Don, 72, died August 22, 2010, in Tucson, Arizona, succumbing to pancreatic cancer. He was born April 10, 1938, in Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Richland High School, Richland, MI,in 1956

Don graduated from the University of Michigan in 1963 with a master's degree in aeronautical engineering and followed it with a law degree from the University of Montana in 1967.

He jumped in Missoula from 1960 to 1965, and after getting his degree was employed as an engineer for NASA in Mountain View, Calif., and worked on landing gear for the moon mission.

He attended the University of Montana School of Law, from which he graduated in 1967. Don's legal career began in Havre, MT, with the Legal Services program through which he provided legal aid.

Don joined the law firm of Paul Bunn in Chester in 1970. He practiced law in Chester until 2002, when he closed his private practice after being elected to the Liberty County Commission, on which he served for six years. He also served on the boards of numerous professional and environmental organizations in Montana.