Donald “Don” W. Schenck age 99, of Helena

Donald W. Schenck, World War II veteran, died on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2016 of natural causes.  He was 99.  He leaves behind two very proud and grateful sons and a plethora of family and friends whose lives were richly influenced by this loving, humorous, and sometimes gruff but ultimately gentle giant. He was looked upon lovingly as “Dad” by many besides his own sons.

Don was born April 25, 1917 in Great Falls, MT to Carl and Emma Schenck of Neihart, MT, the 6^th of 11 children.  He lived in Neihart until he was nine years old. The family moved to Great Falls in 1926 and Donald completed his education there, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1935. He lived in Shelby, MT from 1935 to 1972, where he began his career, met his wife Ethel, and raised a family.  In 1972 he and Ethel moved to Helena, where he continued a full and rich life until his death.

He met Shelby girl Ethel D. Gunderson in 1937 and they were married on June 23, 1941 in Great Falls by Pastor Lunde of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, who had also married Don’s parents in 1909 and Ethel’s parents in 1915. They had two sons, Melvin in 1946 and Clayton in 1949.

Don enlisted in the U. S. Navy SeaBees as a Yeoman on July 24, 1942 and was stationed in the Bureau of Yards and Docks in Washington, D. C. and the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Arlington, Virginia from late 1942 until April of 1945, He was then ordered to temporary duty north of the Arctic Circle near Bettles, Alaska in support of a Navy Seabees survey crew providing engineering work for the construction of an airstrip.   This airstrip was vital to air travel over the Brookes Range between Fairbanks and Point Barrow in Alaska.  He received his honorable discharge on January 4, 1946 as a Yeoman First Class and returned to his wife and home in Shelby. Three of Don’s brothers served in the war in the European front, and his brother Melvin died in a German prisoner of war camp at the end of the war.

Don’s professional work life was diverse and rewarding. Following 5 years as a bicycle delivery boy in Great Falls while in school, Don was employed as the Neihart/Great falls stage driver and worked in the Neihart area forests. In late 1935 he was employed by the Hannah-Porter Co. of Shelby as accountant in their independent crude oil and natural gas operations, and eventually became Secretary-Treasurer, liquidating the company for its stockholders in 1969. He was later employed by Woldvedt Accounting before serving as Administrator of the Toole County Hospital and Nursing Home. He was elected Grand (Executive) Secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge AF & AM of Montana in June 1972 and held that office in Helena until June 1982, when he retired to a life of family activities, community and church service.

Don’s commitment to his Christian faith and public service was a cornerstone of who he was.  While in Shelby, Don was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, serving in many capacities. He was Troop Committee Chairman of his church’s boy Scout Troop. He was President of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce in 1957. Don was very committed to the quality of public education and was elected a member of the Shelby School Board of Trustees in 1954 and served as School Board Chairman for five years during the planning and construction of Shelby’s far sighted new high school and gymnasium, which was completed and dedicated in 1962. He served as State Legislative Chairman of the Montana School Boards Association in 1958. He was frequently called upon as a public speaker, including as school graduation keynote speaker. He was the last remaining charter member of Shelby’s Elk’s Lodge No. 1696 and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Shelby.

In Helena, Don and Ethel became members of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and continued their faithful discipleship as lay leaders in the ministries of the church.

Don became a member of the Helena Lions Club in 1972 and was a member for nearly 45 years until his death.  He was a very active member, with a nearly legendary role as Chaplain. Don received the Tom Lehman Fellowship award for outstanding service to the community in 2012, and the Melvin Jones award for dedicated humanitarian services from Lions Club International.

Don and Ethel were very active in the Treasure State Wheelers Chapter of the Montana Good Sam Club and Don served as its President in 1987.

Don lived a lifetime of commitment to the rich history and service of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.  He became a member of Shelby Lodge No. 143, AF & AM during World War II. He served in numerous positions before becoming Worshipful Master in 1956. He was appointed to his first position in the Montana Masonic Grand Lodge in 1969, and was elected Grand (Executive) Secretary in June 1972. He was elected as Past Grand Master (Honorary) in 1980.

Don’s service in Masonry was extensive, with dedicated membership and leadership roles in numerous Masonic affiliated organizations, including York Rite, Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar, Red Cross of Constantine, Scottish Rite, Algeria Shrine Temple, and order of Eastern Star.

You couldn’t know Don without being inspired by his love and devotion to Montana, its great outdoors, and recreational opportunities.  Don excelled in fishing and bowling in particular.  His illustrious bowling career spanned over 70 years and into his nineties, and his trophy stock was extensive.

Following retirement from his professional career in 1982, Don was more than happy to turn to a full-time 35-year career in commitment to his faith, his family and friends, community service, and exploring this fascinating world. He found peace in maintaining his immaculate lawns and yards in Shelby and Helena.  While continuing a life of service through church, Lions, Masons, and others. Don and Ethel vacationed in their motorhome and traveled extensively, including China, Europe, Scandinavia, and Hawaii.  But nothing ever compared to their deep love of Montana and in particular camping in Glacier National Park.

Don lost the love of his life, Ethel, on January 2, 2000. He lived in his own home until he was 93, and then lived at Hunter’s Pointe Independent Retirement Apartments with many wonderful neighbors and friends.  The highlight of his week was always Sunday church, where he was a regular reader of the lessons and Gospel right up to his death.

Perhaps nothing in his final years stands out more as an inspiration to Don than his opportunity to participate at age 96 in the World War II veterans of Montana Honor Flight to Washington, DC in October 2013.

Don was preceded in death by his loving wife Ethel (Gunderson) of over 58 years, by parents Carl and Emma C. Schenck and sisters Emma Thomas, Elvera McLaughlin and June Carlson Lind, and by brothers Kenneth, Marvin, Grant, Melvin, Aaron, and Edgar.  He is survived by sister Arlene Priest of Billings; and by sons Melvin (Oanh) Schenck of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Clayton (Kathy) Schenck of Helena; and by granddaughters Kristine Schenck (David Nakamura) of Washington, D. C., Erika Schenck (Beau Lebens) of Denver, Colorado, and Tiffany Rumsey (Jason) of Spokane; and by great grandchildren Jaden, Zoe, and Lydia Rumsey of Spokane, and Josephine, Evangeline, and Emmanuelle Nakamura of Washington, D.C.   He is also survived by sister-in-law Marguerite Schenck of Whitefish, and by numerous nephews, nieces, and their offspring.

A Memorial service celebrating Don’s life will be held on Tuesday, November 22, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 3580 North Benton, Helena.   A lunch reception will follow at the church, followed by interment of both Don and his wife Ethel at the Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery, Fort Harrison.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to the Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 3580 N. Benton Avenue, Helena,  Mt 59602.

Service Schedule

Memorial Service

11:00 a.m.

Tuesday November 22, 2016

Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church

3580 N. Benton Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Reception

Following the Memorial Service

Tuesday November 22, 2016

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Military Honors

Following the Reception

Tuesday November 22, 2016

Fort Harrison

Hero's Raod

Helena, Montana 59602

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