Donald Leach, 97

On March 21, 2023, Donald Leach died peacefully at his home in Upland, California of natural causes related to his age. He was 97 years old.

Donald is survived by his children, Linda Parker of Loudon, Tenn., Calvin Donald Leach of Wales, Utah, Cary Leach of Upland, Calif., Sharon Malmstrom of Hillsboro, Ore., and David Leach of Anaconda. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, by his first wife, Dawn Delight Slagle, and by his second wife, Helen Rosemary Vitt Leach, and his son, Rodney Duane Leach.

Donald was born on Sept. 26, 1925 in Casper, Wyoming. He attended elementary school and high school in Whitefish before entering military service in 1941 with the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II on the USS Copahee in the Philippines and was discharged in January of 1946.

Donald married Dawn Delight Slagle in November of 1944 during his basic training in Long Beach, Calif. They welcomed Linda in 1945 and divorced in 1945. After his discharge from the Navy, Donald returned to Whitefish. He later met Helen Rosemary Vitt and they were married on March 12, 1948. They welcomed Calvin Donald in 1949, Cary Bruce in 1951, Sharon Anne in 1953, David Allen in 1955 and Rodney Duane in 1957.

Donald and Helen made their home and raised their children in Whitefish and Columbia Falls. Donald coached the Haines Rexall Drug Little League baseball team in Whitefish, and the Anaconda Aluminum Company little league baseball team in Columbia Falls, while his sons were active in Little League baseball.

Donald worked for a time on the construction of the Hungry Horse Dam and later learned the upholstery trade in which he worked along with Helen for the remainder of his life until he retired in 2011.