Don Francis Dunwell –
Don Francis Dunwell, 82, passed away from kidney cancer on April 29, 2017, surrounded by family and friends at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, MT. Don was born on July 25, 1934, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula. He was the first of three sons of Leone and Francis Dunwell, and spent his childhood in Montana and Idaho where his Dad worked on the Hungry Horse, Fort Peck and Palisades Dam projects.
During the Korean conflict, Don served in the US Army 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper instructor at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA. He received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Senior Parachutist Badge.
He then attended the University of Montana and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts. While at UM, Don liked spinning records on the campus radio, playing early rock & roll, blues and jazz. He became a life-long UM Grizzly fan – with Griz apparel, license plates, season tickets and hoarse post-game voice to show for it.
Don enjoyed a long career as a television journalist that spanned more than half a century dedicated to the pursuit of truth and public interest. Don was the first to volunteer for challenging – even risky assignments, like covering conflict in Honduras in the late 1980s and organized crime in Louisiana. An active member of the Radio Television News Directors Association and Investigative Reporters & Editors, Don worked in radio and public TV in Wilmington, DE, Philadelphia and Columbus, OH. He took a brief detour as a Hollywood screenwriter, then back to TV news in Lake Charles, LA, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and in 2004, home to his beloved Montana for a job at KTVH-TV, Helena. There, he filled various roles of news director, reporter and producer/host of public affairs show “The Dunwell Report” until just days before his death. Don believed in a free press covering history in the making.
The Presidency of John F. Kennedy and message of community service influenced Don’s life. He belonged to American Legion, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus and Catholic Church where he was a lay minister and lector of scriptures. He volunteered for Boy Scouts and school activities.
Books Don Quixote and Once and Future King that he read in his early years sparked a life-long passion for reading and writing. Young Men and Fire moved him deeply.
He enjoyed other hobbies throughout his life, like fly fishing, photography, wine making, gourmet cooking and traveling. Don and his wife Mary Ann explored Greece, Egypt, ancient Mayan ruins, the back roads of wherever they were living, and with son John, camping near Banff, Canada and Montana’s marvelous places, like Many Glacier, Yellowstone, Badlands, and of course, the dams where he grew up.
Don was preceded in death by mother and father Leone and Francis Dunwell, and brother Jack Dunwell. He is survived by his wife of 35 years Mary Ann, their son John, brother Gary (Sandy) in NC, Don’s children from a previous marriage Scott (Karen) in AZ, Alexi Montana in AL, and Kevin (Monica) in CA, plus grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30th at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1502 Shirley Road. A luncheon reception will follow the Mass in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial with military honors will follow the reception at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name may be made to the Montana Historical Society, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59626, to any Veterans charity or to an organization of your choosing. “Good luck and God speed,” as Don would say. And in your loving memory, Don, “Go Griz!”
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Luncheon
Following the Mass
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
Following the Reception
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Rd.
Fort Harrison, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Luncheon
Following the Mass
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church
1502 Shirley Road
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
Following the Reception
Tuesday May 30, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Rd.
Fort Harrison, Montana 59602
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flossie shaw says
RIP. You will be missed by many.
Diane says
Mary Ann
I was sorry to learn that Don passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Don was a great person and will be missed by many people in and around Helena. With deepest sympathy Diane Pedersen
Bob Fletcher says
Met Don October, 1954 where we were assigned to the Advanced Airborne Group at Fort Benning, Ga. There we became members of the first army’s Pathfinder Team. For nearly 3yrs we parachuted all over Georgia and Alabama, from many different types of aircraft into swamps trees, high tension wires or wherever the plane’s crew came to the conclusion it was the proper drop zone. Many of these jumps were at night and getting together proved a challenge! Bottom line: Don’s friendship and personal influence was a very special time for me and created a mind set for me that led to a successful banking career! A SPECTACULAR person!!
Bob Fletcher, Salem, Oregon.
John Dunwell says
I miss you dad. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about you. The precious moments in my life that you’ve provided have given me motivation to be the man that I am today. I am continuing on. I will continue to be the man that you believed that I could be. I love you. I wish that you were here. I wish that you could read this. I understand the way that things are. I will carry on your stead, my beautiful father. Despite all your faults, I am your son. I will remain faithful to that I know you truly were.