Donald Joe Bedunah, father, husband, friend, ecologist, academic, and adventurer, died suddenly Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at his home in Lolo.
His wife Mo Gary and son Andrew were by his side. The cause of death was heart failure. He was 59 years young.
Jack and Doris Bedunah welcomed their beautiful son in Longview, Texas, on Feb. 23, 1952. Don was the second son and had three brothers who are still living.
Don attended and graduated from schools in Fort Worth. He received his bachelor's degree in range science from Texas A&M University in 1975 (magna cum laude), a master of science in range science from Colorado State University in 1977 and a range management Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1981.
Don's career as a grassland ecologist and academic brought him to Missoula in 1981, where he began his work with the University of Montana School of Forestry. Don published more than 45 professional papers and was an editor for both the Journal of Range Management and the text "Rangelands of Central Asia." Don created a diverse and beautiful native garden in his backyard.
Don's work allowed him a view of many of the world's grand and remote native grasslands: from Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountain front to Mongolia's Gobi Desert, the high-elevation and rugged Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. In western China he conducted rangeland studies in Wild Yak Valley, the Kharteng Valley and throughout the Kunlun Mountains. His most recent international work focused on a project on China's Tibetan Plateau with additional consultancies in Azerbaijan. Don was held in great esteem by the international community of range scientists.
Don was a tireless worker in the field, often returning late in the evening to camp from a day's long trek collecting plant specimens and assessing range conditions. Only after carefully examining the day's collection would he retire to his tent. He cared deeply about the world's increasingly stressed ecosystems, the people, particularly simple pastoralists, who lived on them, and the wild flora and fauna of which they were a part. He was a patient and compassionate mentor of aspiring scientists and land managers from around the world.
For those of us fortunate enough to know and spend time with him, what was most remarkable, outshining his professional achievements, was Don's ability to calmly share his humility, grace, strength and humor with family, friends, students and strangers. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had him in our lives. He will be missed immeasurably.
Don's greatest joys were his family, friends and cherished days outside. From boyhood Don found a great passion camping, hunting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, taking family and friends on the simple Bitterroot and Blackfoot as well as hair-raising trips down the Alberton Gorge and the Lochsa. Don's most profound sorrow was the loss of son Michael. He found solace hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains. Time, family, friends and peaceful escapes to the natural world, coupled with the love of Mo Gary, helped restore him.
When Don and Mo met, they found a kindred spirit that became the love of their lives. They sea kayaked in the Baja, rode camels in Egypt, toured the red-light district in Amsterdam and hiked the mountains of western China. Everywhere they traveled they made sure to know the word for beer.
It was his sons and grandchildren who gave him the greatest joy. Last summer his son Dylan and daughter-in-law Stephanie, along with their children, came from Texas. Don introduced his grandchildren to river camping on the Blackfoot. The boys got thrills and chills kayaking with their "granddon" on the white water. Addylan danced her way deep into his heart. The following winter he strengthened his relationship with his son Andrew hunting in the east fork of the Bitterroot.
Don is survived by his wife Mo Gary and son Andrew of Lolo; son Dylan (Stephanie) and grandchildren Cade (12), Brock (9) and Addylan (5) of Texas; mother Doris of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers Steve (Melisa), Mark and John (Pam) and several nieces and nephews, all from Texas; as well as lifelong friends Chris Kennon and Greg Kennett and an array of long-term friends, colleagues, travelers and wanderers who attended dinners, hunts, hikes, classrooms, symposiums, and those divine evenings under the stars, around campfires. His family is grateful for his dear friends who have taken great care of us.
His wife Mo Gary and son Andrew were by his side. The cause of death was heart failure. He was 59 years young.
Jack and Doris Bedunah welcomed their beautiful son in Longview, Texas, on Feb. 23, 1952. Don was the second son and had three brothers who are still living.
Don attended and graduated from schools in Fort Worth. He received his bachelor's degree in range science from Texas A&M University in 1975 (magna cum laude), a master of science in range science from Colorado State University in 1977 and a range management Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1981.
Don's career as a grassland ecologist and academic brought him to Missoula in 1981, where he began his work with the University of Montana School of Forestry. Don published more than 45 professional papers and was an editor for both the Journal of Range Management and the text "Rangelands of Central Asia." Don created a diverse and beautiful native garden in his backyard.
Don's work allowed him a view of many of the world's grand and remote native grasslands: from Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountain front to Mongolia's Gobi Desert, the high-elevation and rugged Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. In western China he conducted rangeland studies in Wild Yak Valley, the Kharteng Valley and throughout the Kunlun Mountains. His most recent international work focused on a project on China's Tibetan Plateau with additional consultancies in Azerbaijan. Don was held in great esteem by the international community of range scientists.
