Charles Earl Haeffner

Charles “Charlie” “Chuck” “Charlie Osco”Haeffner, 92

June 10, 1933-May 10, 2026

Charles Earl Haeffner passed away at Intermountain Health in Butte, MT on May 10, 2026. Charles was born in Fargo, North Dakota on June 10, 1933 to Earl and Agnes Haeffner and was the younger of two children. Though he acquired polio at the age of 2 and spent 9 months in the hospital, he never let it slow him down. He was full of life and character, quick witted and a joy to be around. He always had a comment or a joke ready at the right time, in the right moment.

Charlie served in the US Navy as a corpsman, and then returned home to Fargo to finish his pharmacy degree at NDSU (a forever NDSU fan). Charlie married his love, Yvonne Waidt on January 17, 1959, and their journey began in Kankakee, Illinois with Osco Drug. From there they moved to Kewanee, Illinois, then Marion, Indiana. In 1967 Charlie brought the first Osco Drug to Montana-in Anaconda, where he worked as the manager for 28 years before retiring in 1995. His story continued as he then helped his son Scott in his insurance agency on occasion. Charlie served on many local boards over the years: School board, Anaconda Chamber of Commerce, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Reclamation Advocates, Copper Village Museum and Art Center and was a member of the Elks. He was also a Continuing Education Instructor with the MT Board of Pharmacy.

Charlie enjoyed skiing, hunting and motorcycle riding with his boys, but his fondest memories were spending every summer vacation at Pelican Lake in Minnesota. He would pack up the family, leave right after work and drive straight through (all night) 925 miles to Fargo, ND to be with family at the lake for two to three weeks.

Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Vonnie, his parents Earl and Agnes, his brother and sister-in-law Fred and Marlene “Sis”, sister-in-law Beverly Lein and nephew Steve Rawley. He is survived by his two sons: Charlie (Mara) and Scott (Georgann); Grandchildren: Colton, Carlie and August; Niece: Robin Matos (Miguel) and family, Nephews: Guy Haeffner (Tina), Craig Rawley (Debbie) and families; and a multitude of friends too numerous to count.

Funeral Services will be held at the Longfellow Finnegan Funeral Home in Anaconda on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Crematory have been privileged to care for Charles and his family.