Donald L. Felton

HAMILTON - Donald L. "Don" Felton, 93, of Hamilton passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care Center. He was brought into this life March 16, 1918, the 5th child of Pruden and Sallie Felton, in his Aunt Carrie's home in Havre, MT.
- Don spent most of his childhood in the "Bears 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 US Army.
- Don married Lillian Levine in Alaska and they later divorced. There were 7 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 Railroad. 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 1 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 VFW, the American Legion, the Eagles, the Senior Citizens 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; 2 sons-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 1 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, CA; his step-daughters, Carol Wavrick of Havre and Donna Whitney of Corvallis; 25 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren; his brother, Edward Felton of Boise, ID; his sister, Caroline (Don) Morton of Polson and numerous nieces and nephews.
- The family suggests that memorials be made in Don's name to Faith Lutheran Church.