Harold E. "Hap" Simpson
Harold E. "Hap" Simpson passed away on July 9, 2004 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
Hap was born on October 28, 1925 to Dr. Joseph J. and Maude I. Simpson of Kalispell. He attended primary school at Hedges School and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1943. His passion for sports started in high school. He played on both the tennis and football team for the Flathead Braves, achieving All State honors for football. After high school he attended the University of Washington in Seattle.
On November 7, 1944 he married Helen Cameron, his wife of 59 years. His father and mother preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother Raymond Simpson of Sacramento, CA; his wife, Helen; and their three children: son Larry Simpson and his wife, Margie, of Kalispell; daughter, Kay Leary and her husband, Tom of Sacramento, CA; and daughter, Linda Cloutier and her husband, Brian, of Bigfork. He was the beloved grandfather of 7 grandchildren: David and Michael Simpson; Chris, John and Kevin Leary; and Lisa and Jenny Cloutier.
Other than his family, his greatest love was golf. He was active in the Kalispell Golf Association serving as President and Chairman of the Expansion project at Buffalo Hills. He was also an avid supporter of the high school golf program.
In addition to being active in the Kalispell Golf Association he was a founding member of the Kalispell Jaycees. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners, Elks Club, Rotary Club, and Hoo Hoo, a lumberman's organization. For many years he served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank.
He worked for 30 years in the lumber industry in Montana and British Columbia, Canada. He had a small mill in Olney and then one in Marion, Montana. He started H.E. Simpson Lumber Co in the 19050's and was a partner in the Selkirk Spruce Mills in Donald, British Columbia.
Upon his retirement he and his wife Helen spent winters in Hawaii and southern California. They enjoyed traveling extensively with family and friends including several trips to Europe and Asia.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Spokane, Washington, or an organization of the donor's choice.
The family would like to express their extreme gratitude to the magnificent staff at the Kalispell Dialysis Center for all the care and support they provided for Hap over the past eight years.
The family will hold services Wednesday.