Don was born on May 1, 1928, the son of John and Jessie May (Arnold) Pridgeon in Newcastle, Wyoming. He was raised in Newcastle and graduated from Newcastle High School class of 1946. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps proudly serving as a Marine MP in Guam during the WWII clean up actions. Don married Gladys Kuemmerle, of Upton, Wyoming in Custer, South Dakota on July 23, 1949. During their marriage they had a son, Herb, and two daughters, Glenda and Mary.

Don worked in the Newcastle and Gillette area oil fields and was a Farm Bureau Insurance agent. Don and Gladys purchased and operated Big D Sanitation serving the Northeast Wyoming area in the energy and mining industries until their retirement in 1995.

Don had many hobbies and enjoyed carpentry, hunting, fishing and pulling water skiers. Later he enjoyed learning computer skills so he could view and print pictures of his grandchildren. The most important thing to Don was his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was the cornerstone for his family's faith and integrity, a basis from which they all grew. Don's love for his wife Gladys was unwavering, and he was a steadfast source of strength and love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW and Elks.

Don will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends, but especially his wife of 56 years, Gladys of Gillette, Wyoming; son Herb and his wife Elsie of Gillette, Wyoming; daughter, Glenda and her husband Rod Warne of Gillette, Wyoming and daughter, Mary and her husband Danny James of Lehigh Acres, Florida. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Chrissy (Pridgeon) and Paul Bickett of Madison, Wisconsin; Mike and Shelli (Daniels) James of Chapmanville, West Virginia; Tonya (Pridgeon) and Brian Anderberg of Mitchell, South Dakota; Ryan and Sarah (Edwards) Warne of Gillette, Wyoming; Dusty James of Lehigh Acres, Florida and Heather (James) and Gerey Dillinger of Gillette, Wyoming. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Henry, George and Richard and five sisters: Eva Cummings, Edna Morris, Pearle Dixon, Gladys Ware and Minnie Lynch.