Edward Jordan Hagan III

Edward Jordan Hagan III passed away peacefully in Great Falls, Montana on October 31, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Williston, North Dakota, on October 11, 1950, to Edward Jordan Hagan Jr. and Kathleen Hagan, Ed was the oldest of seven children. His father served as the physician for the Great Northern Railroad, which meant many family trips to East Glacier for annual meetings. During those trips, the Hagan kids boarded the Empire Builder, and Ed took it upon himself to memorize the train schedule and teach his siblings how to read timetables. Those journeys sparked his lifelong love of Montana and trains. Ed took pride in the train collection he began as a boy and continued to add to throughout his life. While attending Gonzaga University, he often traveled home to Williston by train, keeping that early passion alive.

Ed was a proud graduate of Gonzaga University, where he earned his B.S. in Biology and helped found the university’s water polo club. Acting as both player and recruiter, he brought in strong swimmers (including his brother Mike) and even convinced a basketball player to guard the shallow end. He organized matches with teams across the country and never doubted his squad could take on anyone, NCAA or not. In his senior year, Ed served as class president. A lifelong Gonzaga supporter, he was rarely seen without a Gonzaga shirt and never sat down during a basketball game—he paced until the final buzzer.

After graduation, he returned to Williston and opened Central Pharmacy on Main Street. He knew his customers by name and worked with them to find affordable options for their prescriptions. Central Pharmacy became more than a drugstore—it was the local stop for gifts, camera supplies, and even Saskatchewan Roughrider tickets, a Canadian football team he followed faithfully throughout his life. His kids and their friends kept the candy section in the red thanks to the generous “family discount.”

In the early 1990s, Ed fulfilled his dream of moving to Montana when he accepted a position as Director of Pharmacy for Buttrey Food & Drug. After his time with Buttrey’s, he was recruited as Director of Pharmacy for Associated Food Stores in Salt Lake City, a position he held for 18 years. There, he developed the company’s drug file and worked closely with independent pharmacy owners to implement data systems that strengthened their buying power against big-box retailers. As director, he built and maintained strong relationships with private pharmacy owners across the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, and Guam.

When he wasn’t traveling, Ed worked remotely from his home office in Essex, Montana—long before “working from home” became the norm. In 2007, he was invited to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business regarding Medicaid drug reimbursements—a proud moment in his career. He spoke clearly and passionately about the need for fair and sustainable Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for independent pharmacies, emphasizing their essential role in rural communities as the frontline of care.

Ed and his wife, B.J., often shared the story of how lucky they were to have found each other through a blind date on March 11, 1994. They enjoyed traveling together to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and throughout Europe, including Spain and Portugal on river cruises. Ed was a meticulous travel planner, always finding the best places to stay, fine dining, and memorable walking routes. His vast knowledge of history made every trip more interesting—and usually came with a few pop quizzes.

B.J. and Ed shared a home in Great Falls, but his true love was spending time in Essex. His dream of living in Montana came full circle when he built a home there—a “pay as you go” project that reflected his debt-free philosophy. The home, completed in stages, became a lasting tribute to his determination and vision.

With Glacier National Park just beyond his doorstep, Ed spent countless days hiking, canoeing, and exploring with his wife and family. He hoped to instill in his children a lasting love of the outdoors. His favorite trails included Ptarmigan Tunnel, Granite Park Chalet, Ousel Peak, and Sperry Chalet. A “good hike,” in his opinion, was one his family would still be complaining about decades later. Two such hikes were the consecutive springs Ed talked BJ into trekking from Essex to East Glacier – some 30 miles via railroad track and highway and next spring to West Glacier some 30 miles.

Ed was an avid collector of stamps and trains, a hobby that began in his youth and continued throughout his life. He was quick to point out, however, that collecting didn’t keep him from sports or other pursuits. He proudly lettered for his Williston High School football team, and his love for the game carried on as he served for decades as a head referee for North Dakota and Montana teams.

Ed loved cycling, and two of his favorite routes were the Hiawatha Trail near Lookout Pass and the River’s Edge Trail in Great Falls. A lifelong swimmer, he was known for spending his lunch breaks swimming laps rather than eating. He represented Essex in the Big Sky State Games, often recruiting his kids to compete to help boost the town’s medal count. He also participated in numerous Masters swim competitions over the years.

Beyond athletics, Ed had a brilliant mind. He amazed friends and family with his quick recall of facts from sports, history, geography, science, and math. His family might finally have a chance at answering Final Jeopardy—though probably not without a hint from him.

Ed was a loving and devoted husband and father who leaves a lasting void in the hearts of those who knew him.

He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Hagan; his wife, B.J. Angermeier; his children, Lindsey (Jon) Gilbertsen, Edward Jordan Hagan IV, Brittany Hagan, and stepdaughter, Molly (Byron) Clark; and his grandchildren, Finn and Ike Gilbertsen, Margot Arneson-Hagan, and Desmond and Everett Clark. He is also survived by his siblings, Mike Hagan, Mary Gen Ledecky, Ann Nichols, Peg Hagan, and Mary Colleen Letendre. He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Jordan Hagan Jr., and his sister, Katie Keogh.

In lieu of flowers, Ed would be honored by contributions to the Glacier Park Conservancy and PBS.