Donald D. “Don” Creel, age 89, of Helena

Donald David Creel peacefully passed away Saturday, April 16, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He was suffering from complications following knee surgery.

Don was born to Donald Ivan Creel and Bertha Elizabeth “Bert” Wagner on April 10, 1927 in Havre, MT. He was the eldest of two children. His younger brother was Dale Creel.

His parents moved to Helena in the early 1940’s when his father began a new banking career.

Don graduated from Helena High School in 1945. He attended Carroll College for a brief time and served in the Navy at the end of World War II.

He married his wife, Claudia Mae Carbis, on February 2, 1951. In the 53 years of marriage, they had four children, Mary Beth, David, Richard J. (deceased 1984) and Robert.

In Don’s younger years, he had several jobs before signing with the Montana Army National Guard in the later 50’s. He served in the guard full time as a civil service technician until he retired in 1983, continuing the part time side until August 25, 1984.

During Don’s career with the guard, he experienced several memorable times. In the 60’s he spent time serving the State of Montana providing support with many forest fires, and state institutions when the employees went on strike. His guard unit also had the opportunity on two occasions to go to Germany for their annual training.

After Don’s retirement, he took up wood working to fill his hours. He created so many wonderful projects for his family as gifts……planes, trains, boats, jewelry boxes and many, many more. All of which will be cherished by everyone. He also made a dispenser for M&M’s, (yum). His final project was complete just weeks before his passing. It was a treasure chest for his great grandson Dylan.

The family all shared many wonderful memories of all the camping trips up Kading Gulch, Lincoln area just to name a couple that filled most of our summer weekends. These memories were shared with so many other life-long family friends. They spent many hours fishing, riding motor cycles in the mountain trails, sitting around the campfires at night telling all kinds of stories. These were some of the best times of his life.

During his high school days, Don road his Harley motorcycle with the “gang” of which he had many stories to tell. Included in this gang was a young man and friend, Tom Sanford. Tom is a brother to Barbara Sanford, whom Don had know and graduated with from Helena High School in 1945. They both traveled their own ways following high school.

After his wife Claudia died, Barbara attended the funeral, and not having seen Don for many years gave him a big hug and told him that if he would ever like someone to talk to or go to dinner with, just call her, which he did, and they were married 8 months later.

Don and Barbara Faas were married on July 10, 2005. When he proposed to Barbara, he told her that she could do the cooking and he would clean up the mess in the kitchen, which he did up to the very end. They lived together for the past 10 years in Helena. Combining his belongings and hers, as some of you know, can be very complicated, but with the help of all the siblings, it worked. Don was a great teaser and storyteller, in conversations with him. He could remember all of his children’s activities, his camping experiences and traveling at different places. Don and Barbara went to Alaska on a cruise ship just after they were married, and the next year did a cruise to Hawaii which they had many fond memories. Don was always a gentleman and would open the doors for his wife, or any other person. His Catholic faith brought him close to God at all times. He celebrated his 89^th birthday on Sunday, 10 April, while in the hospital with most of his family in attendance. With this marriage, he gained another family: daughters, Pam (David) VonBergen, Patty (Joe) Mazurek, and son, Mike (Peggy) Tobin, plus many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Don and Bert; his son, Rick; his wife, Claudia; his brother, Dale and son-in-law Joe Mazurek.

Don is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter, Mary Beth (Kenley) Goodian, son, David Creel and son, Rob (Rena Grimes) Creel. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great grand children, and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Thursday with a vigil service at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 12:00 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Cathedral of Saint Helena. A funeral reception will follow in the Brondel Center located in the lower level of the Cathedral. Rite of Committal with military honors will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name are suggested to the Montana Military Museum, P.O. Box 125 Fort Harrison, Montana 59636 or to any Veterans Programs of the donor’s choice.

To offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Don please visit below.

Service Schedule

Visitation

12:00 p.m.

Thursday April 21, 2016

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Avenue

Helena, Montana 59602

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Vigil

6:00 p.m.

Thursday April 21, 2016

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Avenue

Helena, Montana 59602

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Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Friday April 22, 2016

Cathedral of Saint Helena

Helena, Montana 59601

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Funeral Reception

Immediately following Mass

Friday April 22, 2016

Brondel Center located in the lower level of the Cathedral

Helena, Montana 59601

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Burial with Military Honors

10:30 a.m.

Saturday April 23, 2016

Resurrection Cemetery

3700 N. Montana Avenue

Helena, Montana 59602

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