Donald Melvin Wickham, 86

Donald Melvin Wickham, 86, died on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, at Brendan House in Kalispell. Don was born on Feb. 15, 1924 in Rollins, Mont., to Doug and Ella (Memke) Wickham. He spent most of his life in the Flathead Valley. In 1942 Don enlisted in the Army, where he served in Europe during WWII. He served two more years in the reserve and was honorably discharged in 1946. Don returned to the Flathead Valley, where he started logging and doing heavy equipment mechanic work for Lum Owens. He retired after working for 50 years. In 1963, Don married Carrolfaye A. Keegan. Together they had two daughters, Darrissa Cowden and her husband, SFC Kenneth; and Dawndi Cameron and husband, Jay. Along with those children, surviving Don are four children from a previous marriage, Kenneth Keegan, Donna Glas and husband, Bill, Dianne Wickham and Kelly Wickham; sister Dorthea Lovering and her family; sister-in-law Betty Goeddertz, and her family; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carrolfaye, sister-in-law Arlee Snell, nephew Tim Goeddertz, and brother-in-law Harry Lovering. Don loved to fly his plane, and take aerial photographs. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, doing word-search puzzles, and spending time at Swan Lake. Don and his wife were into CB radios in the 1970s, and spent a lot of time traveling all over for CB Breaks. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today, Tuesday Aug. 17, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home with Chaplain Drew Buckner officiating. Military honors will follow the service in the parking lot. You are invited to go to www. buffalohillfh.com to sign Don s book or leave a personal message.