Don died November 6, 2011, in Olympia, Washington. He joined the Army at the start of the Korean War, made one combat jump, was wounded and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. After smokejumping Don was an iron worker for many years.

He jumped at NCSB for two seasons, then spent the 1958 season in Redding. He was on the first Alaska Smokejumper crew in 1959 and also jumped there in 1962.