Douglas "Dougie" Mendenhall

Douglas Glen Mendenhall, 53, of Great Falls, died of congestive heart failure at Peace Hospice of Montana on July 28, 2013.His funeral mass is at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 1:00 p.m., with a reception following. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Doug was born on April 8, 1960 in Glendive, MT to Edward Douglas and Lorraine Morasko Mendenhall. He struggled getting into this world and living in this world. He was born deaf and the deafness went undetected until he was three years old, he had these big brown eyes and the longest eyelashes, and the biggest smile he just would point and everyone would just fetch, there were a lot of girl cousins older than him that carried him around like a doll so he was spoiled rotten. He learned how to read lips in the crib, and went to speech therapy for years. He went to Rochester, MN to the Mayo Clinic where they determined the nerves in his ears were not developed. The family moved to Great Falls for him to attend the School for the Deaf and Blind in 1966. He was easy to understand and made fast friends. Dad refused to learn sign language saying that Doug had to live in a hearing world and he needed to be able to communicate with his voice. He really liked to be called Doug but since dad was called Doug we just called him Dougy. Mom became an activist to get things changed at MSDB. Mom and Dad were Dougy's rock and security. Dougy liked to have a good time , he had a hearty and infectious laugh. He was very sensitive and caring. Everything was his favorite . He always thought he was the boss, whereas his sisters would set him straight. He enjoyed playing pinochle and cribbage and doing word searches. Doug liked to watch closed captioned tv and movies. He liked comedies the best. He read the newspaper every day. Another great thing that gave him a better quality of life was the cell phone and text messaging, it was far better than the tty machine. He had an uncanny knack for remembering birthdays and ages, he never forgot anyone's name who he met. Doug was an avid and successful fisherman and also liked to hunt deer, elk and shoot gophers. He could sing one song ... The Farmer in the Dell . He liked music and dancing and kept time with the vibrations he felt. He was a big flirt with all the pretty girls. He liked a good joke and to be around people and having many friends. He was deathly afraid of rattlesnakes. Dougy attended classes at MSDB, East Junior High and Great Falls High School. He played football and was on the wrestling team at East Junior High and was a letterman in basketball at MSDB. He graduated from MSDB in 1979. Doug started working with his dad at Mendenhall Drilling at a very young age. With his dad and brother Ed he worked as a Hot Shot in the oil fields. He worked for the MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and as a laborer at various jobs. He helped his mom with Lorraine's Catering, mixing meatballs, slicing meat and washing dishes. Doug spent a lot of time out at the Somerfeld farm, driving trucks, unloading grain, harvesting, feeding cattle, fixing fence, mowing, irrigating and helping with Leona's catering. He loved branding time. Lori was good about having him over for dinner and keeping doctor appointments straight. Doug married Lorenda George in 1988, they later divorced. He was the caregiver for his parents until their passing, he missed them every day. He had a heart attack and then was diagnosed with diabetes. He truly hated that his body failed him and he did not like having the many limitations, the many doctor appointments and pills. We all have many, many Dougy stories and memories. Dougy made us more conscious of the struggles a handicap person faces. He was always protected by his parents and relatives and the protectiveness continued with his siblings. He was loved by everyone, but he also was a challenge and a trial at times. Dougy always looked so young, no gray hair, a boyish face and a youthful playfulness, very innocent in many ways. He was always talking about Nenona's white hair, she told him he gave her the white hair! It was pretty disheartening when people mistook her for his mother at appointments! He was also very strong and stubborn. When he was done listening to reason he would close his eyes, he closed them a lot some days. He looked up to the men and boys in our family. He really loved his nephews Dustin, Corbett and Bomont Somerfeld, Chad, Brad and Matthew Mendenhall and nieceAlecia Hammer Gloege. Then came the great nephews Javier, Zane and Kade and great nieces Jersey and Henley Somerfeld. It was cute and sure pleased Dougy when they would do some sign language. He was able to attend some basketball and football games Brad, Javy and Zane were playing in. Chad became his chauffer the past couple of years. He spent a lot of time with the Somerfeld boys working together. Doug died from congestive heart failure at Peace Hospice of Montana on July 28, 2013. His struggles are over, he can hear the angels singing, and he has been united with Jesus and reunited with his mom and dad and all his relatives and friends who went before him. We will truly miss our Dougy. He is survived by his siblings Leona (David) Somerfeld of Power, Lori (Dennis) Hammer, and Ed (Julie) Mendenhall of Great Falls. The above mentioned nephews and nieces. Aunts: Mary Morasko Kitzenberg, Jackie, Ann and Doris Morasko, and Dolly Mendenhall. He has numerous cousins he leaves behind. Two very loyal and devoted friends and interpreters are Kay Walters and Kym Stevens. He was preceded in death by his parents, Uncles and Aunts; Felix and Chuck Mendenhall, Joe, Albert and Janice, Jerry and Noni, John and Paul Morasko. Cousins Dale and Mike Flaten and Kerry Flaten Shuldberg. Memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice of Montana, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405.