Donald 'Don' L. Kruse, 82
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 5 days, 17 hours AGO
Donald L. Kruse, 82, was born on Jan. 15, 1943, and raised in Cut Bank. He attended Cut Bank schools, graduating in 1961. Throughout his life, Don was truly a man of many trades. He worked for Buttrey Foods, in the oil fields of Montana, established a solar business, spent 20 years at Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant and then Don’s Plumbing, serving people throughout the Flathead Valley for 10 years. Don loved the outdoors and grew up enjoying Montana fishing, hunting and boating. After complications due to lung cancer, Don went home to heaven on Dec. 21, 2025.
Don welcomed the Lord into his life about 1980. In his own words, God radically changed his outlook and actions. Through various church outreaches and ministries, he served locally and internationally. Don thrived on serving others and found great joy in helping those he met. Those who knew Don remember him as kind, caring and always smiling. A faithful servant and gifted problem solver, Don especially loved helping when a task seemed too difficult for others.
Don is survived by his sister, Shirley (Norm) Nash; his four children, Aaron Kruse, Amy (Wilbert) Fish, Janelle (Joe) Bergeson and Jackie (Paul) Michkowski; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; his wife, Mary of 37 years, and her two children, Janet Serfoss and Kelly (Kate) Serfoss, and one grandchild. Upon retiring in 2003, Don and Mary became snowbirds, making Yuma, Arizona, their full-time home and attending Church for the City.
Don loved life and greeted everyone with a smile and a hug. He will be greatly missed and always loved. We rejoice in knowing that he is now in heaven, free from pain and suffering. We look forward to the day when we will see him again.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Church for the City, located at 3726 E. County 13th St., Yuma, AZ 85367.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s honor to the following organizations: Casa de la Esperanza at christiansinmexico.org; Messenger International at messengerinternational.org; or Mission Builders International at missionbuilders.org.