Donald L. 'Don' Felton

Donald L. 'Don' Felton

HAMILTON — Donald L. "Don" Felton, 93, of Hamilton, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, at Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

He was brought into this life March 16, 1918, the fifth child of Pruden and Sallie Felton, in his Aunt Carrie's home in Havre, Mont.

Don spent most of his childhood in the Bear's Paw Mountains where his family had a farm and ranch. He graduated from Chinook High School. When Don was old enough, he moved to Alaska to share and work on his Uncle Tom's horse ranch. The war with Japan broke out and Don enlisted into the U. S. Army.

Don married Lillian Levine in Alaska, and they later divorced. There were seven children in their family. Don had enough points to get out of the Army in 1945. His wife came to Montana and stayed with her in-laws until he came home.

Don was a truck driver for most of his life, ending his career with Burlington Northern Railway. He met the love of his life, Clara "Dottie" and they married on July 3, 1967. They spent a few years in the Havre area, and he farmed Dottie's land. They moved to the Bitterroot Valley in 1977 and lived and worked on their farm for 10 years. When they sold that farm they moved one mile away to their current home.

Don and Dottie and sometimes a pet dog traveled many, many miles in their RV. His last drive was in 2010 to a family reunion in Dillon. Don and Clara were active members and very involved in the Good Sams Club.

Don was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Eagles, the Senior Citizen Center, and Faith Lutheran Church in Hamilton to name a few of his passions in life. He was also a hunter, fisherman, carpenter and wood worker.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Annie; his brothers, Buster, Tom, Ray and Jack; his daughter, Donna Commons; two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law; and one grandchild.

He is survived by his wife, Clara "Dottie" (Lamb) (Berger) Felton of Hamilton; his daughters, Lillian (Paul) Sebey of Havre, Annie Bulman of Havre, Kathleen (Dick) Subry of Helena and Sally (Gerry) McAuley of Seattle; his sons, Robert (LaDonna) Felton of Hamilton and Steven (Fatima) Felton of Nipomo, Calif. ; his step-daughters, Carol Wavrick of Havre and Donna Whitney of Corvallis; 25 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; his brother, Edward Felton of Boise, Idaho; his sister, Caroline (Don) Morton of Polson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 11 a. m., at Faith Lutheran Church in Hamilton, with a Military Graveside Service following at Corvallis Cemetery. There will be a reception for family and friends at the church following the committal service. The family suggests that memorials be made in Don's name to Faith Lutheran Church. Condolences may be left for the family at http://www.dalyleachchapel.com.