June 21, 2023

William “Bill” Wangler
​ October 1, 1933 - April 30, 2023

William “Bill” Wangler, 89, passed away at his home in Drummond of a heart attack on April 30, 2023. He was born in Kintyre, N.D., on Oct. 1,1933, to Magdalena (Glatt) and Joseph Wangler.
Bill was a talented musician, playing the drums and guitar in the family band. He joined the Army in December 1953, and was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., where he learned and became an expert mountain road builder, which served him well later in life. After his discharge with a good conduct medal, he was in the Army Reserve ND Mil District.
Bill moved to Montana and worked in the Butte mines where no shaft was too deep for him to work until 1959, when he moved to Drummond to work in the Phosphate and Douglas mines.
On Sept. 29, 1959, he married Helen Glatt, his sweetheart of 7 years at St. Anthony’s church during a ferocious blizzard. They were blessed with two children, Bernadetta and Randy.
Bill and his family raised state champion angora rabbits and earth worms that they sold all over the US. He continued mining, but in 1965, the trees were calling his name. He became an expert sawyer and road builder. In 1974, Bill and his family started Wangler Logging with Bill felling trees, Bernadetta and Randy skidding and working the landing with Helen. Many wonderful family times and memories were enjoyed working together in the mountains until he at age 80 and Randy retired in 2014, and Wangler Logging was no more.
Many people say Bill was a good, kind, thoughtful and well-mannered soul, but he was the hardest working SOB they’d ever seen! He wasn’t all work and no play.
Bill loved exploring the hills with all four of the Wanglers on his Mountaineer and loved to fish lakes, streams, oceans and rivers. He was second to none in smoking the fish he caught for many people lucky enough to enjoy.
He looked forward to trips to Branson and watching music shows on TV since his father and Lawrence Welk were friends.
A highlight in Bill’s life recently was when he was in a featured news story on TV about Drummond Senior Meals.
He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion and looked forward to working the Drummond Rodeo every year.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Helen, son-in-law Gene Bailey, grandson Michael Bailey, his parents, and brothers Tony and Andy Wangler.
He is survived by his daughter, Bernadetta Wangler Bailey; son, Randy (Sheila) Wangler; grandchildren, Christie and Erick Bailey, Stephanie (Dave) Barnett, and Shawnee Wangler; great-grandchildren, Kinsleigh and Landon Barnett; god-daughter, Tammy (Tom) Barduson; and his sister, Carol (Julius) Vetter; along with many nieces, nephews, and sisters- and brothers-in-law; friend, Cameron Blake, and all the stray cats he fed on his back porch.
The family extends their deepest appreciation to the wonderful people of the Drummond Senior Meal Program. A celebration of Bill’s life is set for noon, Saturday, June 24, at Drummond Community Hall.

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​Funeral Notice

​Funeral service for David Paul Meier, 96, is set for 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22, at Immaculate Conception Church, 605 Clark St., in Deer Lodge.