Donald A. Bennett, 80

Donald A. Bennett was born Nov. 24, 1935, in Depree, South Dakota, to Charles and Elizabeth (Shorty) Bennett. He went “home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on Dec. 21, 2015.

He was raised on a small ranch where his family made music the center of their life and home. There was always “pickin’ and grinnin’.” Their door was open to any and all with the coffee pot on and a game of cards a necessity. Don loved to tell jokes and see people laugh.

He married the love of his life, Joan Sprenger, on Nov. 24, 1956, for a journey together of 59 years, adding five children along the way — Jeffrey, Melody, Staci, Grady and Joshua. He and Joan worked his dad’s ranch in South Dakota for four years, then headed to Canada to homestead, but the Lord had another plan. They settled in Seeley Lake, where he started working for the Forest Service, which led to 34 years of a life full of fun and adventures for him andhis family. He retired in 1993.

After three months of retirement, he began driving bus for Dale Duff, which led to 17 more years of an interesting career in commercial driving, ending with driving for the Kalispell School District, which he truly loved.

He loved his Lord, his family, music and people and was much loved in return by all he knew. He worked his little 25-acre ranch north of Kalispell that brought him lots of joy. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Melody Rae. He leaves behind his wife Joan, sons Jeffrey, Grady, Joshua, daughter Staci and their families that include eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Easthaven Baptist Church near Kalispell. Memorials may be made to Gideons International or Easthaven Bapist Church.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.