Donald A Cooper
courtesy photo
Donald Cooper
POLSON — Donald A Cooper, 93, of Polson passed away Monday, Dec. 15, at his home with his loving wife and best friend, Alice Joan, by his bedside.
Don was born on Dec. 1, 1921, in Townsend. He was the son of Walter H. Cooper and Esther J. Cooper. He had five brothers and seven sisters.
In Polson, on June 24, 1950, he married Alice Joan Combs. In their 64 years of marriage together they raised eight children. In 1968 Don packed up his wife and kids and moved from Polson to Lewistown to fulfill his lifelong dream of starting a family lumber mill. With his wife keeping the books and his kids working after school at the mill, he built a thriving business in the community.
In 1979 Don and Alice moved back to Polson, where he built their family home.
Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved country western music, dancing, spending time with his family and friends, the great outdoors of Montana, fishing and hunting and gardening. He was a lifelong woodsman, carpenter and mill man. Don was known as a jack-of-all-trades and could fix just about anything. We will miss going out to his shop, warming up by the wood stove and seeing what he was working on that day.
Survivors include his wife Alice Joan of Polson; his brother Gary (Ramona) of Las Vegas; five sons: Donnie, Jack (Roxie) of Polson, Doug (Lori) of Trout Creek, Wayne (Carol) of Spokane, Howard of Great Falls; two daughters: Bonnie (Dave) DaRold of Winters, California and Janet (Jeff) Miyatake of Salt Lake City, Utah; fifteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by the tragic loss of his son David Roger in 1981; his mother Esther J. Cooper; his father Walter H. Cooper; four brothers and seven sisters.
As best said by his nephew, Vern Combs, “Don had a positive impact on so many lives. He was such a humble man who enriched everyone around him. He will be missed.”
Thanks to each and every one of you for helping us through this most difficult time.
A celebration of Don’s life is planned in late March at the North Crow Club House. Details are pending.
Messages of condolences may be sent to: www.groganfuneralhome.com.
