Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

Donald E. Kimmel, 86, of Roundup, Montana, passed away in Lewistown, Montana, on November 4, 2021, after a siege of dementia and other health problems. However, he had escaped the Covid-19 virus and peacefully went his own way.

Don was born in Ronan, Montana, on July 18, 1935, to O.E. and Luella Kimmel. He joined a couple of brothers then and played the big brother as a set of twin boys also came along soon. It was a busy household and we are amazed their parents kept their sanity and the boys succeeded in attaining adulthood. Don graduated from Ronan High School in 1953 and headed for Western Montana College on a football scholarship that fall. He had already declined an appointment to West Point and finding that school wasn't fitting him he enlisted in the U.S. Army January of 1954. He became a Guided Missile Ground Control Officer. At one point he was the youngest Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Army. Working on the missile program in Illinois and on the Missile Range in New Mexico as well as teaching electronic classes gave him lots of fodder for good stories. The Nike program remained his favorite. By 1958, he came back to Montana and

finished his freshman year at Western.

Transferring to Montana State University and becoming a Bobcat along with signing up for a curriculum in Engineering Physics in the fall of '58 gave him a whole new perspective. During a weak moment he and a friend checked out the choir practice at the First Baptist Church in Bozeman on January 16, 1959. The choir director was enticed to a ride back to the dorm rather than walking back to campus in the blizzard. That ride ended up going almost to Livingston before turning around to get to the dorm before the lights blinked. They didn't make it in time and thus began a habit of pushing time limits no matter the occasion. On June 24 of that year Don and Jean were married in Roundup and have stuck together through thick and thin for over 62 years.

June of 1962 found them graduating and moving to the ranch on Flatwillow. By then daughter Karen was almost 2 years old. Son Warren followed in August of 1962. Carl was born in 1964, Kyla in 1966 and Andy in 1969. They bought the ranch, paid it off and made a decent living. The yard is full of trees, testimony to Don's green thumb and patience.

Through the years Don was active in community affairs serving on the Winnett School Board, the Petroleum County Stockgrowers Association, nearly 40 years on the Mid-Rivers Telephone Communication Board. For over 50 years he was active in the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and served as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Montana Grand Lodge for the year of 1990-1991. Later he served as Worthy Grand Patron of Montana Order of Eastern Stars and received an appointment to General Grand Chapter. These activities afforded opportunities to meet extraordinary people and to travel to places not usual for a Montana rancher. Two trips to Israel gave such a sense of Christian heritage and an awesome different perspective on the Bible and history. They were treated to a couple of trips to South Korea to visit Warren and his family during his deployments there. There is no doubt that having a native-born guide to keep track of

country hicks is only common sense. The country is awesome with a wealth of beautiful people and countryside. In the middle of all that he was a staunch supporter of his family in their endeavors in school sports, moto-cross, high school rodeo, demolition derbys, 4-H and whatever came along. He was also a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Winnett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, three brothers (Heath, Gale, Dale) and two grandsons (Blake and Eddy). Surviving are his wife, Jean; daughters, Karen (Ray Hale) and Kyla (Mark Reynolds); three sons, Warren (Yon Hui), Carl (Jolene) and Andrew (Deanna); 14 remaining grandchildren and 5 greats; and his brother, Ron (Max).

Services will be held on November 15th at Creel Funeral Home in Lewistown at 1:00 PM with burial at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Lewtana Bible Camp, Lewistown Chapter of Gideon International, Lewistown Shrine Club Transportation Fund or Caslen Living Centers of Lewistown or left at Creel Funeral Home in Lewistown.

Arrangements are under the care of Creel Funeral Home. Don's family and friends can share memories and condolences at http://www.creelfuneralhome.com