Gary Pfister

Gary Pfister was born on October 7th, 1944 in Havre, MT to Katherine and Ernest Pfister. Gary passed away May 12th, 2026 in Missoula, MT.

Gary attended schools in Havre, MT and graduated from Havre High in 1962. He loved sports and participated in baseball, basketball, football, and golf. He played fast-pitch softball for 20 years in Havre where he was catcher for "Dickybird" Sherrill, among others. There was much fun for the whole family at the 6th Ave softball field in Havre.

In 1963 Gary married Shelley Saunders. They have two sons, Michael and Gary. In 1966, Gary graduated from Northern Montana College earning a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a minor in P.E. He taught English and coached in Turner, Havre, and Cutbank. From 1970-1978 Gary was the assistant director of Bear Paw Development. He won a grant for area development which secured funding to build Bear Paw Ski Bowl and the Industrial Park west of Havre.

Moving to Cut Bank in the early 80's, Gary taught English for 13 years and was a founding member of the Cut Bank Education Foundation. He was the Executive Director for the foundation for 4 years and was instrumental in securing a million-dollar contribution from Cut Bank alumni. While teaching at Cut Bank Gary was a football coach for the 1985 Cut Bank Wolves State Championship team. He was also head golf coach for 3 state championship teams, and he was awarded the Coach of the Year for Montana High School Golf after the 1999 season.

Following his teaching career, Gary worked for the Montana Office of Public Instruction in Helena from 2001-2008 and acted as a School to Work Specialist, the Director of the Coordinated School Health Program, and was the State Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program. In 2004 he received the Office of Public Instruction Incentive Award for exceptional performance.

Gary retired from education in 2008 and returned to his beloved Havre where he was an avid supporter of Blue Pony sports.  A loving and supportive son, brother, uncle, and husband, Gary was generous to a fault as a friend, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Nothing mattered more to Gary than his family. No matter the distance, he made sure to stay close, calling and visiting them regularly. His passions included his grandkids, the Yankees and Packers (rarely missing a game), hunting the hills south of Havre, camping in Glacier, skiing at Big Mountain and traveling for family vacations to California, Hawaii, New York and Seattle.

Gary is survived by Shelley Pfister, his wife of 62 years, his sons Michael 62 (Larry) and Gary 59 (Deborah) Pfister of Florence MT, his sisters Barbara (Ron) Clark of Lakeside MT, Lynn Noyes of Bozeman MT, Zora (Tom) McMaster of Bellingham WA, and his sister-in-law Debbie Hellebust of Missoula MT.

Gary is also survived by his granddaughter, Sydney (Patrick) McKay of Lolo MT, his great-granddaughters Louie and Lily McKay of Lolo MT and his grandson Gregory (Natalie) Pfister of Missoula MT.

Gary is preceded in death by his mother Katherine Pfister Hellebust, his father PVT Ernest Pfister who was killed in action in WWII under General Patton, stepfather Ilert Hellebust, brother Conn Hellebust, and brother-in-law Dave Noyes.

A very special man who impacted many students and colleagues, he is missed every day by his family and friends.

There will be a celebration to remember Gary on July 25th at 1:30pm at the 4-H Chuck Wagon at the Hill County Fairgrounds in Havre, MT. Please join us.