Townsend Obituary: Alvin “Neil” Shaffer
Author: Family of Alvin “Neil” Shaffer
Family of Alvin “Neil” Shaffer
Alvin “Neil” Shaffer, age 86 of Townsend
October 24, 1938 – July 9, 2025
Neil Shaffer, 86, left this world on July 9, 2025, to be reunited with the love of his life, Barbara. A memorial service will be on July 28th at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Townsend, MT.
Alvin Neil (A. Neil) Shaffer was born in Maddock, ND, on Oct. 24th, 1938, to J.A.M. (Alvin) Shaffer and Jean (Milne) Shaffer in a hospital run by his paternal grandmother. He was the second child and only son of their six children.
Neil gained local newspaper fame when he fell into a well on the family farm, and so began his life of various accidents that bruised him but never slowed him down.
Winters in ND were severe and there were no buses when he attended school. To ensure they could get to school, Neil and his two sisters stayed in town with their grandparents during the school week. He always spoke fondly of them.
Neil was baptized and confirmed in the North Viking Lutheran Church. He graduated high school from B.C.A.T.S. in Maddock in 1957. Then he attended college at North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, graduating with a major in Electronics.
Collins Radio hired Neil at the end of his education, so off to Cedar Rapids, IA, he moved. During the time there, he built the radios for NASA space rockets of the 1960s and 70s. He was proud to say he built the radios for Neil Armstrong’s moon landing on Apollo 11.
For Neil, the greatest achievement of his life was meeting and winning the heart of Barbara Fiet. Neil and Barb were married on January 6, 1962, in Waukon, IA. With this ideal union, Neil’s family expanded with Barb’s parents, brother and three sisters. Barb passed away in 2005 and Neil missed her every day since.
Neil enlisted in the Air Force in the spring of 1962. He was stationed in Biloxi, MS, and later Minot, ND, where he worked on radios for the planes. Upon discharge, he returned to Collins Radio, where they had reserved his position and welcomed him back.
Neil loved camping, swimming, water skiing, scuba diving, hunting, tennis and other sports. On weekdays, you could often find him water skiing after work until dark. On the weekends, he was on the lake.
In June 1976, Neil and Barb bought the Coast-to-Coast hardware store in Townsend. Neil tried his best to meet his customers' needs and was known for saying, “If we don’t have it, I can order it”. After several years, they sold the store and opened Big Sky Electronics & Floral in the building next door. He installed numerous DISH TV systems in the tri-county area.
Neil was deeply involved in the community. He was a charter member and past president of the Lions Club, past president of the Rod and Gun Club, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and a supporter of the local fair and rodeo. He participated in the businessmen’s rodeo, donated saddles, and frequently purchased 4-H animals.
Generosity defined Neil. He gave freely of his time and resources, often selling items at cost or donating them outright. You could regularly find him at the Mint, the Horseshoe, or the “donut shop” having coffee with friends, and he insisted on buying. He was especially generous with his nieces and nephews. You could often see a nephew pulling cable on a satellite install, or a niece riding a horse with him. While he rewarded them with money for work done, the greatest gifts he gave were his time, love, and unwavering acceptance. He will be greatly missed by all.
He is survived by his sisters: Bonnie Schulz of Lakeland MN, Judy (Larry) Wright of Townsend MT, Shelley (Marty) Gustafson of Kasson MN, and Brenda (Marc) Rogelstad of Boardman OR; nieces and nephews: Alan (Stephanie) Everson, Kurt (Laura) Schulz, Kim (Patrick) Weston, James (Mellisa) Wright, Michael (Annette) Wright, Matthew (Tia) Wright, Stephen (Alyssa) Wright, Jessica Gustafson, Ken (Katelyn) Gustafson, Jeremy Gustafson, Adam (Erica) Rogelstad, Heather (Josh) Kegler, and Cassandra (David) Clayton; In-laws: Lorraine Ruddish, David Fiet, Janice (Marvin) Smith, and Marie (Larry) Johnston; along with numerous great-nieces and nephews.
Neil was preceded in death by his wife Barb; parents Alvin and Jean Shaffer; sister Darlene Everson; parents-in-law Delbert and Dorothy Fiet; brothers-in-law Bob Everson, Jim Schulz, Frank Ruddish; sister-in-law Greta Fiet; and niece Kristen Schulz.
Interment will be next summer at Greenwood Cemetery in Maddock, ND, where he will once again be beside his beloved Barb.
The family requests memorials be made to Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, 3687 Veterans Drive, Administration Building 141, Fort Harrison, MT 59636 or the American Legion Broadwater Post #42, PO Box 913, Townsend, MT 59644.
Service scheduled with a Celebration of His Life at 11:00 am, Monday, July 28, 2025, at United Methodist Church, 200 N Cedar Street, Townsend, Montana 59644. Reception at the Methodist Church will follow the Memorial Service.
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