Donald Raymond Lamoreux

CORVALLIS - Donald Raymond Lamoreux, 93, of Corvallis passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at his home. He was born July 4, 1915 in Titonka, IA the son of John. W. and Mayme L. (Kliest) Lamoreux.
In 1927, at the age of 12, Don moved to Montana with his parents and other family members. They settled in Corvallis in 1928 on a small farm which today the Corvallis United Methodist Church sets on part of that land. Don graduated from Corvallis High School in 1932. After high school he worked on the farm with his dad, he did construction work and also worked on the Ft. Peck Dam.
Don married Ruth M. Rummel on April 4, 1941 in Hamilton. In September of 1941 he went to work for the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. While there Don transferred into construction and helped build the Pentagon. On December 7, 1942 he enlisted into the US Navy as a SeaBee. In 1943 he shipped out to the Aleutian Islands. In 1944 he was sent to Okinawa to prepare for the invasion of Japan. Don was honorably discharged on October 24, 1945 and returned home to his wife and the Bitterroot Valley.
Don did construction with his father until his appointment as Postmaster of the Corvallis Post Office. He remained as Postmaster for 10 years until he took a mail route. He remained on the mail route until retiring in 1973. While working for the US Postal Service Don did carpentry work in the afternoons. At one time there wasn't a home in Corvallis he hadn't done some work on.
Don and Ruth traveled extensively together for years. They spent many winters in Mesa, AZ. One of Don's greatest enjoyments was to Garden. He was a member of the American Legion, the Bitterroot Good Sam Club and the Corvallis United Methodist Church.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, 1 sister, his daughter Aneta Kay Lamoreux and his grandson, Enoch Turner. He is survived by his loving wife, Ruth, of Corvallis; 2 daughters, Janice Smith and husband Dee of Cody, WY and Lynn Turner and husband Mike of Hamilton; his son, Lary Lamoreux and wife Dawn of Las Vegas, NV; 6 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and his brother Jack Lamoreux.
The family suggests that memorials be made in Don's name to the charity of the donor's choice.