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DOUGLAS ADRIAN DUROCHER (April 8, 1942– June 5, 2022)

Doug Durocher, 80, of Dodson, MT. passed away peacefully at the Central Montana Hospital in Lewistown, MT. on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Doug was born on April 8, 1942, in Malta, MT. to Adrian and Ruby (Walden) Durocher. He was the 2nd of 14 children. Doug attended grade school in Malta but was forced to quit after the 8th grade to work various ranch jobs and help support the family.

Doug married Wanda Appelhans on October 3, 1959, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dodson. To this union, two sons and two daughters were born. At the age of 17, Doug began his career working for the State of MT, Department of Highways, becoming a well-respected engineer. The family moved numerous times throughout his career, living in Dodson, Harlotown, Grass Range, Lewistown, White Sulphur Springs, and then finally settling in Dodson in 1975, so his children could attend High School in one place. He retired after 30 years with the Highway Dept.

Doug was an avid sportsman who excelled at hunting, fishing, and trapping. After retirement he spent 3 or 4 years guiding hunts for the Ereaux brothers (Ezzie, Carrol, and Roy) of Malta on the Triple Creek place. He also spent a few years working for his good friend, Doug Parker, on his ranch west of Harlem. Doug enjoyed spending time at his and Wanda’s cabin at Nelson Resevoir, and fishing with his good friend Stan Soper. Early years for the Durocher family meant driving to the Missouri River to camp and fish every single weekend in the summers. Many of the family's most memorable times were the kids and grandkids gatherings at the lake spent boating, tubing, and fishing, the hunting trips and fishing for paddle fish on the Missouri River. Doug and Wanda also enjoyed their trips to Alaska to fish.

Doug is survived by his oldest son Dan (Denise) of Salmon, ID, daughter Lorri Williams of Landusky, special friend Bonnie Millar of Malta, brothers; Don of Chester, Bill of Billings, and Steve (Kay) of Arlington, WA., sisters; Shari (Ron) Paton of Mesquite, NV, Marilyn Schaeffer of Golden Valley, AZ, Charlene (Bob) Waller of Kingman, AZ, Beverly (Gary) Christofferson of Conroe, TX, Barbara of Keani, AK, Donna Davis, Patty Flint, and Kim (Daniel) Deaver of Cut Bank, grandchildren; Michael, Nick, Morgan (Camrie), Ethan (Halle), and Christian Durocher of Utah, Annieliesa (Apollo) Moses of ID, Vicki (Dustin) Hofeldt and Brittany Williams (Kris Brattlien) of MT, Jessica Painter of AK, Jeremy Crawford of MT; and 25 great-grandchildren. Doug was preceeded in death by his parents, brothers Jim and Mike, his wife Wanda, son Larry, daughter Debbi Painter and son-in-law Gerry Williams.

The family is planning a private graveside service.

 

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