Westerman, Alan James

Alan James Westerman has embarked on a new adventure. On Oct. 11, he passed on in his ”place of business.”

Alan was born on Dec. 16, 1985, in Ronan, Mont. He graduated from Ronan High School and from the Salish Kootenai Heavy Equipment Course.

The boy enjoyed his work in the woods at 14, clearing trails. His work at the Montana Waterfowl Foundation brought him extreme pleasure. At 18, he progressed to wildfire fighting. At his present job, forestry, he played with the heavy equipment with excitement and dedication. You can still hear “Hopy” say, “there’s nothing like the smell of diesel in the morning” and telling, with enthusiasm, about sliding down the rocks with his dozer.

Alan’s passions were for the outdoors, hunting and fishing with family and friends, and the cold breeze blowing in his face while snowmobiling. He enjoyed both model planes and the real ones, looking forward to learning how to fly. He found great pleasure with his gun collection. His last road trip was a firewood expedition with his younger brother.

Always the helpful one, taking on responsibilities others would shrug, and doing so with a smile. Alan will remain in the hearts of those that had the honor of knowing him. He gave everyone an example to live by.

Alan was preceded in death by grandfathers John Laud and Jim Westerman Sr, and nephew Eathan.

He is survived by his brothers, Andrew Westerman and wife Judy Ann, and Adam Westerman, and by (Antoine Paul), father, James Westerman and step mother Cloann, mother, Mary Laud and step father, James, grandmothers, Fae Laud and Rose Westerman, and numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, and friends he considered family.

He also has his four-legged friends who miss him already, Piggy, Oscar and Babe.

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. at the Dayton Cemetery on Oct. 14, 2008, and a dinner and a celebration of Alan’s life followed at the Elmo Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask the memorials be made to the Montana Waterfowl Foundation in Ronan

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com