Donovan Lee Adamson, 75

Don Adamson passed away peacefully Jan. 28, after a short illness. 

This quiet towhead was born to Duane and Leota Limoges (Adamson) in what is now the library in Sandpoint, Idaho. After many moves due to his father’s railroad job, Don started school in a little one room schoolhouse in Warland, Montana. 

Two months before his seventh birthday his parents presented him with a 9-month-old, adopted sister Ronda. He was her teacher and her protector. She was the hyperactive, chatterbox, he was the calm, thoughtful, patient one. They were inseparable as children. Many times, they would ride the trains alone from Tacoma or Spokane to Libby, Montana and then back home. 

Each time, with good reason, he’d beg to never take her again... but of course, he did, with great patience. As adults they’d laugh at memories of him teaching her the two step or making homemade egg nog. He was the best big brother one could ever want. 

At 12 and 14 he was blessed with two more siblings, Jim LaPlant and Chuck Limoges. After attending schools in Tacoma and Spokane, Don returned to Libby to finish high school. 

Don proudly served in the Army’s 2nd Armored Division on the DMZ, during the Vietnam War. He was a radio teletype operator. 

After a short marriage in his 20s, Don was 53 when he found his precious wife Betty. She was well worth the wait. They were married 17 years until she passed away unexpectedly in 2018. Losing our mother, brother and Betty so close together devastated Don. He was never the same. Don worked a variety of jobs through the years, including as a surveyor, heavy equipment operator, bar owner and many more. The last 10 years he was proudly a senior companion for Panhandle Health. 

Don was always up for some fun. He loved the outdoors, camping, photography and softball. Brother Jim and he had many crazy adventures throughout the years, from Alaska to Nevada. In later years, little brother Chuck and he got to know each other better than ever. Chuck helped Don immensely. 

Preceding him in death are his beloved Betty, father Duane Adamson, mother Leota Limoges and brother Jim LaPlant. 

His Celebration of Life is at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Rathdrum Grange.