Donald L. Curley

MALTA-Donald L. Curley, 83 a Korean War Veteran and rancher, died Thursday, March 12, 2015 at his residence at Wagner. He suffered a massive heart attack following an automobile accident.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 17 at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. The family received friends Monday, March 16 at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery with Military Honors. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Donald L. Curley was born August 8, 1931 to Leo and Erma (Peterson) Curley in Malta. He joined his older sister Dolly (Dolores). The little family of four lived at the homestead north of Wagner for 5 years, then moved to land that Leo purchased just east of the town of Wagner.

Donny's boyhood years were spent roaming the hills on his pony Chubby; dodging cactus patches and jumping sagebrush.

He loved horses and even worked on a dude ranch. He always had horses while his kids were growing up and taught them to ride. He and Anita covered many miles across the prairies together, on horseback.

At 18, he caught a ride to Butte with a couple of buddies and they all joined the military. He went to Navy boot camp in San Diego. He was stationed in Hawaii and deployed on the aircraft carrier, USS Boxer to take part in the Korean War effort. He was an aviation metalsmith and that is where he learned the skills that he would use to make a living in the years to come.

He met and married Hattie Fish in South Dakota in April 1964. Together they had three children, Anita, Carla and Clint. Living in Hettinger, North Dakota during those early years, he did many things including auto mechanic, deputy county sheriff, brand inspector, hobby rancher and ultimately welder/fabricator for a shop in Reeder, North Dakota. Trailers became his specialty. His quality workmanship became well known and farmers and ranchers in the region would specifically go to that shop and order a trailer built by him.

He moved the family back to Malta in 1979 and opened a welding shop. He sponsored a women's softball team and enjoyed watching Carla play on that team.

In 1985, he moved to Kalispell to live near his daughter, Anita. While there he worked for a welding shop and then a lumber company as a millwright.

In 1994, he moved back to the farm at Wagner to care for his elderly parents who had moved to town. He raised sheep for a short while. He spent the rest of his retirement helping his son, Clint; build a new home on the farm. He greatly enjoyed the companionship and time they spent together.

He was greatly loved and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Thanks for the memories, Dad.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Erma.

He is survived by his sister, Dolly Judge of Portland Oregon; his best girl Hattie of Kalispell; children, Anita (Rick) Miller, Carla (Jeff) Timmons both of Kalispell, Clint Curley of East Wagner; other children, Lori (Mike) Calderon of Corvallis, Oregon, Chris (Keri) Gillig of Healdsburg, California; grandchildren Shane, LaRae, Morgan, Truman, Brad, Britanny; several nieces and nephews and his cat Tiger.