Donald Joseph Traubert

Donald Joseph Traubert (Don), 92, of Bozeman, died at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Billings, MT on December 30, 2015 from complications of a long life.

Don was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia to the late George and Grace (Densmore) Traubert on September 7, 1923. He attended St. John’s Catholic School and Wellsburg High School. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree

Don was drafted into the United States Navy in 1943 during WW II and served in both the European/North Africa and Pacific Theaters, concluding in occupied Japan at war’s end. He received an Honorable Discharge from the service in 1946.

Don began working at the age of 5, shoveling potatoes in his father’s grocery store. After college he worked in oil exploration on the plains of eastern Montana where he met and married Virginia Hanners in 1957 in Roundup. Upon landing a desk job as an Exploration Geophysicist, Don and the family moved to Oklahoma and eventually to Texas. After retiring from the oil business, he and mother returned to Montana where he began his second and third careers transferring rental cars and mowing the grass at Anderson School for over 20 years. He retired from work completely in 2013 at the age of 90.

Don regularly fished Hyalite Creek after retiring to Montana and he cross country skied well into his eighties. He enjoyed gardening and stamp collecting but his one true vice was ice cream; any flavor, any time.

Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Virginia Traubert, of Bozeman, MT, and his children: Michael Traubert (Kim), of Tempe, AZ; Patrick Traubert, of Plano, TX; Katherine Traubert Hudson, of McKinney, TX; and Juliana Traubert Black (Keith), of Garland, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Donald Hudson (Tiffany), Alexander Black, Christopher Black, Heather Black, and Rachel Black, and great-grandchildren Micah Grace Hudson and Jona Faith Hudson.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice or to St. Labre Indian School, MT or St. Joseph School, SD.

The family wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Nyda and Cody Gilbertson, who provided Don with much love, support and companionship in his last years.