Don was a tireless worker in the field, often returning late in the evening to camp from a day's long trek collecting plant specimens and assessing range conditions. Only after carefully examining the day's collection would he retire to his tent. He cared deeply about the world's increasingly stressed ecosystems, the people, particularly simple pastoralists, who lived on them, and the wild flora and fauna of which they were a part. He was a patient and compassionate mentor of aspiring scientists and land managers from around the world.
For those of us fortunate enough to know and spend time with him, what was most remarkable, outshining his professional achievements, was Don's ability to calmly share his humility, grace, strength and humor with family, friends, students and strangers. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had him in our lives. He will be missed immeasurably.
Don's greatest joys were his family, friends and cherished days outside. From boyhood Don found a great passion camping, hunting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, taking family and friends on the simple Bitterroot and Blackfoot as well as hair-raising trips down the Alberton Gorge and the Lochsa. Don's most profound sorrow was the loss of son Michael. He found solace hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains. Time, family, friends and peaceful escapes to the natural world, coupled with the love of Mo Gary, helped restore him.
When Don and Mo met, they found a kindred spirit that became the love of their lives. They sea kayaked in the Baja, rode camels in Egypt, toured the red-light district in Amsterdam and hiked the mountains of western China. Everywhere they traveled they made sure to know the word for beer.
It was his sons and grandchildren who gave him the greatest joy. Last summer his son Dylan and daughter-in-law Stephanie, along with their children, came from Texas. Don introduced his grandchildren to river camping on the Blackfoot. The boys got thrills and chills kayaking with their "granddon" on the white water. Addylan danced her way deep into his heart. The following winter he strengthened his relationship with his son Andrew hunting in the east fork of the Bitterroot.
Don is survived by his wife Mo Gary and son Andrew of Lolo; son Dylan (Stephanie) and grandchildren Cade (12), Brock (9) and Addylan (5) of Texas; mother Doris of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers Steve (Melisa), Mark and John (Pam) and several nieces and nephews, all from Texas; as well as lifelong friends Chris Kennon and Greg Kennett and an array of long-term friends, colleagues, travelers and wanderers who attended dinners, hunts, hikes, classrooms, symposiums, and those divine evenings under the stars, around campfires. His family is grateful for his dear friends who have taken great care of us.
Donald Joe Bedunah, father, husband, friend, ecologist, academic, and adventurer, died suddenly Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at his home in Lolo.
His wife Mo Gary and son Andrew were by his side. The cause of death was heart failure. He was 59 years young.
Jack and Doris Bedunah welcomed their beautiful son in Longview, Texas, on Feb. 23, 1952. Don was the second son and had three brothers who are still living.
Don attended and graduated from schools in Fort Worth. He received his bachelor's degree in range science from Texas A&M University in 1975 (magna cum laude), a master of science in range science from Colorado State University in 1977 and a range management Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1981.
Don's career as a grassland ecologist and academic brought him to Missoula in 1981, where he began his work with the University of Montana School of Forestry. Don published more than 45 professional papers and was an editor for both the Journal of Range Management and the text "Rangelands of Central Asia." Don created a diverse and beautiful native garden in his backyard.
Don's work allowed him a view of many of the world's grand and remote native grasslands: from Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountain front to Mongolia's Gobi Desert, the high-elevation and rugged Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. In western China he conducted rangeland studies in Wild Yak Valley, the Kharteng Valley and throughout the Kunlun Mountains. His most recent international work focused on a project on China's Tibetan Plateau with additional consultancies in Azerbaijan. Don was held in great esteem by the international community of range scientists.
Don was a tireless worker in the field, often returning late in the evening to camp from a day's long trek collecting plant specimens and assessing range conditions. Only after carefully examining the day's collection would he retire to his tent. He cared deeply about the world's increasingly stressed ecosystems, the people, particularly simple pastoralists, who lived on them, and the wild flora and fauna of which they were a part. He was a patient and compassionate mentor of aspiring scientists and land managers from around the world.
For those of us fortunate enough to know and spend time with him, what was most remarkable, outshining his professional achievements, was Don's ability to calmly share his humility, grace, strength and humor with family, friends, students and strangers. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had him in our lives. He will be missed immeasurably.
Don's greatest joys were his family, friends and cherished days outside. From boyhood Don found a great passion camping, hunting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, taking family and friends on the simple Bitterroot and Blackfoot as well as hair-raising trips down the Alberton Gorge and the Lochsa. Don's most profound sorrow was the loss of son Michael. He found solace hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains. Time, family, friends and peaceful escapes to the natural world, coupled with the love of Mo Gary, helped restore him.
When Don and Mo met, they found a kindred spirit that became the love of their lives. They sea kayaked in the Baja, rode camels in Egypt, toured the red-light district in Amsterdam and hiked the mountains of western China. Everywhere they traveled they made sure to know the word for beer.
