Donald Dale Komenda was born on Jan. 12, 1931, in Hettinger, North Dakota. Donald was the second child of Joseph and Josie Komenda. Donald was a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandpa, uncle, great-grandpa and friend.

As a young man Donald was a National Guard sharpshooter. Donald was known as an outdoorsman, hunter, harmless flirt, gadget fixer/maker, state champion bus driver, road worker, storyteller, lion chaser, camper, fisherman, teaser, prankster and practical joker.

He passed away on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, with family by his side.

In Donald’s younger years, he lived in North Dakota, Swan Lake, Evergreen, Somers, and the Komenda family eventually settled in Kila and Ashley Creek where he went to elementary school. He later went to Flathead County High School. Donald loved to recall stories of living in Kila. Their house was situated directly on the “Ore Dock.” He recalls they could not have anything fragile sitting out or hanging up when trucks revved up to dump ore because the entire house shook. Donald loved recalling going to elementary school with all three of the “Dons” — Don Komenda, Loveless, and Hall.

In the early ‘50s, Donald served several years in the National Guard Service. He was awarded first place at a 30-06 marksmanship exercise at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Donald married his high school sweetheart, Merle Kinniburgh, on Dec. 5, 1953. They were married in Marion on the original Kinniburgh home place. Subsequently, they had three sons, Ricky, Robert and Brad, each four years apart.

Through the years they lived in Swan Lake, on Ashley Creek, the Marion highway house, and then were able to return to the “old home place” (Kinniburgh homestead) in Marion when they built a house in 1980.

Donald worked for many years for the Montana State Highway Department, followed by several years of driving the Kila High School bus route. Donald loved driving school bus, and his riders loved him! Numerous Kila, Smith Valley and Whalebone Road students have loving recollections of Don’s days of driving school bus.

Donald loved to dance, play cards, and listen to country music. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether he had labeled them a “Diesel” (the big ones), or a “Gas Burner,” (the little ones), he was the best grandpa any child could ask for! He and Merle loved watching “Mollie’s Polka Party” on Saturday nights. Eventually they had named the dancers who appeared regularly. When Merle passed, Donald continued this tradition. Some of his favorite dancers were “the logger (a Kinniburgh/ Schnackenburg),” “Lynn (Hadley),” “Roy (Kidder),” “Lee,” and many others. His joy in seeing these “friends” was precious.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, brother and his wife, Merle, whom he was married to for 60 years.

He is survived by his sons, Ricky (Charlotte), Bob (Julie), and Brad (Laili); grandsons, Ricky Montana (Meghan), and Montana’s mother, Mary; Jason Davis (Jackie), Roman Koziol (Amanda), and Erick Koziol; grandsons, Jason (Lindsey), Brandon, Shane (Sabrina), Tyler and Travis; and great-grandchildren, McKenna, Madelynn, Colby, Tyler, Jade, Zane, Gavin, Hunter, Kaiden, Nathan, Hudson, Cooper and Blake. Donald is also both preceded and survived by a host of extended family and friends. Donald’s caregivers, roommates and new friends at Hidden Meadows are also among his survivors.

Friday, Dec. 18, a private service will be live streamed at 9:30 a.m. — go to jgfuneralhome.com Graveside services will be held at 10:45 a.m. at Glacier Memorial Gardens.