Donald Kieth Hurlbert

"Gone Hunting" On Monday, April 9, our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and beloved husband, Donald Kieth Hurlbert, 76 passed peacefully to rest eternally after a short battle against cancer. Memorial service will be held Monday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Gold Hill Lutheran Church, Butte, MT. I was born in the early morning hours on June 23, 1941, weighing 9 lbs. 4 oz., in Bottineau, ND. I was the first of eight children born to George and Elnor (Bjornseth) Hurlbert. On August 6, 1941, I was baptized in Salem Lutheran Church in rural Bottineau. Back on the farm growing up I always liked animals. It was my job to drive the tractor from the farm to town for my Grandpa to use, I was 7. I started school in Eckman, ND, the fall of 1946. I remember at times the teacher, her daughter and I were the only ones making it to school do to blizzards. Dad drove a team with a bobsled; we kids would ride with him to school. I don't ever remember walking to school, but we did walk home the 3 ½ miles plenty of times. When school was over it was my job to bring the milk cows in from the big pasture. I'd get them started for home and then crawl up on Roany's back and ride her home. 1950, (age 9) this year I held down my first job, running the tractor raking hay. I earned $10, and with $5 of that I bought a little sorrel colt and later sold him for $28 and bought some chicks. I sold fryers and traded some for another horse. About this same time I got 3 ewes, a ram and some geese on shares with my Uncle Cecil. I finished my schooling in May of 1955. I graduated from the 8th grade. I was the top of the class or maybe it was the bottom-depending on who you asked. I was the only one in the 8th grade. From there on all my schooling was from the school of hard knocks. The first winter out of school I worked milking about 17 cows by hand. I always had a job working for someone, family or neighbors. The fall of 1956 we moved to town from the farm, a lot of adjustments had to be made now, we had electricity and an inside bathroom. A short time later my family moved to Montana, I was 15 and stayed behind in North Dakota. The summer of 1957 I received a pen pal letter from a Montana gal. She described herself and said that if I come to Montana she would like to meet me. It sounded pretty good so that fall I went to Montana and met her. We went together for a few years before getting married when she was 17 and me a whole 19. On January 31, 1961, we started our 57 years together. I have worked for the Anaconda Co. Smelter, cattle ranches, dairy farms, feed lots, bar tending, Correctional Officer at the Montana State Prison, Phillips County Road Crew, Auctioneer, Logging Cat Skidder and a Plummer. I never left an employer on bad terms because I thought I might need to go back. Though all this working and moving around we had time to have 5 kids, Corliss, Donavon, Dennis, Darin and David; they have given us 30 grandkids and so far 13 great-grandchildren. After 40 some years of working for others I decided to strike off on my own and started my own company-Don's Plumbing Service. I retired to enjoy more time with family and friends playing cards (cribbage) and hunting. I've hunted the same area in SW Montana for almost 50 years, and got my share of deer, elk, antelope and 2 moose. I'd tell a few hunting stories but I'll leave that for family and friends to share. My one wish is that all my honesty, hard work, ambition, determination and faith in family in passed on from generation to generation. Survivors include the love of his life, Katheryn Rae Hurlbert, children, Corliss Nelson, Donavon Hurlbert, Dennis (Rachelle) Hurlbert, Darin Hurlbert and David (Megan) Hurlbert, sisters, Gloria Forward, Karen (Pat) Mulcahy, Nancy (Serge) Myers, and Marlys Hurlbert and brother, David (Cheryl) Hurlbert. Grandchildren, Chancey (Tia), Lacey, Kristi (Keelan), Mark, Christopher (Jenessa), Dalton (Ashlee), Rayce, Christina (Mike), Jenifer, Joshua (Sandra), Abreia, Anthony, Adam, Brayden, Seth, Jasmine, Travis, Harli (Bobby), Devaun, Nathan, Kinsley, Kevin, Izzy B, and 13 great grandchildren; extended grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many more to numerous to mention. Don was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jerome Hurlbert and Duane Hurlbert, son-in-law's John Watson and Greg Nelson.

Service

APR 23. 11:00 AM (MDT)

Gold Hill Church 934 Placer St. Butte, MT 59701

Graveside Service

APR 23. 2:00 PM (MDT)

New Hill Cemetery Anaconda, MT 59711