Donald Ray Lucke, 72, passed away the snowy morning of Feb. 26, earlier this year, 2017. Death came after nearly a decade of decline associated with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal degeneration. He was surrounded by family and the caring attendants at Hidden Meadow Memory Care in Columbia Falls. His family will be hosting a celebration of life on June 23 at his home north of Bigfork. Those who knew Don are welcome to attend.
Don was born Jan. 10, 1945, in Glasgow to Herman and Shirley (Oliver) Lucke. He and his two brothers, Richard and Leroy, grew up in the East Glacier Park area where the family operated a dude ranch. His childhood and early 20s were spent in the mountains on horseback as a hunting and fishing guide. The many encounters with wildlife provided a lifetime of stories.
In 1965, he met “Kathy” Patricia Katherine Speyer, while she was working at the East Glacier Park Hotel. He finally convinced her to marry him on July 18, 1970, in Spokane. They had two sons, Jeremy and Nathan. A third son, Eric, died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in infancy. In 1983 they moved to the Bigfork area where he lived until his care required otherwise.
Don may be remembered by Flathead Valley residents as the friendly customer service face of Lucke’s Art and Craft Supplies on Main Street in Kalispell from 1993 to 2005. Together with Kathy they owned and managed the retail business that sold a wide variety of materials and tools used in many types of arts and crafts.
In 2006 Don and Kathy were also commended by the Montana Preservat-ion Alliance for excellence in historic restoration of The Culbertson House, a hotel originally built in 1882 in Fort Benton by Kathy’s ancestors.
Montana drivers may remember Don from his 15 years of maintaining the state’s highways. He was employed with the Montana Department of Transportation in both the Summit (East Glacier) and Bigfork sections.
While attending high school shop class in Browning (graduated 1964), Don learned to turn wood on a lathe. At various times in life, he made a variety of utilitarian and beautiful wooden objects as a side business.
Horses, while not the focus of his life, were always present. Don’s calm, friendly and caring personality worked well with horses. He grew hay, broke horses, mended tack and fixed equipment. This way of life allowed him to pursue his love of the mountains and to enjoy the beauty of Montana. With their love of adventure, he and Kathy traveled to many spectacular areas of the world and appreciated the beauty of wild places.
His gentle and friendly presence will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Don is survived by his wife Kathy Lucke, brother Leroy Lucke, son Jeremy Lucke and Jullie Jackson, and son Nathan and Amy (Zinne) Lucke with grandchildren Jack and Alix.
Donations may be made to the Association of Fronto-Temporal Degeneration; www.theaftd.org.