Donald (Don) Lee Bisgard

Donald (Don) Lee Bisgard passed away peacefully on July 25, 2024, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana at the age of 77. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home and a memorial service will be held on September 28, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Great Falls, a reception will follow the service. A private family graveside service will be held at the Western Montana Vets State Cemetery to inurn his ashes.

Don was born in Webster, South Dakota on December 16, 1946, to Herbert and Rose Bisgard.  He was raised in Waubay, South Dakota on the family farm and graduated from Waubay High School in 1964. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corp between 1964 and 1967, and he served time in Viet Nam in 1965 and 1966. He married Katheen Stee, daughter of Manford and Mildred Stee of Ortley, South Dakota on August 26, 1967, in Watertown, South Dakota.

He attended Moorehead State College in the spring semester of 1967 and transferred to Northern State College in Aberdeen, South Dakota between 1967 and 1970, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Don and Kathi moved to Howard, South Dakota in October of 1970, where he was the General Manager with Farmer’s Union Oil Company until June of 1973. Their first daughter, Melissa K. was born on June 29, 1973, and around that same time he accepted a job with First State Bank in Redfield, South Dakota until January 1974, at which time he took a position with Cenex as a District marketing Supervisor in Glendive, Montana where he eventually supervised two marketing areas covering northeast and eastern Montana. Their second daughter, Abby Rose was born on October 22, 1977.  He was transferred with Cenex to Great Falls, Montana when he became District Marketing Manager where he eventually managed two marketing areas covering the western half of Montana. While working for Cenex in Great Falls he became the Business Service Manager and was a top sales producer of business service products and then became their Reginal Business Service Manager and he managed sales and business service managers in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. In 1988, he made a significant shift and became an Investment Executive with Piper Jaffray & Hopwood, and eventually became their Assistant Vice President and then Vice President. Piper Jaffray was eventually bought out by Stifel Nicolaus who he continued to work for. In early 1989, Don and his friend, Mike Holland built M & D Construction from the ground up, starting with a small amount of hand tools and one employee. The company grew and established a reputation for their quality work and customer confidence throughout Great Falls. Don also was an active member of the Masons and the Shrine Club which he was especially proud of because he always had a special place in his heart for children and it was very important to him that the Shriner’s Hospital provided free medical care to children.

Being the oldest of 4 boys, Don took on a roll of responsibility while at the same time he always wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcomed and taken care of; and wherever you were he would be the “go to guy” and he enjoyed making sure everything was coordinated and pleasant for everyone. He loved his grandchildren and always tried to have special events planned for them. Mathew and Jordan loved spending time at the cabin at Flathead Lake with grandpa and grandma and going to visit them at the “big house” in Great Falls where they would spend many hours playing together and throwing stuffed animals down the laundry chute. Grace especially loved the trips together on the road in their RV returning to each place once again, grandpa made sure to plan out for everyone to enjoy and create special memories for his grandchildren. Despite spending much of his later years in and out of the hospital because of a tough cancer diagnosis and eventually needing to go to a care facility because of his increased needs for care he never lost his sense of humor. Throughout his entire journey he made jokes with his grown children and grandchildren and valued the care that his many nurses and care givers provided him. He had a great ability to make others smile and his warmth and genuine care will be missed greatly.

Don is survived by his wife, Kathleen of Great Falls; children, Melissa (Missy) Hameline of Missoula and Abby Clegg (Matt) of Missoula; grandchildren, Jordan Alexandra Hameline, Mathew Lee Clegg and Grace Rose Clegg; brothers, Peter Bisgard (Leah) of Waubay, South Dakota and Curtis Bisgard (Betty) of Yankton, South Dakota.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Bill.Memorial donations are suggested to Shriners Children’s Hospital at 911 W 5th Ave, Spokane, Washington 99204 ; Benefis Peace Hospice at 2600 15th Ave S., Great Falls, Montana 59405 or a charity of your choice.