In the weeks since Fred Ramsdell learned he won a Nobel Prize for his work in immunology, the part-time Whitefish resident’s fall deer-hunting plans have been dashed. Instead, Ramsdell’s been busy coordinating meetings with his team and preparing to travel to Sweden to accept the award.

“This is really messing up my hunting season,” Ramsdell said, ruminating about the fresh venison he still needs to cache away for winter. “I’m still going to try and find a day or two, but … I got one in the freezer, it’ll be okay.”

Ramsdell’s wife of 38 years, Laura O’Neill, was the first to register the life-changing announcement when a torrent of text messages pinged her phone on Oct. 6. The couple and their two dogs had just gotten back into cell service after hiking in a remote area near Yellowstone

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