Donald (Don) Elton Converse

Donald (Don) Elton Converse (Old What’s His Name) went to Heaven on Monday, February 18 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana.Surrounded by his family, he fought a valiant fight against cancer and complications associated.Thank you to Dr. Mel and Barb Margaris and Dr. Grant Harrer as well the staff at Peace Hospice for the amazing care and support through the years and in his last days. Don was born the second son to Elton and Leita Converse of Augusta, Montana, January 17, 1943.He was the second of three boys, joining Richard “Dick” and followed by Dale.They resided on the ranch west of Augusta.He attended and graduated from Augusta High School in 1961, then studied welding at the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND for two years.He went to work in Great Falls, MT, assisting his parents on the ranch as able, returning to Augusta permanently after his father’s accidental death in a tractor accident in 1968, to continue operations with his mother, Leita. He met Linda Scheid in Great Falls in the summer 1969, when she worked at GTA.They married on September 19, 1970 in Terry, Montana and settled on the ranch in Augusta.They were blessed with three daughters, Sarah in February 1974, Pamela in December 1976 and Teresa in May 1978 (on branding).His true joy were his grandchildren, Taylor, Loren and Bethany.Many lessons were learned by the girls and the grandkids.The experiences through the years have become stories that will never be duplicated. Don was a boisterous, friendly person, that never met a stranger.The word “serious” was not in his vocabulary.He was a lifetime member of the Augusta Community Church and a 25-year volunteer with the Augusta Ambulance Service.Don was actively involved in 4H as a youth and then as a leader through his life.He spent many years as the Northern Representative for Lincoln and Augusta to the 4H Council for Lewis & Clark County, standing up for the rural members.He finally retired his “pig board,” used during the swine shows, in 2015. He loved God, his family (especially his grandkids), ranching and the mountains.He is survived by his wife of 48 ½ years, Linda, daughters Sarah (Great Falls) and Pam (Conrad) Converse and Teresa Converse Lane and grandkids Taylor Converse Fleer, Loren and Bethany Lane (Augusta).Special grandchildren by heart Jordan (Black Hills, SD) and Tregg Olson (Augusta, MT).Brothers Dick (Mary) Converse of Great Falls, MT, Dale (Sharon) Converse Northville, MI, foster sister Bobbie Anna Ridgway Smith (Kalispell, MT), mother in law Delila Scheid of Terry, brothers in law Lynn (Cheryl) Scheid of Miles City, Ryan (Suzanne) Scheid of Mandan, ND, sister in law Rita Scheid of Terry, fifteen nieces and nephews, fifteen great nieces and nephews and eight great-great nieces and nephews.He is proceeded in death by his parents Elton and Leita Converse, his aunt Maudie Bean and his father in law Harold Scheid. Cremation has taken place by Schneider Funeral Home in Great Falls.A memorial service shall be held on Monday, February 25th, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Augusta Community Church with a reception to follow at the Augusta Youth Center, Augusta, Montana. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Augusta Community Church Children’s Programs, Augusta Volunteer Ambulance Service or to the Don Converse/Augusta Livestock 4H Club Scholarship fund.