Donald Gross

Donald D. Gross, 87, of Clancy, a U.S. Army and MANG veteran and retired field engineer, died of natural causes on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at a care facility in Clancy, MT.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.Burial of ashes will take place at Highland Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 with military honors for both Donald and his wife, Callie. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Donald was born August 11, 1925 in Ekalaka, Montana and raised in Montana until he moved to Chico, CA in 1936. After graduating high school, Donald continued his education in the US Army EOD Program, nuclear weapons school and Red Eye Program. He married Callie Joyce Proctor on December 24, 1948 in Oakland, CA. He completed his high school education in night classes in Oakland.In 1942, he enlisted in the US Army as a EOD man until 1948 and was the recipient of the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. Donald retired from the Army in 1985 after 29 1/2 years of service. He worked as the engineer/winter caretaker at Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park for 4-1/2 years.He was a member of the Cascade Masonic Lodge since 1961, Knights Templar, Disabled Americans Veterans, American Legion, Albedoo Shrine in Billings, and the Eastern Star Olive Chapter.Donald enjoyed reading, plastic models, hunting, teaching hunter's education, and working as a gunsmith while living in Great Falls, MT and was an expert marksman.Donald is survived by daughters, Susan Elaine (Rudy) Sosa of Corpus Christi, TX and Linda Zoe (Tom) Hurlock of Anaconda, MT; two grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his wife, Callie Joyce Gross.Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.