DONALD AUGUST DANELL obituary

Donald August Danell, 82, formely of Havre, Mont., died of natural causes, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at his residence in Lewistown, Mont.

A visitation will be held at the Holland & Funeral Home in Havre, Mont., from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, with a funeral service at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre, Mont., with Pastor Mark Schultz officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Donald was born Sept. 21, 1927, to August and Anna (Brandt) Danell, in Braham, Minn. He graduated from high school in 1945 in Braham, Minn., with a class of 49. After graduation he was drafted into the Army to become a World War 11 veteran, at a wage of $20 per week. In 1947 he went on a vacation with his sister, Gladys, to Havre, Mont., where he read about possible jobs on the railroad. He applied and got on with the Great Northern Railroad and worked as a brakeman and conductor. When he retired in October 1990, he was working as a conductor on Amtrak. While in Havre, he met Marlys (Rolston) Beck. They were married in 1953 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre, Mont. Don was very active in his church, and served on many boards, not only in the church, but he also served on the Bear Paw Credit Union board. Don had a heart of gold and would lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He enjoyed stamp collecting, coin collecting, playing games one of them being his nights out at PJs and being around his family and friends. During Donnies high school days, his friends and Donnie nicknamed him "Bubbles Danell." Another favorite activity of his was going out and helping Dave Anderson at the Saddle Butte Smokehouse. In his retirement years he enjoyed going out and helping Donnie on the farm. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 53 years, Marlys; his parents, August and Anna Danell; and one grandchild. Don is survived by his children, Jim Danell of Columbia Falls, Barbara (Lester) DeLange of Rexford, Jeanne (Ronald) Smeins of Great Falls, Dolores (Phil) Haglund of Belt; Linda (Wrye) Spaulding of Columbus and Donald O. (Omie) Danell of Lewistown; one sister, Gladys Carlson of New Hope, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and many other relatives. Memorial contributions in Don's honor may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lewistown, Mont. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.