Donald Debates

After a long battle with heart, lung, and kidney failure, Donald C. DeBates, 84, of Logan went to be with his Lord and beloved Avice on Thursday, June 4, 2009. Don was born in Jasper, Minnesota on July 10, 1924 to Henry and Lena (Gaertner) DeBates, and the third of four children. Lena took Don and his brother, Frank, to Luxemburg, where she was a war bride. The threat of war was so intense that their uncles brought them back to the States. Lena then worked on the farm belonging to Don#8217;s uncle for room and board. When Don#8217;s uncle passed away, Lena and the children moved to Garretson, South Dakota, where the boys worked on their uncle#8217;s farm in the summer. In 1942, Don enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17, aboard a tanker in the Atlantic and a heavy cruiser in the Pacific. Don was honored with having President Roosevelt on board for one month. In 1945, Don ended his tour with the Navy, and upon coming home, he met his beloved Avice Olson. The two were married on June 26, 1947 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and were blessed with three sons, Gary, Ron, and Terry. Don worked for the Highway Department in South Dakota and North Dakota. He went to work for Schultz and Lindsay operating heavy equipment building Interstate 90 from North Dakota to Washington. Don and Avice enjoyed their spare time exploring Montana and Yellowstone Park with their boys and dear friends, Virgil and Della Nawman and children. Avice and the boys fell in love with Montana, so they made their home in Belgrade, spending their weekends boating and fishing at Canyon Ferry Lake. Don went to work for Yellowstone Pine Co. building roads in the forest for logging. It was around this time that Don#8217;s son Ron married Jamie Radomen and blessed them with a beautiful granddaughter, Krissy. Don lost his beloved Avice in February of 1985. In November 1987, Don married Ethel Collins. Don retired and they worked in Yuma, Arizona in the winter and spent their summers fishing, boating, and RVing around Montana with their dear friends, George and Pat Krushensky. From this marriage, Don gained four step-children, nine step-grandchildren and three step-great-granddaughters. In 1995, Don#8217;s health began to fail. The doctors advised Don not to travel anymore, so Don and Ethel moved to Logan, Montana and developed their little oasis of trees, flowers, and gardens on the dry hill above the Interstate. Don enjoyed it all until he was confined to his recliner, television, and computer. Don is survived by his wife, Ethel; sons, Gary DeBates of Hardin, MT, Ron (Jamie) DeBates of Big Timber, MT, and Terry DeBates of Simms, MT; granddaughter Krissy (Nate) Eastlick of Missoula, MT; step-children, Linda Foster of Sundance, WY, Nancy (Mick) Chesterfield of Logan, Lola (Marc) Brogger of Three Forks, MT, and Martin (Sandi) Collins of Logan; step-grandchildren, Russ (Ashley) Foster of Absarokee, MT, Peggy (David) Bankenbush of Gillette, WY, Clint Foster of Sundance, WY, Crystal (Denver) Bryhan of Belgrade, Robby Chesterfield , Megan Collins, and Austin Collins, all of Logan, and Abby and Lilly Brogger of Three Forks; step-great-granddaughters, Jillian and Delaney Bankenbush of Gillette,WY, and Ella Collins of Logan; sister, Theresa Miller of Sioux Falls; sisters-in-law, Beverly (Dale) Olson of MN, Margaret DeBates of Manhattan, MT and Virginia Miller of Bozeman, MT; mother-in-law, Evaline Mitchell; and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Avice; mother, Lena; infant brother, John; brother, Frank; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bill and Mabel Olson; sister-in-law Vernie Martilla; and brothers-in-law, Glen Martilla, Jim Miller, and Herb Miller. Services will be held at Valley of Flowers Catholic Church in Belgrade at 2:30 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2009, interment of the urn to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials in Don#8217;s name may be made to Holy Family Parish, 104 E Birch, Three Forks, MT 59752 or to The Liberty House, 1802 Williams St, Fort Harrison, MT 59636. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com