Donald A. 'Duke' Bedford, 83

Donald A. "Duke" Bedford passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at his home in Bigfork, with his wife, Joan, by his side.

He was born in Eagle Rock, Calif., on April 27, 1927, to Arba and Mildred Bedford.

After graduating high school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945. He was sent to the Pacific, China and California. He entered college in Glendale, Calif., went on to Oregon State, and graduated from USC in Los Angeles in 1952. He played pro baseball, minor leagues in Washington and Oregon.

He was married briefly and has a son, Matthew.

His career switched to banking in San Mateo, Calif., where he met his second wife, Joan, and they married on March 26, 1960. They became active members of the unique theatrical group called "The Claypipers," where they conducted the rehearsals in the Bay Area and took their show up to the Mother Lode country on weekends where, by triple casting, they performed old-time melodramas and olios. "Show biz" was in their blood ever after, with Duke playing a hero, then a villain.

In 1964 they moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, where Duke was in hotel management. Their daughter, Alyson Anne, was born there in 1966. Duke bought a home in Ketchum, Idaho, and became part-owner of a restaurant in nearby Hailey.

On a vacation to Bigfork in 1973, they decided to make that their home    and bought an apartment complex to own and manage.

In all his moves, the love of music kept him involved in bands playing drums, trumpet for the USC marching band and trumpet in the Don Lawrence Orchestra (originally the Rob ‘N Hoods) as well as being a vocalist for 20 years.

Through the years, he had been a member of the Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, volunteered in law enforcement, District Court, Flathead Sheriff’s Posse, Musicians Union and Sigma Chi Fraternity.

Duke was a member of the Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Robert Bedford; and nephew, Richard Bedford.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter, Alyson Baldwin; grandson, Maxim, of Everett, Wash.; and son, Matthew Rand of Northfield, Minn.  

Memorial services are pending.