Donald Ferdinand Schwegman, 85

Donald Ferdinand Schwegman, 85, died on Monday, March 5, 2012, at the Grand Lake Villa in Grove, Okla.

Don was born on July 15, 1926, in Okarche, Okla. He proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II, then with the United States Army during the Korean War.

He and Elizabeth “Betsy” Johnston were united in marriage in Drexel Hill, Pa., on May 2, 1959, and then moved to the Dillon area.

Don attended Western Montana College and graduated in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree. He began teaching industrial arts at Kalispell Junior High in January 1975. For the next five years Don dedicated himself to enhancing the curriculum and made a huge impact on the lives of his students. He truly loved teaching and it was obvious that his students adored and respected him. In 1980, Don was injured in a car accident and was forced to retire early from teaching.

In 1984, Don and his wife Betsy relocated to Oklahoma. There he spent time enjoying his many hobbies, including fishing, making knives, leather work and vegetable gardening, to name a few.

Donald is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Schwegman, of Grove, Okla.; son, Jon Schwegman, of Marysville, Ohio; daughter, Barbie Townsell, and her husband, Tommy, of Cave Spring, Ga.; and daughter, Donna Wells, of Neosho, Mo.