outstanding Young Men of America. " He was a longtime board member of the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce serving as president in 1971. He was a co-founder of the United Way in Hill County. He received the Distinguished Service Award in 1966 for community service.

Dr. Rader was a lifelong member of the American Dental Association and was an active participant in the creation of the 12th District Dental Society in 1965. He held local offices and served a four-year term on the State Dental Association Board, concluding with the office of state president and going on to serve nationally as president and secretary of the 11th M. D.A. District. In 1998 he was inducted into the International College of Dentists. He received the prestigious "T. T. Ryder Dentistry Award" in 1998.

He was a lifelong member of B. P.O. E. 1201, and an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, holding offices in local Troop 431 and serving as a Hi-Line District commissioner, chairman of the Boy Scouts of American Eagle Scout Board of Review and Finance Committee district chairman. His efforts then turned to the Havre-Hill County Library Board, where he served several terms. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Havre Hill County Library Foundation. He was very active in political affairs.

Dr. Rader followed in his father's footsteps to a hobby of stamp collecting. He had a huge collection and became a world class exhibitor of "Martha Washington, The 1st First Lady, " garnering many gold medals at exhibits through the United States. He was a member of the American Philatelic Society and Precancels Foundation and was a B. I.A. member.

His many outdoor activities included his favorite of fly fishing, as well as fly-tying, gardening, skiing and golf, and he was an avid reader, amassing a considerable library. He was a world traveler, going to many, many different countries. His granddaughter, Emilie says his "favorite outdoor activity was bird watching and building bird houses plus making the best divinity and deviled eggs in the world. "

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Gail of Havre; son, Jeffrey (Stephanie) Rader and grandchildren Emilie and Arden in San Francisco, and son Jonathan (Rebecca) Rader and grandchildren Lucca and Lawson; and a sister-in-law, Gwen Anderson of Bozeman.

There will be a memorial service at St. Jude Parish Center Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at 2 p. m. with coffee and cookies served following.

Holland and Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the Havre-Hill County Library. Cremation has taken place.