Donald E. Van Vliet 75 of Ferndale Montana passed away at his home Saturday August 29th 2015. He was born to the late Donald M. Van Vliet and Elizabeth M. Backer in Roseville California Dec. 20 1939. As a child Donald enjoyed summers working on his Grandfathers dairy farm who was one of the first settlers in Franklin California, he lays to rest at Franklin’s old cemetery. Some of his relatives include Donald's 4th Great Grandfather explorer Alexander Hamilton Willard of the Great Lewis and Clark Expedition. Donald also enjoyed adventures as a child including hunting, fishing and building boats. He became an Eagle Scout as a teenager and then joined the National Guard. In 1961 Donald graduated Heald Engineering College in Sacramento California for electronics and then joined the United States Army. He trained at Redstone Arsenal Huntsville Alabama Army Ordnance Guided Missile School. Donald graduated as a ballistic missile test station repairman. From 1961 to 1970 he served as a Section Chief in a sergeant missile system maintenance company in Europe and Southeast Asia, then returned back to Redstone Arsenal to be an instructor for the guided missile system. Donald ended his Army career as a Staff Sargent E-6. In 1970 he was hired at Roseville Telephone Company as an installer repairman until 1977. In 1978 he was hired by Pacific Telecom INC. in Chiloquin Oregon where he and his wife Joan built their log home and had four children. He worked there for 12 years as a Central Office Equipment Technician doing installation, repairs, switchman and splicing. In 1990 Donald moved his family to Bigfork Montana where he bought 10 acres in Ferndale at the base of the Rocky Mountains. He worked in Kalispell and Bigfork. Donald retired from CenturyTel Communications in 2002 and spent the rest of his life enjoying time with his family and the beauty and solitude of his cabin in the woods. Donald is survived by his six daughters Johanna Van Vliet of Auburn CA. Brandi Bruce of Incline Village NV. Rosalie Van Vliet of Bigfork MT, Sarah Van Vliet of Maui HI. Marie Mercer of Cranbrook BC. Danielle Thompson of Kalispell MT and their mother Joan Murnane - Van Vliet of Bigfork MT. Plus twelve Grandchildren and Six Great Grandchildren. Don was a longtime resident of Bigfork with many friends. Anyone who would like to attend the celebration of his life is welcome to join us in remembering our beloved Donald. Services will be held at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork on Saturday October 10th at 11:00 AM.