Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson
1921 - 2008
VETERAN
Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson, 87, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 10, 1921, to George Acheson and Anna Miller in Howard, Kan., he lived and worked on the family farm along with one brother Robert and his sister Ruth. He attended a one-room schoolhouse as a young boy and went on to graduate from high school in 1938. Later that fall, he attended aviation school in Wichita, Kan., and then moved to California in December to work at Douglas Aircraft Co. He left in August 1942 to join the Navy and served as a cook 3rd Class until he was honorably discharged in December 1945. During his service at sea he visited 22 countries and was a veteran of World War II.
After his discharge from the military, he went to work on the family farm in Ottumwa, Iowa, for a brief time before going to work at John Deere. In Ottumwa, he met and married Catherine, his wife of 57 years, May 24, 1947. They later had one daughter, Mary Ellen, on Sept. 10, 1949.
In 1951, they moved to Missoula, where Don worked at Intermountain Lumber Co. Cathy owned and instructed at the Modern Beauty School beginning in 1956 and Don joined her as an instructor in 1958. They worked side by side for 35 years before retiring and selling the school in 1993.
Don served in many local organizations, most notably as a charter member of the Sentinel Lodge No. 155 for 50 years. He also was a past Watchman Shepherd of White Shrine and a past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Bethel No. 1. Recently, Don had been a volunteer delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and was honored in 2007 as Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Don was very proud of his family, especially his two great-grandsons, and played an integral role in the raising of his two grandchildren. He loved to garden, walk his dog Sage, participate in family gatherings, tell jokes, and eat ice cream. Over the last few years, he loved to travel, taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico. He also went to Nova Scotia, Canada and Boston to view the changing colors of autumn, and in 2006 took his family on a land-cruise tour of Alaska.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, his sister and brother.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Ellen Denton and son-in-law Bill Denton of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; granddaughter Miri Disney-Faller, husband Travis and great-grandson Dawson William of Missoula; grandson, William McLaren Disney, wife Katie and great-grandson Alexander McLaren of Post Falls, Idaho; niece Diana Fairchild and husband Ray of Shellsburg, Iowa; nephews Paul Handy of Fremont, Iowa, David Woofter and wife Sandra of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Jim O'Neil and wife Donna of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; cousin Janet Stewart of Fort Meyers, Fla.; as well as numerous friends; caring neighbors; and his constant canine companion, Sage.
Full military burial will take place later this fall, following completion of the Veteran's Cemetery.
1921 - 2008
VETERAN
Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson, 87, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 10, 1921, to George Acheson and Anna Miller in Howard, Kan., he lived and worked on the family farm along with one brother Robert and his sister Ruth. He attended a one-room schoolhouse as a young boy and went on to graduate from high school in 1938. Later that fall, he attended aviation school in Wichita, Kan., and then moved to California in December to work at Douglas Aircraft Co. He left in August 1942 to join the Navy and served as a cook 3rd Class until he was honorably discharged in December 1945. During his service at sea he visited 22 countries and was a veteran of World War II.
After his discharge from the military, he went to work on the family farm in Ottumwa, Iowa, for a brief time before going to work at John Deere. In Ottumwa, he met and married Catherine, his wife of 57 years, May 24, 1947. They later had one daughter, Mary Ellen, on Sept. 10, 1949.
In 1951, they moved to Missoula, where Don worked at Intermountain Lumber Co. Cathy owned and instructed at the Modern Beauty School beginning in 1956 and Don joined her as an instructor in 1958. They worked side by side for 35 years before retiring and selling the school in 1993.
Don served in many local organizations, most notably as a charter member of the Sentinel Lodge No. 155 for 50 years. He also was a past Watchman Shepherd of White Shrine and a past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Bethel No. 1. Recently, Don had been a volunteer delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and was honored in 2007 as Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Don was very proud of his family, especially his two great-grandsons, and played an integral role in the raising of his two grandchildren. He loved to garden, walk his dog Sage, participate in family gatherings, tell jokes, and eat ice cream. Over the last few years, he loved to travel, taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico. He also went to Nova Scotia, Canada and Boston to view the changing colors of autumn, and in 2006 took his family on a land-cruise tour of Alaska.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, his sister and brother.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Ellen Denton and son-in-law Bill Denton of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; granddaughter Miri Disney-Faller, husband Travis and great-grandson Dawson William of Missoula; grandson, William McLaren Disney, wife Katie and great-grandson Alexander McLaren of Post Falls, Idaho; niece Diana Fairchild and husband Ray of Shellsburg, Iowa; nephews Paul Handy of Fremont, Iowa, David Woofter and wife Sandra of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Jim O'Neil and wife Donna of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; cousin Janet Stewart of Fort Meyers, Fla.; as well as numerous friends; caring neighbors; and his constant canine companion, Sage.
Full military burial will take place later this fall, following completion of the Veteran's Cemetery.
Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson
1921 - 2008
VETERAN
Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson, 87, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 10, 1921, to George Acheson and Anna Miller in Howard, Kan., he lived and worked on the family farm along with one brother Robert and his sister Ruth. He attended a one-room schoolhouse as a young boy and went on to graduate from high school in 1938. Later that fall, he attended aviation school in Wichita, Kan., and then moved to California in December to work at Douglas Aircraft Co. He left in August 1942 to join the Navy and served as a cook 3rd Class until he was honorably discharged in December 1945. During his service at sea he visited 22 countries and was a veteran of World War II.
After his discharge from the military, he went to work on the family farm in Ottumwa, Iowa, for a brief time before going to work at John Deere. In Ottumwa, he met and married Catherine, his wife of 57 years, May 24, 1947. They later had one daughter, Mary Ellen, on Sept. 10, 1949.
In 1951, they moved to Missoula, where Don worked at Intermountain Lumber Co. Cathy owned and instructed at the Modern Beauty School beginning in 1956 and Don joined her as an instructor in 1958. They worked side by side for 35 years before retiring and selling the school in 1993.
Don served in many local organizations, most notably as a charter member of the Sentinel Lodge No. 155 for 50 years. He also was a past Watchman Shepherd of White Shrine and a past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Bethel No. 1. Recently, Don had been a volunteer delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and was honored in 2007 as Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Don was very proud of his family, especially his two great-grandsons, and played an integral role in the raising of his two grandchildren. He loved to garden, walk his dog Sage, participate in family gatherings, tell jokes, and eat ice cream. Over the last few years, he loved to travel, taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico. He also went to Nova Scotia, Canada and Boston to view the changing colors of autumn, and in 2006 took his family on a land-cruise tour of Alaska.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, his sister and brother.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Ellen Denton and son-in-law Bill Denton of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; granddaughter Miri Disney-Faller, husband Travis and great-grandson Dawson William of Missoula; grandson, William McLaren Disney, wife Katie and great-grandson Alexander McLaren of Post Falls, Idaho; niece Diana Fairchild and husband Ray of Shellsburg, Iowa; nephews Paul Handy of Fremont, Iowa, David Woofter and wife Sandra of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Jim O'Neil and wife Donna of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; cousin Janet Stewart of Fort Meyers, Fla.; as well as numerous friends; caring neighbors; and his constant canine companion, Sage.
Full military burial will take place later this fall, following completion of the Veteran's Cemetery.
1921 - 2008
VETERAN
Donald McLaren "Don" Acheson, 87, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by his family.
Born Feb. 10, 1921, to George Acheson and Anna Miller in Howard, Kan., he lived and worked on the family farm along with one brother Robert and his sister Ruth. He attended a one-room schoolhouse as a young boy and went on to graduate from high school in 1938. Later that fall, he attended aviation school in Wichita, Kan., and then moved to California in December to work at Douglas Aircraft Co. He left in August 1942 to join the Navy and served as a cook 3rd Class until he was honorably discharged in December 1945. During his service at sea he visited 22 countries and was a veteran of World War II.
After his discharge from the military, he went to work on the family farm in Ottumwa, Iowa, for a brief time before going to work at John Deere. In Ottumwa, he met and married Catherine, his wife of 57 years, May 24, 1947. They later had one daughter, Mary Ellen, on Sept. 10, 1949.
In 1951, they moved to Missoula, where Don worked at Intermountain Lumber Co. Cathy owned and instructed at the Modern Beauty School beginning in 1956 and Don joined her as an instructor in 1958. They worked side by side for 35 years before retiring and selling the school in 1993.
Don served in many local organizations, most notably as a charter member of the Sentinel Lodge No. 155 for 50 years. He also was a past Watchman Shepherd of White Shrine and a past Associate Guardian of Jobs Daughters, Bethel No. 1. Recently, Don had been a volunteer delivery driver for Meals on Wheels and was honored in 2007 as Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Don was very proud of his family, especially his two great-grandsons, and played an integral role in the raising of his two grandchildren. He loved to garden, walk his dog Sage, participate in family gatherings, tell jokes, and eat ice cream. Over the last few years, he loved to travel, taking cruises to Alaska and Mexico. He also went to Nova Scotia, Canada and Boston to view the changing colors of autumn, and in 2006 took his family on a land-cruise tour of Alaska.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, his sister and brother.
He is survived by his daughter Mary Ellen Denton and son-in-law Bill Denton of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; granddaughter Miri Disney-Faller, husband Travis and great-grandson Dawson William of Missoula; grandson, William McLaren Disney, wife Katie and great-grandson Alexander McLaren of Post Falls, Idaho; niece Diana Fairchild and husband Ray of Shellsburg, Iowa; nephews Paul Handy of Fremont, Iowa, David Woofter and wife Sandra of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Jim O'Neil and wife Donna of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; cousin Janet Stewart of Fort Meyers, Fla.; as well as numerous friends; caring neighbors; and his constant canine companion, Sage.
Full military burial will take place later this fall, following completion of the Veteran's Cemetery.
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