Donald Dale Haverfield, 84

Don Haverfield, 84, passed away Aug. 31, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center with family and friends by his side. Don was undergoing treatment for an abscess in his heart and pneumonia.

Donald Dale Haverfield was born May 25, 1924, at the home of his paternal grandparents at Lonesome Butte, Saskatchewan, to Ralph Dale and Stella Leona May Courteau Haverfield. The family resided at Thoeny, Valley County, Mont.

Don attended various schools while living with foster families after his mother's death in 1932. He joined the United States Marine Corps on Feb. 7, 1942, and was in boot camp at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, when Guadalcanal happened. Don was stationed in Hawaii serving with the military police, and at Camp Caitlin guarding foreign prisoners in 1942-43. He was assigned to the Fleet Marine Force Fifth Amphibian. In the Pacific Theater and on Guam he was with the 155 Long Tom Battalion.

After World War II, Don returned to Great Falls in 1946 with USMC Reserve status. He worked with International Harvester and Agricultural Equipment Company until he was recalled to duty in September 1950 for Korea, where he was assigned to the First Marine Division, First Battalion Combat Engineers. Don was at "Frozen Chosin" reservoir in 1950. A land mine blew under his bulldozer while he was building roads for military equipment, sending him home from Korea. He was discharged in November 1951.

Don owned and operated his own truck, hauling bird seed to New Jersey and East Coast goods back to the West. He then drove lowboy for Naranche and Konda of Butte during the construction of missile sites in Montana and reconstruction of highways damaged during the 1964 flood.

He drove tanker delivering gas to the several Town Pump stations around the state until a young driver hit him head-on in December 1969, resulting in burns to his hands and head with several months of recuperation. B & F Excavating hired Don to drive mixer truck and he continued to work for them for eight years. The next eight years he worked for Flathead County Landfill, retiring in 1989.

Don married Rhoda Ann Ritter in October 1950 and they had three children. They later divorced. In October 1969 Don married Susan Wolf Sampson at Columbia Falls. They purchased a home on the Flathead River complete with fruit trees and garden space. Don enjoyed his yard and was always putzing with something. Over the years Don and Sue raised pheasants, chickens, rabbits, tomatoes, roses and Shih Tzu puppies.

Don was a sign painter, post hole digger and sign erector for Sue's campaigns for Flathead County clerk and recorder. He was a "Soroptimister," helping with projects and fundraisers for Soroptimist International of Kalispell.

Don and Sue have been active in VFW, Marine Corps League, Cooties and Eagles. Don has served on the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley Honor Guard for military funerals since he retired and recruited Sue to join upon her retirement.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Verle Jackson; and Shih Tzu dog, Misty Sue, just three weeks ago.

He is survived by his wife, Sue; former wife, Ann; sons, Keith and Gary; daughter, Arleea Backes; granddaughters, April Dyon and Cassie Haverfield; grandsons, Eric and Tod Backes, and Tanner and Michael Haverfield; and great-grandsons, William and John Dyon. He also leaves behind his Shih Tzu Bounce. Also surviving are Don's siblings, Leslie Jackson, Lucille Sorensen, Vern Haverfield, Dorothy Gagley, Susan Conrad and Alan Haverfield.

His many friends know him for his famous toast: "Here's looking down your rain barrel." "He will be watching that rain barrel from above while he and Misty Sue take their morning walk."

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with the Rev. David Merkel officiating. Inurnment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, with military graveside rites by United Veterans of the Flathead Valley.

A reception will be held at the North Valley Eagles 4081 following the service. A portion of the ashes will be distributed in one of Don's favorite hunting spots, Clark Canyon, during hunting season.

Memorials are suggested to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, 41 Fourth Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901; or United Veterans of the Flathead Valley, P.O. Box 3061, Kalispell, MT 59903.