Donald Ardal (Jake) Haaland, was born December 4, 1964 in Havre, Montana. His early years were spent on ranches in the Big Sandy, Montana area until he moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho in 1977 with his father and stepmother. He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1983 and immediately after graduation moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming to live with his sister Jeanne and her husband Steve. Jake became a roofer working for Rock Springs Roofing where he became a master at his craft, working hard to become the best roofer possible. He would never let anyone beat him.
Jake loved the outdoors and spent many hours hunting, fishing and riding dirt bikes in Wyoming. He hunted elk in the Absoroka and Wind River ranges of Wyoming as well as the Wallowa mountains in Oregon. He was a skilled outdoorsman, hunter and dirt bike rider. Shooting and guns were one of his passions in life.
In 1987 he moved with his family to Albany, Oregon where he worked a total of 35 years as a roofer and foreman for Maier Roofing Company retiring in 2017. He always loved Montana and wanted to be back where he felt at home, so in 2019 he returned, settling in Loma, Montana.
Jake was honest, and hard-working, and he was respected by everyone. Jake also loved kids and especially took pride in all his nieces and nephews whom he helped raise. Jake passed away on July 10, 2025, in Missoula, Montana from complications following heart surgery.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents Ron Haaland and Grace (Diacon) Haaland Sanford, his maternal grandparents Watler and Lois (McHoes) Diacon, paternal grandparents Elling Haaland and Mary (Cameron) Haaland. He was survived by his siblings Jeanne Haaland, Justin Haaland, Thea Haaland, Virginia Sanford, Susan Sanford; his nieces Stephanie Haaland, Jessica Boyd, Miranda (Boyd) Wilborn, Heather Reum, Angela Boyd, Keely Boyd, Grace Brown, Avery Falde, Payton Falde, Kimber Haaland, Cameron Haaland, Charlotte Radcliffe; nephews Eric C. Haaland, Cameron Herring, Keegan Fox, and Quinton Farmer.
