Don C. Walker, 79

Don C. Walker, 79, of Kalispell, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, after a two year battle with cancer. Don was born the youngest of seven children in 1928 in Randlett, Utah, the son of Jeremiah and Charlotte Geneva Walker.

Don's growing up years were spent on horseback working on ranches. He became an expert roper and horse trainer. After graduating from Uintah High school in 1947 at Vernal, Utah, he served in the U.S. Navy.

Don married Anna Louise Peterson in 1952 and they had four children. He was employed with Halliburton Company for 20 years. The family moved to Kalispell in 1972 and purchased the Vacationer Motel and Cedar Bay Lodge Resort on Swan Lake. In the 1980's he returned to the oil field as a drilling consultant throughout the intermountain west.

Don is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anna Louise (Peterson) Walker; and three of their children, Wade Walker and wife, Ronda (Remington), of Kalispell, Shelli (Walker) Nye and husband, Mark, of Pittsburg, Pa., and Eric Walker and wife, Katrina (Herrick), of Provo, Utah; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Don will be deeply missed by friends and relatives who knew him for his sense of humor, honesty, and work ethic. Don and Louise were active members of their church and spent many hours in the service of others. His joy in life was helping his family and teaching his children and grandchildren how to work, be responsible and respect their mothers.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Feb. 26 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Whitefish Stage Road in Kalispell with Bishop Cattron presiding. Visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Don's family.