Theodore Ted Edward McDonald, 86

Theodore Ted Edward McDonald passed away at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls on Dec. 31, 2009, at the age of 86, after a massive stroke Dec. 5. Born on Nov. 4, 1923, in Geyser, he attended Great Falls and Cascade schools where he ran track. He enlisted in the Navy in 1945, trained at Farragut, Idaho, where he was a boxing champion, and served onboard the USS Concord, a light cruiser, in the radioroom. After the service, he returned to Montana and worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association as a milk tester throughout Lewis and Clark counties. He married Gloria Stuebe of Bigfork. They lived in Helena where son Lee was born in 1950, and Ted worked at East Helena Smelter, then Rocker Mine Framing Mill. They moved to Butte in 1952 where son Mark was born, then to Anaconda where daughter Lynn Ann was born in 1954. The family moved to the Flathead where son Joe was born in 1960. Ted worked at the Superior Mill until he was able to find work at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant where he worked until he retired at age 62. Ted enjoyed watching boxing matches and playing chess, with individuals and in tournaments, winning the Montana Chess tournament while his son Lee was Montana Junior Chess Champion. Since his retirement, Ted and wife Gloria built a two-story house with help from family and a neighbor/contractor. Ted is survived by his wife, Gloria, of Columbia Falls; three sons, Lee and Mark of Bellingham, Wash., and Joseph of Kalispell; and one daughter, Lynn Stone, of Petersburg, Alaska. He is also survived by sister, Kay Walrack, of Nevada. A visitation will take place from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with a service during the visitiation at 2 p.m., officiated by Rev. Darrell Newby.