Donald Doane

Donald Doane passed away April 1, 2013 at the Montana Veterans Home.

He was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on July 11, 1925. When he was one, he moved to Whitefish with his grandparents, Fred and Nora Krona, who raised him. Then in third or fourth grade, he moved to Columbia Falls, where he lived until his death.

His education consisted of first through eighth grade. He also started his freshman year a couple of times but only stayed until after football season and then quit. His favorite sports were football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and ping-pong. Don’s first major job was at Anderson Grocery, the former Park Merc, as a box boy.

He married Wilma Daniels on April 16, 1949 (for the second time — they had previously married in March 1944 and divorced but decided it really was true love). 

Don joined the Army in 1943. In World War II, he guarded the coast and when the Japanese sent over balloons with explosives on board, and he drove teams around so they could disarm the bombs. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

In 1949, Don was one of the first people to start the Pony of America Club and was the first president of the Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club, which was formed in 1949 and is still going today. He was an original charter member. He always loved and rode horses -- he passed that passion on to his daughter and her grandchildren.

Don worked on the west shore road during construction of the Hungry Horse Dam. He later formed his own logging company and ran that for many years. Later he farmed and ranched, feeding cattle and raising hay. He was known by the ranching community for hauling their cattle and horses to the local auction (Kalispell Livestock Auction), where he worked in the ring during the sale. He always knew who had a cow for sale or some hay or a good horse.

His son Casey was killed in an automobile accident in 1970. Casey loved to race stock cars, so Don’s shop became a yearly meeting place during the Casey Doane Memorial race — much food and beer was consumed. Also lots of “stories” and pictures.

In 1976, Don was diagnosed with mulitple sclerosis and slowly had to give up the farm and working in his shop. He loved eating lunch with his friends at the Nite Owl.

On May 26, 2002, he lost the love of his life, Wilma, but he continued to live in the home they built back in the 1950s. 

In November 2009, Don moved to the Montana Veterans Home, where he became part of their family. He loved everyone there and enjoyed visiting and sharing stories.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Kathie and Butch Arvidson; two grandchildren, Gerry and Tracy Arvidson and Brandie and Mark Gee; three great grandchildren, Courtney and Braelyn Gee and Ethan Doane Arvidson; his half-brother George Westerlund; and two half-sisters, Donna Jennrich and Betty Schake.

“A huge thank you to all the wonderful people at the Veterans Home who have taken such wonderful care of Dad.”

Memorials in Don’s honor may be made to Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club, P.O. Box 2264, Kalispell MT 59901.

At his request, there will be no service, and Don’s ashes will be spread on his farm.