Don was born in Deer Lodge, and grew up Avon, Willow Creek, and Whitehall; he moved to Clancy with his son BJ and daughter Shawn in 1986. There, he spent time with his kids skiing, riding horses, and helping with Boy Scouts and 4H. Shawn and BJ’s summers were made extra special by motor home trips to many places including Arizona, Canada, and the Grand Canyon. Along with his wife Connie, these family trips continued with Don’s wife, Connie, and their combined families into the kids’ adulthood — with travels to Costa Rica, Mexico, Hawaii, New Orleans, the West Coast, and more.
Don and Connie traveled all over the world together, and Don was sure to make a friend everywhere they went. If he was missing in action, it likely was because he was chatting up a stranger or had run into someone he knew. There were few places in Montana he hadn’t been, and he was sure to know a family or two in every town. He had many good friends and often enjoyed dinners, concerts and adventures with them.
Don seemed to know a little something about everything. His oldest granddaughter held him in awe, convinced he could fix anything — which he probably could. He was the go-to fix-it guy for many, especially with cars. Don’s career as a diesel mechanic never ended on the clock; he was regularly helping someone out with a vehicle, often for trade, payments, or nothing. Don was a guy you could always count on to help.
