Donald Francis McKeever passed away in the early hours of Friday, May 31st.
Don was born to Hazel and Eugene McKeever on September 16, 1935 in Forsyth, Montana. He was the ninth of their thirteen children and had seven sisters and five brothers.
Don attended local schools in Forsyth, graduating from Forsyth High School in 1953. He married Carol Ann Behrendt in October of 1954. Their marriage produced seven children. They later divorced.
In December of 1978, Don married Margie Williamson. Along with Margie, her three children joined the family. Don and Margie’s union lasted for the remainder of Don’s life.
Don acquired his work ethics and enterprise growing up on the family wheat farm east of Forsyth. In his early 20’s, he worked as a partner in the Parkway truck stop in Billings. During that time, Don also drove a truck part-time for Safeway and still found time to work the wheat harvest with his dad. He was hired by the State of Montana as an auditor and in 1966 transferred to Helena. In 1967 he began working as a relief driver for the Great Falls Tribune on a spur relay, distributing the morning edition to stops in Butte, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Avon, and Elliston. He bought the Main News from “Moose” Tolon in 1972 and made it into one of the hot spots on Last Chance Gulch. During this time, he took over as the circulation manager for the Great Falls Tribune in Helena, eventually becoming the district manager with territory covering Helena, Bozeman, Three Forks, Dillon, Butte, Anaconda, Deer Lodge, Boulder, and all points in between. He sold the Main News in 1975, and turned his attention full time to the newspaper business. After retiring from the Great Falls Tribune, he started his own business carrying short-haul loads for various businesses in the area and continued driving for the Tribune to Bozeman.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Dan, Ray and Tom McKeever and his sister, Helen Mouat. His surviving siblings are Peggy Hamlin of Oregon, Jean Neyrinck of Billings, Pat Miller of Hysham, Kay Womack of Texas, Carol Mckeever-Stevens of Kalispell, Vonnie Miller of Oregon, Jack McKeever of Minnesota, and Jim McKeever of Billings. In addition, he is survived by his wife, Margie, his children Tim(Connie) of California, Doug (Susan) of Illinois, Jane (Dan) of Helena, Dave (Linda) of Arizona, Todd of Illinois, Tom (Tina) of Great Falls, and John (Theresa) of New York, as well as his stepchildren Leah (Gary) of New Mexico, Linda (Mike) of Arizona, and John “J.B.” of Arizona. Don was the grandfather of fifteen children and great-grandfather of two. He also has numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Don was a caring and generous person who touched the lives of many throughout Helena and the surrounding communities. He will be greatly missed.
Viewing hours will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 2013 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 12:00 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Cathedral of Saint Helena. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M.
Thursday June 6, 2013
Anderson Steveson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Family and Friends Service
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday June 6, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena,
Burial
Immediately follow Mass
Friday June 7, 2013
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediatlely following the burial
Friday June 7, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
,
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M.
Thursday June 6, 2013
Anderson Steveson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Family and Friends Service
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday June 6, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena,
Burial
Immediately follow Mass
Friday June 7, 2013
Resurrection Cemetery
3700 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana
Reception
Immediatlely following the burial
Friday June 7, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
,
Share
Cliff & Jacki Huff says
Our thoughts and prayers to the family – Don was a wonderful and generous man. He will be missed.
Patty Cartin says
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Don was an amazing man. He will be missed by many people. Margie and kids, if you need anything, please let me know.
Vanessa Tolson says
I had the pleasure of working for Don early in my career with the State of MT and also when he owned the Main News. Don was a very patient caring man and always had a smile on his face. He will be missed. My sincere thoughts and prayers to the family.
Sandy Morrison Hawley says
I’m so sorry to hear of Don’s passing. I grew up in the neighborhood with all his kids on 5th Ave. It was a great neighborhood to grow up in with Don being one of the great parents on that street. Over 20 kids on that one block! Good memories that will always include “Mr. McKeever”! Prayers to all his family. He will be missed….
Julie Mitchell says
I have so many fond memories of Don and his wonderful wife Margie as next door neighbors. My husband, Doug, and I moved in to our first home on 5th Avenue when our oldest child was six months old. It turned out that the best thing about living there were our neighbors Don and Margie. Over the years, we shared gardening tips, watched our boys play in the yard, talked about current events, shoveled snow out of our driveways and helped each other out. Don always had a kind word, a friendly wave and a helping hand. As a young couple with young children, Doug and I found it comforting to have two such loving people as neighbors. I remember when my oldest son was in kindergarten, he told me that when he grew up, he was going to live next door to me “like Don and Margie so we could always hang out.” His comment really summed up the example Don lived for both us and our children. All my love and prayers to Margie and Don’s family.
Stacy Morrison says
To the family I grew up with,
I’m so sorry to here about Don passing. I have great memories of the old days in the neighborhood. Don was a wonderful guy! We had the best conversation the last time I saw him. He had a big smile on his face and he was just so happy to see me. I won’t be able to attend the funeral and I’m so sorry because I would love to see all of you again. Margie,Tim,Doug,Jane,Dave,Todd,Thomas and John you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Don Nyland says
Marge, my sincere condolences to you and family upon hearing of the passing of
Don. As your former mail-man over the years I always enjoyed all of our little chats
we used to have, I look back on them and still wish I was still on the route to even if it
was just to say “Hi”. Don will be missed by all.
Garrett Mitchell says
Don was one of the first people I ever knew growing up. I grew up on 5th ave right next to him and his wife and remember him helping me get my basketball from his yard pick raspberries when my arms couldn’t reach. He would always take in an interest in my day after school and ask me how my sporting events were going. Don was a truly amazing man. He lived an amazing life and I will never forget him. Thank you for all you did in my life and I hope you know how much of an impact you made and how much you mean to me.
Sally Nyland says
Marge and Family,
Please accept my condolences and know that you are in my thoughts. I met Don many years ago when I worked for the State of Montana and would also keep in touch over the years when I would see him at the Main News or more recently at Power Townsend or some other store around Helena. Don always had a smile and I enjoyed catching up on the latest events when I would meet him.
Andrew Mitchell says
Don was an incredible neighbor, friend, and mentor to me. I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up next to anyone else. Both Don and Margie were incredibly friendly and willing to play with us when we’d wander into their yard to get the rest of the raspberries. They’d invite us in, make us snacks, and find out about our days. We moved away when I was in fifth grade, and when I graduated high school, Margie and Don invited me back over to their house to congratulate me. As it turned out, they had never stopped being our neighbors. They had kept up on my progress throughout all the years that we were apart, through various news stories and newspaper clippings. When I pick raspberries now, I smile and think about how they used to help me get the ones facing their house all those years ago. I love them both so much. My heart and prayers are with Margie and I feel incredibly lucky to have known Don. He was amazing.
Shelley Stewart says
Dave and family,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. He must have been an amazing dad because he has a great son! I am thinking of you and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Shelley
Teresa Makela says
My condolences to Mr.McKeever’s family. My family delivered the Tribune for 19 years in Boulder. We always looked forward to his visits each year. He was a very kind and lively gentleman.
Eric Quist says
Margie and the McKeever family, my deepest condolences to you and the family. We have been out of touch, but I have thought about you all from time to time. Don will be greatly missed! I very much felt a part of your family for all those years.