Donald Jesse Duncan, 81, Wibaux, passed away Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010, at the Wibaux County Nursing Home where he had been a resident for the past nine months.

A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wibaux with Reverend Roger Dieterle officiating. Interment will follow in the Wibaux Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Wibaux is entrusted with arrangements.

Don was born April 25, 1928, in Buffalo, Wyo., the son of Jesse and Emily (Nielsen) Duncan. They moved to Big Timber in 1941 where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber with the class of 1947. Don served with the U.S. Army in Korea from 1950 to 1952. He then returned to Big Timber where he met the love of his life, a young school teacher, Bonnie Johnson, from North Dakota.

On Jan. 3, 1956, Don was joined in marriage to Bonnie at the Daglum Lutheran Church in rural Stark County, N.D. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Twyla and Lori.

Don worked for Schultz and Meyer Construction building bridges, which took him and his family many places across Montana, New Mexico and Arizona. In 1972, Don and his family chose to settle in Wibaux.

Don was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish and camp. Whoever could keep up with Don was always welcome to come along. He planted a garden full of flowers and vegetables on his own dirt until his health started to fade. He belonged to the Carpenters’ Labor Union and served as their president. He also served as the V.H.W. vice president. He loved his family and enjoyed getting together for a good game of pinochle. Don was an inspiration to all and was honored by having a nephew, Don Nottingham, two granddaughters, Dawn Marie and Jessi Ray, and one great-grandson, Jared Duncan Gustafson, all named after him.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Cecil Nottingham and Grant Duncan; his sister, Jean Harper; and his great-uncle, Grant Nielson.

Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bonnie, Wibaux; his daughters, Twyla (Vic) Gustafson, Sidney, and Lori (Bob) Vogele, Fromberg; five grandchildren, Keith (Angela) Gustafson, Fairview, Pat (Stacey) Gustafson, Sidney, Dawn (Jason) Rehbein, Sidney, David (Erin) Gustafson, Fargo, N.D., and Jessi Vogle, Bozeman; and six great-grandchildren, Jared and Alexis Gustafson, Casey Rehbein, and Shay, Jaiden and Jaxson Gustafson.