Donald K. Veile, 91

Don Veile passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015, with his wife by his side.

Don was born on Oct. 22, 1923, in Cooperstown, North Dakota, to Alice and Holger Veile.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army on Nov. 17, 1943, and received his basic training at Camp Blanding in Florida. He went overseas on June 6, 1944, and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, just after D-Day.  Don also saw combat in Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded in combat on July 30 and Nov. 17, 1944, and again on Feb. 28, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart with two Oak Clusters, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, two overseas service bars, No Time Lost Under AW107 (The Ruptured Duck), and a Good Conduct Citation. He served with the 29th and 116th Infantry. He received an honorable discharge on Oct. 28, 1945. He was proud to have served and fought for our great country and lived a good and long life.

Don married Myrtle Solsten on Dec. 15, 1951, in Valley City, North Dakota, and they raised four children. Don and his family settled in Whitefish in 1958, working for Harlow Chevrolet as a mechanic and subsequently at the aluminum plant in Columbia Falls where he retired in 1987.

Don is survived by his wife of 63 years, Myrtle; and children, Mavis and husband Bruce of Tucson, Arizona, Keith and wife Bonnie of Billings, Dennis and wife Barb of Reno, Nevada, and Dale and wife Mindy of Kalispell; and his sister, Norma Jean, of Cooperstown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Everett.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway in Whitefish. A reception will follow at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of choice.