It was his sons and grandchildren who gave him the greatest joy. Last summer his son Dylan and daughter-in-law Stephanie, along with their children, came from Texas. Don introduced his grandchildren to river camping on the Blackfoot. The boys got thrills and chills kayaking with their "granddon" on the white water. Addylan danced her way deep into his heart. The following winter he strengthened his relationship with his son Andrew hunting in the east fork of the Bitterroot.
Don is survived by his wife Mo Gary and son Andrew of Lolo; son Dylan (Stephanie) and grandchildren Cade (12), Brock (9) and Addylan (5) of Texas; mother Doris of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers Steve (Melisa), Mark and John (Pam) and several nieces and nephews, all from Texas; as well as lifelong friends Chris Kennon and Greg Kennett and an array of long-term friends, colleagues, travelers and wanderers who attended dinners, hunts, hikes, classrooms, symposiums, and those divine evenings under the stars, around campfires. His family is grateful for his dear friends who have taken great care of us.
His wife Mo Gary and son Andrew were by his side. The cause of death was heart failure. He was 59 years young.
Jack and Doris Bedunah welcomed their beautiful son in Longview, Texas, on Feb. 23, 1952. Don was the second son and had three brothers who are still living.
Don attended and graduated from schools in Fort Worth. He received his bachelor's degree in range science from Texas A&M University in 1975 (magna cum laude), a master of science in range science from Colorado State University in 1977 and a range management Ph.D. from Texas Tech in 1981.
Don's career as a grassland ecologist and academic brought him to Missoula in 1981, where he began his work with the University of Montana School of Forestry. Don published more than 45 professional papers and was an editor for both the Journal of Range Management and the text "Rangelands of Central Asia." Don created a diverse and beautiful native garden in his backyard.
Don's work allowed him a view of many of the world's grand and remote native grasslands: from Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountain front to Mongolia's Gobi Desert, the high-elevation and rugged Wakhan Corridor in northeastern Afghanistan. In western China he conducted rangeland studies in Wild Yak Valley, the Kharteng Valley and throughout the Kunlun Mountains. His most recent international work focused on a project on China's Tibetan Plateau with additional consultancies in Azerbaijan. Don was held in great esteem by the international community of range scientists.
Don was a tireless worker in the field, often returning late in the evening to camp from a day's long trek collecting plant specimens and assessing range conditions. Only after carefully examining the day's collection would he retire to his tent. He cared deeply about the world's increasingly stressed ecosystems, the people, particularly simple pastoralists, who lived on them, and the wild flora and fauna of which they were a part. He was a patient and compassionate mentor of aspiring scientists and land managers from around the world.
For those of us fortunate enough to know and spend time with him, what was most remarkable, outshining his professional achievements, was Don's ability to calmly share his humility, grace, strength and humor with family, friends, students and strangers. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had him in our lives. He will be missed immeasurably.
Don's greatest joys were his family, friends and cherished days outside. From boyhood Don found a great passion camping, hunting, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, taking family and friends on the simple Bitterroot and Blackfoot as well as hair-raising trips down the Alberton Gorge and the Lochsa. Don's most profound sorrow was the loss of son Michael. He found solace hiking in the Bitterroot Mountains. Time, family, friends and peaceful escapes to the natural world, coupled with the love of Mo Gary, helped restore him.
When Don and Mo met, they found a kindred spirit that became the love of their lives. They sea kayaked in the Baja, rode camels in Egypt, toured the red-light district in Amsterdam and hiked the mountains of western China. Everywhere they traveled they made sure to know the word for beer.
It was his sons and grandchildren who gave him the greatest joy. Last summer his son Dylan and daughter-in-law Stephanie, along with their children, came from Texas. Don introduced his grandchildren to river camping on the Blackfoot. The boys got thrills and chills kayaking with their "granddon" on the white water. Addylan danced her way deep into his heart. The following winter he strengthened his relationship with his son Andrew hunting in the east fork of the Bitterroot.
Don is survived by his wife Mo Gary and son Andrew of Lolo; son Dylan (Stephanie) and grandchildren Cade (12), Brock (9) and Addylan (5) of Texas; mother Doris of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers Steve (Melisa), Mark and John (Pam) and several nieces and nephews, all from Texas; as well as lifelong friends Chris Kennon and Greg Kennett and an array of long-term friends, colleagues, travelers and wanderers who attended dinners, hunts, hikes, classrooms, symposiums, and those divine evenings under the stars, around campfires. His family is grateful for his dear friends who have taken great care of us.
Gravesite Details
Thank you to Brixton Wy for creating this memorial and the photo of Don.
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