Donald Lawrence, 94

Donald Jesse Lawrence was born in Loomis, South Dakota, on Dec. 27, 1929, to Marie Susan Wagner and Jesse Orville Lawrence. The family moved to Kalispell, when Don was still very young. There he grew up with brother Paul and sister Shirley.

In 1947 Don graduated from Flathead High School. Music was a big part of his life, so after graduation, he joined the Air Force Band. He was stationed in Texas where he met Barbara Knecht. They married just six weeks after they met and remained married for 69 years until Barbara’s death in October 2021. 

After leaving the Air Force, he earned a music education degree from the University of Montana. Son David was born in 1956 and in 1959 Don accepted a position teaching music to sixth-12th grades in Columbia Falls. Daughter Rebecca completed the family in 1961.

Don taught in Columbia Falls for 25 years until he retired in 1984. During his time there, he started the high school jazz band Columbians, a group that exists to this day. During his teaching career, he spent his summers working as a park ranger in Glacier National Park. Over the years, many of his musical compositions were inspired by his love of the park.

Upon his retirement, he took over a band that would come to be known as the Don Lawrence Orchestra. He also directed the Flathead Valley Community Band as well as founding the Brasswerks and the Big Horn Trio. When his brother Paul died, Don took over his band, The Bavarian Echos.

Don also enjoyed refinishing old furniture and was an active member of the Columbia Falls Lions Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Marie; wife, Barbara; son, David; brother, Paul; and son-in-law, Randy Bekkedahl.  

He is survived by daughter, Rebecca Bekkedahl; sister, Shirley Cardew; nephew, Jim (Jose); niece, Tracy; granddaughter, Sandra Mallis (Nick); great-grandchildren, Max, Maya, and Milo; sister-in-law, Barbara Lawrence; nieces, Gayle Hoehn, Paulette Lawrence and Susan Weins; and nephew, Neil Lawrence.

A celebration of life and a musical tribute to Don will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, at Marenette Park in Columbia Falls. Anyone who has ever played an instrument as part of a Don Lawrence organization is invited to bring it to participate in one giant mass band send-off at the end of the day.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for the family. To send online condolences please visit Don’s tribute page at www.columbiamortuary.com.