Donald Earl Dalton Obituary
Donald Earl Dalton came into this life on January 18, 1935 and left it in the early hours of December 1, 2022. Don went gently into that good night just as he wanted, taking his last breath at home on Little Blackfoot River Road south of Elliston.
Born in Golden, Colorado to Robert John Dalton and Ruth Ellen (McIntyre) Dalton, Don spent his youth in Golden, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California, working summers with his brothers in family mines and mills in Nevada and Arizona. After graduating from the Colorado School of Mines, he served two years in the U. S. Army posted to Korea. Back home, Don joined his family’s agricultural minerals business, R. J. Dalton and Sons. Over the years he also built and remodeled many houses.
Don’s surviving brother, Frank, believes the happiest time of Don’s life was when he moved to Montana and mushed dogs with Dave Torgerson. Don spent many nights caring for and training sled dog teams with Dave, often on the road to Kading Campground up the Little Blackfoot River. Those countless training nights led to travels to race sled dogs as far north as Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. With his keen engineering mind and countless skills, Don hand produced dogsleds that continue to travel moonlight trails to this day.
Don was well known and respected throughout the mushing community, his friends spread to the far reaches of North America, only to gather at yearly events, the most notable the Stage Stop Sled Dog Race which traveled throughout western Wyoming. Don was a fixture at this event for nearly two decades. Don later became a grandfather figure to Dave’s children, Maria, Sydnie and Emilie Torgerson.
Don was an avid horseman his entire life and liked nothing better than trail rides with friends, astride Cody, his favorite mount, who is now 32-years-old. From his front window he trained his binoculars on the comings and goings of foxes, elk grazing on the mountain opposite his house, and the birds living in, or just passing through, the Little Blackfoot/Telegraph Creek area.
Don was the neighborhood Mr. Fix-it, whether what needed fixing was a lawn mower, a dirt bike, a vacuum cleaner, car, truck, or snow blower. His green pickup was at the ready to pull other drivers out of ditches and snow banks, night or day. He used his favorite tool, a chain saw, to clear trails, cut up deadfall on the road and to fell many Christmas trees for friends over the years.
Surviving Don are his younger brother, Frank, and Frank’s wife Trina, of Riverside, Calif; Roberta Kay, wife of his late brother Robert, of Tucson, Ariz. His only sister, the late Mary Hornsby, was also of Riverside, Calif.
Don possessed a kindness that he spread throughout the Elliston area he supported and touched many lives in our valley community. Don loved the Little Blackfoot Valley and those in the Valley loved and cared for Don as well. His family, friends and neighbors, dog and horse will miss him greatly.
Don’s parting wish was to “maybe have a little party for me.” A celebration of his life is scheduled for Sunday, December 18, 12:00 to 3:00 pm, Avon MT Community Center, lunch provided by the Avon Café.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday December 18, 2022
Avon Community Center
Avon, Montana
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday December 18, 2022
Avon Community Center
Avon, Montana
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Brenda Elias says
This is a wonderful tribute to Don. I remember Don’s quiet presence — always ready to fix and help his neighbors on Telegraph Creek Road and beyond. I extend my deepest sympathies to those who knew and loved him.
Janet says
Such fond memories of riding the trails around Telegraph Creek Road with Don on Cody, and friend Mary on her white horse, and I on old Joe. Don made sure the riding trail was free of downfall by having his chainsaw handy to keep them clear. He always had advice and wisdom we would listen to as we rode along. Later in the years, Don kept an eye out for us 3 neighbor gals who took a yearly hike exploring some of the old mining claims in the hills around the area. He would start to wonder about us getting home late, and laugh about it afterwards knowing it seemed to be our routine. Such fun times with him!