Douglas Everett Potts, 86

Douglas Everett Potts, 86, “went to be with the Lord” on April 11, 2011, at Heritage Place, with his family by his side.

Doug was born on Oct. 12, 1924, in Glasgow, to Stanley and Lula (Putnam) Potts. 

The family moved to the Bigfork area in 1936 and he was raised on the family farm. Doug attended Swan River School and graduated from Bigfork High School in 1942.

On Sept. 3, 1947, Doug married Dorothy Butterfield from Bigfork. A few years afterward, Doug had a passion to milk cows. Besides milking his own cows, he started a milk route, picking up and delivering milk to the milk plant from local dairy farms. He eventually expanded into bottling his own milk and delivered to stores and schools. Local neighbors would come to the "Potts Farm" and pick up their milk.

In the late ‘60s, Doug sold the dairy farm and wanted a new adventure, and in 1973 moved to Alberta where he farmed and ranched for 30 to 35 years, and owned and operated Sunrise Gulf Service Station in the mix for 15 years, before retiring.

They did seem to sneak away for a few trips like Mexico, Las Vegas, Hawaii and a month in Alaska. They returned to the Bigfork area in June of 2008.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Lula Potts; son-in-law, Brian Cislo; grandson, Dusty Drown; and granddaughter, Amanda Drown.

Doug is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy, at their Bigfork home; seven children, Dixie Rich and husband Jerry, Les Potts and wife Joyce, Clyde Potts and wife Barb, Lyle Potts and wife Nan, Denise Belt and husband Kipp, and Lesa Cislo and Kevin Sears, all of Bigfork, and Dale Potts and wife Margaret of Alberta; one brother, Harry, and wife, Marianna, of Bigfork; and two sisters, Julia Wise and Dorcas Louden of Kalispell; 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 18, at the Little Brown Church, officiated by the Rev. Ron Pierce, with burial to follow services at Lonepine Cemetery. There will be a reception immediately following the graveside service at the Swan River Hall.

The family requests any donations to be made in memory of Douglas Potts to a charity of their choice; or Bethel Chapel, 165 Williams Lane, Bigfork, MT 59911; or to the Swan River Hall.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Doug's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Doug's tribute wall.