Donald Ernest DeMars
Donald Ernest DeMars, age 84, passed away peacefully at home with family on March 22, 2025 in Bigfork, Montana.
He was born to David and Mavis DeMars on May 22, 1940 in Nevis, Minnesota. Donald was a beloved and devoted husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother and uncle.
Donald served in the United States Army in the 501st Infantry, and was a paratrooper with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division.
While home on leave, he met the love of his life, Charleen, in a small flower shop in Libby, Montana. They married March 10, 1967. They were rarely apart; loving and working alongside one another to build a beautiful life together.
He spent 33 years working for Pacific Power and Light. He started as a lineman and eventually became an operator, dispatcher and substation inspector while working at the Bigfork Powerhouse. Over the years, Donald enjoyed farming, raising cows and horses, hunting, fishing, camping and taking road trips with his family.
He was a man of integrity, compassion, kindness and generosity. His love of family and his devotion to them will leave a lasting impression. He loved babies and children. When he became grandpa and later great-grandpa he filled the role so perfectly. Later in life he got to enjoy the mountain view from his porch, watching the wildlife in the fields and feeding the birds in the yard.
Donald is survived by his wife of 58 years, Charleen, their children Daron (Sandy) DeMars and MeriKay (Jason) Morton, grandchildren Jackie (Dan) Haddenham, Erin (Jed) Hoch, Megan DeMars, Reed DeMars, Matthew Morton, and Sarah (Reed) Platke, great-grandchildren Athena, Orion, Olympia, Aurora, Jaxen, Tyesen, Peyton, MaKena, Logan, Hunter, Raylan, and Sawyer, and siblings Shirley (Len) Koskela, Mavis Gordon, and Dan (Cyndi) DeMars, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held in the chapel at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Friday, April 4, followed with military honors graveside at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. After the graveside ceremony, a reception will be held at the Swan River Community Hall in Bigfork.
