Donald Dobberstein, 96, passed peacefully with family by him from natural causes on October 3rd, 2011 in Hamilton Montana. He was born on September 11, 1915 on the family farm in the Bijou hills in Brule County, South Dakota to Lewis F. and Rebecca Turgeon Dobberstein. With the death of his father Lewis in 1931 Don at the age of 15 became the head of the household and took over the running of the family farm with his mother throughout the remaining Depression and Dustbowl years. Don married Lois Yates Nespor on April 28, 1951 in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Together they continued to farm and utilize revolutionary soil and water conservation methods in Brule County.
Don and Lois with their four children moved to the Bitterroot valley in October 1961 onto the Sestak ranch south of Victor. Don considered his greatest accomplishments to include not only his family, and the improvements to their home and ranch, but also being one of the first to raise Angus cattle in the Bitterroot valley. Don was also active for many years on the CENEX board of Directors, Bitterroot Stockgrowers Association, County Park board and the Right to Farm committee.
Don is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Lois, and children; Carol and husband Lloyd Oster, Mary Ann and husband Gary Gingerich, son Tommy Dobberstein and wife Angie all of Victor, and Kaye and husband Kevin Suzuki of Ennis; 8 grandchildren and 10 great grand children, and close relatives and friends in South Dakota
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Victor School Foundation Umbrella for the Arts, c/o Farmers State Bank, P.O. Box 1047 in Victor. A fund for music education will be established to purchase instruments for the Victor School music program.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Dobberstein, please visit our flower store.
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