|
Donald Malon Peterson |
|
June 2, 1929 ~ June 21, 2017 |
|
June 22, 2017 |
Donald M. Peterson, 88, passed away on June 21,
2017, at Life Care Center in Sandpoint. There
will be a gathering in his memory at Oden Hall,
143 Sunnyside Road, Sandpoint on July 15th from
2 to 6 p.m. Please join us to share stories and
remembrances of his wonderful life.
He was born June 2, 1929, at home in Sandpoint,
one of nine children, to M.S. (Pete) Peterson
and E.M. (Margaret) Peterson. The family moved
to the Selle area when he was young. He
graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1949. He
entered the Air Force in 1950 and served until
1954, mostly stationed in England.
Don married Erma Lee Morris December 27, 1956,
at her parents’ home near Naples. They had two
boys, Shane and Scott.
Upon returning to Idaho from the Air Force, he
resumed working for the U.S. Forest Service. The
family moved around northern Idaho when Don was
transferred to various ranger districts. He
spent most of his career fighting fires all
around the west, running hotshot crews and
serving on fire crews as line boss and service
chief.
Finally, the family settled in Bonners Ferry in
1970, where Don was the Fire Control Officer
until his retirement in 1983.
Retirement meant he now had time to fish and
hunt, plus help many friends and neighbors with
chores around their places. This kept him busy
until this past year when he finally slowed
down.
Don always enjoyed the outdoors and in
particular, fishing. He was out fishing one fine
May day when the sky darkened and ash began to
fall. When Shane and Scott came to check on him,
following their mother's concern, Don said he
assumed something had happened but the fishing
was too good to quit.
It was May 18, 1980, and Mt. St. Helens had
erupted.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Erma
Lee, sons Shane (Janet) and Scott (Christine),
all of Naples. He is also survived by a brother
Duane (Alice) and sister Jean (Willard) of
Sandpoint, sisters Fay Harmon of Rainier Oregon
and Marge (Jim) Holand of Pinehurst, Idaho.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents,
sisters Mertys Spencer and Dee Kegley, and
brothers Chuck and Roland. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
