Donald M. Hamilton

Donald M. (Don, DM) Hamilton passed away on December 16th at the age of 96. He was the youngest of four kids and was born on May 22, 1928 in Great Falls to Susan and Frank Hamilton. He and his siblings were raised on a dry-land farm near Belt MT, where Don attended Ross School, a one-room, one-teacher schoolhouse for all grades. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1946. During his senior year, Don enlisted in the US Navy. The day after graduating from high school he was on his way to San Diego for basic training. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Don moved back to Great Falls and went to work for the Motor Truck Division of International Harvester Company. In 1950 he was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict and served his second tour on the USS Eaton. After his second discharge as a Machinist Mate First Class, he again returned to Great Falls and went back to work for International Harvester. 

Don married Audrie Bennett in 1951 and had four sons in that marriage, which ended in 1974. His first son Greg was born in Great Falls. In 1954 Don was promoted within International Harvester and transferred to Missoula as the Sales Manager for western Montana and northern Idaho. His other three sons, Steve, Brent and Stan were all born in Missoula. In 1961 Don became a partner and Vice President of Missoula Truck Sales, an International Harvester truck dealership. He continued his partnership there until his retirement in 1993.

Don married Sharon Miller in 1984. With this union came two grown daughters, Debra and Stacey Miller, both close in age to his sons. Those Hamilton boys finally had the sisters they had wanted.

During his retirement, Don and Sharon enjoyed traveling the country seeing new places, visiting family members, and heading south for the winters. They treasured spending time at their home on Flathead Lake with family and friends. Don enjoyed hunting and fishing adventures and cherished his trips to Washington, Alaska and Canada pursuing Salmon or Pike with his wife, sons, grandchildren and many friends, new and old. Don was very handy; he could fix almost anything and would do so even if the cost to fix it exceeded the cost to buy a new one. He was also always very wise with his money. He would get the fence at their home on Pattee Creek Drive painted each summer by his sons and 8 or 10 of their neighborhood friends. For about $10 worth of banana splits from the DQ, the fence would get painted in about two hours. The kids thought they had hit the jackpot, and Don got his fence painted.

When Don turned 90 years old, Sharon, his sons, daughters and grandchildren held a (sort of) surprise birthday party for him in Missoula. There were almost 100 attendees from all around the country. The person traveling the furthest for this celebration was Dean Forney, from Gainesville TX. Don was deeply loved and is already sorely missed.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Susan Hamilton, his three siblings (Virginia Dickman, Jim Hamilton and Betty Scott), son Brent and daughter Debra. He is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Sharon of Missoula, as well as sons Greg (Donna) of Missoula, Steve (Ilene) of Bothell WA, Stan (Sandy) of Post Falls ID and daughter Stacey of Missoula. He is also survived by grandchildren Errin Avila (Peter) of Escondido CA, Holli Hamilton (Aaron Smith) of Medical Lake WA, Kelsey Sherwin (Jonathan) of Henderson NV, Graham Hamilton (Raleigh) of Clinton WA, Elizabeth Holman (Daniel) of Northbend WA, Madelyn Hamilton of Twisp WA, Meagan Hamilton of Marysville WA, Bryan Atherton (Kat) of Spokane WA and Rachel Kaufman (Mike Howard) of Missoula. Survivors also include numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, best friend Walt Graf of Missoula and of course, Don’s and Sharon’s beloved Beagle Sassy.

Over the years, Don accumulated numerous nicknames; Red (at one time he had auburn colored hair), Big Red, the Big Red Iron Man, DM, Don Hamilton-Friend of the Working Man, and Redneck, to name a few. There are good stories behind all of them.

At 4:00 pm on the day you read this, please raise an ice cold can of Bud Light in honor and memory of Don Hamilton, a wonderful man who lived a good and honest life.

Cremation has taken place. No service has been planned.