Donald L. Klapwyk

Donald L. Klapwyk, 82, of Darby passed away Friday, November 8, 2013 at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. He was born September 19, 1931 in St. Patrick's Hospital, in Missoula, the son of the late John and Freida Klapwyk.

Don was raised on a ranch in the Missoula area first helping to run a dairy operation and later raising beef. He loved working with animals and always said that the world looked better when you were looking at it through the ears of a horse.

He graduated from Missoula County High School in 1949. After high school he continued helping his family with their ranching business.

He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lea Zerbe on New Year's Eve 1952. Don joined the U.S. Army in September 1953 and was deployed to Germany during the Korean Conflict. Mary Lea joined him during this time and they have fond memories of traveling around the German countryside. Upon his honorary discharge in September 1955, Don attended the University of Montana, in Missoula, graduating with a degree in Education in 1962.

Don began his teaching career teaching science and advanced math at Frenchtown High School in Frenchtown, Montana. After teaching high school for four years, he moved from the Missoula area to Darby in 1966 accepting a position as a teacher of math, science and driver's education at Trapper Creek Job Corps. Don was a teacher and later a counselor at the Center from 1966 until his retirement in 1994. He positively impacted the lives of many students during his time at the Center.

On the weekends he served as a member and hill leader of the Lost Trail Ski Patrol. In concert with Don's philosophy of never stop learning, post retirement led to new adventures in sea dooing, as well as square and round dancing for the Hamilton and Lolo organizations with he and Mary Lea serving as president of the Hamilton organization for a period of time.

Don was a strong family man who believed that tired children were good children. Determined to share his love of life with his family there was little down time. This remarkable husband and father had endless energy for homework, attending concerts, driving to sporting events, driving to music lessons, riding motorbikes, seeking out hot springs, visiting lookouts, water skiing, boating, steelhead/salmon fishing, swimming, and snow skiing, all while working 40 hours a week and continuing to help on the family ranch. At the end of the day there was always time for guitar playing and especially reading.

He treasured most, the time spent with his family at Flathead lake where the days would start before sunup with a water ski before the "lake got rough". He would move on to hauling heavy water buckets up the hill to water trees, then pile brush to burn, and do boat maintenance all before noon. Each day would include swimming, fishing until the limit was caught, more skiing if the water allowed and an occasional trip to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse. After dinner the family would bundle up for a boat ride to Wild Horse Island to close out the day with a wildlife cruise and a Montana sunset like no other. Dark only meant it was time to pull out the instruments for family music time around the camp fire.

After a short sleep it was back to it, rain or shine with lightening the only logical reason to not be on or in the water. He worked hard and played harder.


Don is survived by his wife, Mary Lea of Darby, two daughters, Sandy Abbott and husband Lee of Seeley Lake, MT, Pam Hergett and husband Harvey of Florence, MT and one son, Greg Klapwyk of Mesa, Arizona. He is also survived by a sister, June Dvorak, of Missoula, three grandsons Chris (Tana) Abbott, Travis (Bridget) Abbott and Justin Hergett; one granddaughter, Kendra Hergett and five great grandsons.

Don's request that no services be held is being honored.

The family suggests that donations be made in Don's memory to Camp Mak-A-Dream at P.O. Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806-1450, or to a charity of their choice.