- Date Of Birth: March 22, 1926
- Date Of Death: November 30, 2016
- State: Montana
Donald Keith Poush, age 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday November 30, 2016 in Great Falls, Montana, from Myasthenia Gravis.
Donald was born on March 22, 1926 in Greeley, Colorado to Herbert Boyd and Edith Marie (Parsons) Poush. Don grew up in Greeley as the youngest of three children.
After graduation from Greeley High School, Don entered the U.S. Navy during WWII, volunteering for the Naval Air Corp. Following his discharge after the war, he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley; graduating with an MA in Education. Don taught in the Greeley Public School system for two years.
Don married Nancy Grace Dowen on June 20, 1951 in Lewistown, Montana beginning a union that would last 65 years. Following a honeymoon, they moved to Rochester, New York, where Don worked as an educational consultant for Houghton Mifflin Company. In 1955, the couple moved back west and raised their family in Lewistown, where Don was a sales manager for Dowen Motor Company for 12 years. In 1966, Don became a co- owner of Courtesy Pontiac Buick in Lewistown with Ken Apple, and sole owner when Ken retired. Don changed professions in 1976 becoming an officer at Norwest Bank in Lewistown where he worked until his retirement in April of 1991.
Don was active in many Lewistown civic and service organizations including: Elks, Eagles, Lions, JC’s, Rotary, and Kiwanis. He was also a member and past Chairman of the Lewistown School Board and member of the Yogo Inn Board of Directors.
In 1993, Don and Nancy purchased a lake cottage in Clitherall, Minnesota, where over a 15-year period, they summered 5 months a year on Stuart Lake.
One of Don’s favorite hobbies was wood carving. He often selected a carving project with a specific recipient in mind and gifted his carving to that person. He also enjoyed contract bridge very much and played as often as possible in Montana and Minnesota.
Don is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert D. Poush- a U.S. Naval Air Corp. pilot killed in WWII; and sister, Maxine R. Weinmeister.
Survivors include his wife; his children, Sarah “Sally” (Ronald) Green of Great Falls, Douglas (Barbara) of Lakeville, MN, Kent (Doug Exworthy) of Seattle, WA, and John of Billings; grandchildren, Ashley (Jamie) Bente, Bryant Poush, and Lindsey (Adam) Clark; and seven great grandchildren, Rogan, Tate, Hadley, Riggs, Chasen, Ashton and Sophie, all of Minnesota.
