- Date Of Birth: May 25, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 26, 2012
- State: Idaho
Don never met a stranger, whether in cities or on the highest mountain tops! Yet, he was a “stranger in our midst,” as no one really knew the caring sensitive, generous man he was. Don was born May 25, 1936 in Twin Falls to Marvin Merritt Crofts and Eva Larsen Crofts, the 10th of 12 children. His mother died when he was 5 years old. Don was adopted by James Andersen of Rigby from the Boise Children’s Home when he was 9 years old. His siblings include had 11 biological brothers and sisters, 4 adopted brothers and sisters, and 5 foster brothers and sisters. At 16 he left home to make his own life. His chosen safe haven and second family were Les and Phyllis Franklin. Their children, Gloria, Patti, Judy, and Jim, were very much his sisters and brother. Howard Rutledge was also like a second dad to Don and has diligently checked on him since he has been sick. He married Wavaline Windle in Dillon, Montana in 1954. They had a daughter Dawn Rosemarie and a son Marvin Eugene. In 1956 they were divorced. On April 13, 1957 he married the love of his life, Gloria Sharleen Kruse, in Idaho Falls. They had a daughter Tina Marie and son Bradley Don. On May 16, 1978 they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. Don moved to Iona in 1957, where he raised his family. In 1985, Don and Gloria bought a cabin on the Idaho-Wyoming border close to Alpine. It was their little piece of heaven on weekends until they both retired in 1995. They then lived at the cabin full time until September 2005. They then returned to Iona. Don served in the US Air Force in 1955-1956 as an airframe repairman and shortly after his discharge he joined the Teamsters Local 983. He was a lifetime member, retiring 37 years later in 1993.
