Donald Robert Burns Sr., 78
Donald Robert Burns Sr., 78, passed away peacefully from this life surrounded by his family on June 3, 2009, at Heritage Place in Kalispell, after a long illness at home. Donald was born March 12, 1931, in Springfield, Ill., along with his twin brother Dale.
Don lived and attended schools in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas as his mother and stepfather advanced to better jobs; his best childhood memories were from Maxwell, Mo. His mother took him and his brother to many Cardinals baseball games in St. Louis, and he was a fervent lifetime fan. He loved watching the Green Bay Packers football games also.
Don joined the U.S. Navy as a gunners mate in May 1948, in Kansas City, Mo.; he served in ordnance and missile systems. Later he served aboard the USS Albaney, USS Elokomin, USS Antares, and many other ships, at sea for months at a time and visiting ports around the world. He was stationed in Tennessee, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan and California at various times, with his family living at or near his duty station while he was getting specialized training on shore or was out to sea. He earned four Good Conduct Awards (one was for European occupations' and two National Defense Service Medals during his 23-year Navy career. He retired from the Navy as chief petty officer in June 1971, and moved to Kalispell with his family.
Donald and Myrtle Edith Cameron were married in Tennessee in 1951; Myrt died suddenly in 1990, after 39 years of marriage, in Kalispell. Three children were born of this union: Donald Jr., Wayne, and Donna Lee.
Don worked in trails/signs/building maintenance for the USDA-Forest Service at Columbia Falls Ranger Station and Big Creek Work Center (Glacier View Ranger District) from 1972 to 1983. He and Myrt moved to Florida for a few months, then moved to Spokane to manage an apartment complex in 1984.
He sold telephone systems in the Flathead after moving back to Kalispell, and then worked at Semitool from 1989 until he fully retired in 2001. He had finished high school in the Navy and went on to take several credited courses at Flathead Valley Community College here — mostly history and Indian culture classes, plus a course in Japanese language.
Don loved eastern Montana and traveled Custer Battlefield, Fort Peck dam and reservoir, Glasgow, Charlie Russell Game Preserve, the Chief Joseph Memorial at Bears Paw Mountains, Fort Benton, the Lewis and Clark Trails Pompey's Pillar, and all other historical sites in between. He was an avid reader of early west settlements and the Indian cultures involved in that historical period. He hunted deer locally, but also escaped to Valier, Chinook, Jordan, Roundup and Ovando whenever possible to hunt. His favorite area in western Montana was the Thompson River country — for camping and fishing.
Don's log home, fruit trees, vegetable and berry garden, lawn and woodworking shop filled a lot of his off- work time too.
Don and Norma LaVonne Brown "Coverdell/McLauchlin" were married Aug. 31, 1991, at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork. They enjoyed travel to Canada, the Pacific coast, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, national parks, Wyoming, and eastern Montana; she shared his love of early west history and Indian Culture, and music. A 10-day vacation to Disneyworld with a cruise to the Bahamas in 1999, then a Tucson, Ariz., visit to his 94-year-old stepfather in 1997, were special times.
He loved country western, classical, and popular music from the 1920s -1980s and playing his mandolin. Humphrey Bogart, Susan Hayward, John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Clint Eastwood and Sonja Henie were favorite celebrities; he never tired of watching old movies and westerns.
Donald was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle; his parents, Edward Burns and Estelle Dorans; his stepfather, William Dorans; nephew, David Burns; his grandparents; and many aunts and uncles in Illinois.
Don is survived by his wife, Norma; his twin brother, Dale and Doris Burns, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; his son, Don Jr. and Cindy Burns, of Boulder; his son, Wayne and Roberta Burns, of Lakeside; his daughter, Donna Lee and Tom Fuller, of Kalispell; widowed niece, Carlie Burns, and her two sets of twins, of Los Altos, Calif.; grandchildren, Justin Fuller and Amanda Ashland of Kentucky; Ryan Fuller and Trina of Kalispell; Janelle Fuller of Kalispell; Chelsea Burns of Kalispell; Tyler Burns of Lakeside; Donnie Burns and Elizabeth of Kalispell; and Kristie and Steve Youde of Portland; mother-in-law, Helen Coverdell, of Kalispell; stepchildren, Derrick McLauchlin and Cathy of Spokane; Eldon McLauchlin and Shelly of Spokane; and Sue Ellen and Doug Thorp of Kalispell; step-grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew and Brianna McLauchlin of Spokane; D.J. McLauchlin and Angela of Kalispell; Erica McLauchlin and Sean of Bozeman; Robert McLauchlin and Lindie of Virginia; Kevin McLauchlin and Marie of Spokane; Angie and Peter Adams of Tennessee; Lisa and Aaron Sanchez of Kennewick; and Craig Thorp of Kalispell. Don also leaves nine great-grandchildren, 13 step-grandchildren, and numerous relatives in Illinois.
A military honor guard and graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. A celebration of Don's life and potluck will follow at 2 p.m. at Central Bible Church, 902 First Ave. E., in Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Veterans Food Pantry, 1527 Montana 35 E., Kalispell, MT. "In memory of 'Chief' Donald R. Burns, CPO-U.S. Navy."
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for Don's ashes and family. To send condolences, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.