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Donald J. Towle• 1926 - 2009 Donald James Towle was born on October 9, 1926 in Jamestown, ND to Joseph Frank Towle and Martha Wilhelmina (Koehn) Towle. Don was the oldest child in his family. Don attended Franklin Elementary school, and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1944. During his high school years he worked at Walsh's Grocery Store. He joined the Army Reserve Program, and reported to basic engineering classes at South Dakota State in Brookings. Don was given a medical discharge from the Army in December of 1944. Don returned to Jamestown and went to work on a bridge crew for the Northern Pacific Railroad, drove truck for W.H. Noel Construction Co., Thompson Lumber, and Nash Finch. In 1950 Don started work for North Dakota Farmers Union as a bus driver. His travels included 13 trips to Washington, DC and numerous trips to St. Paul, Denver and Dallas. In 1955 Don moved to Minot, ND to work as a transport driver
for Farmers Union Federated which later became Cenex Transportation.
Don retired from Cenex in 1989 after 34 years of service. Don
was given an award for 2 million miles of safe driving. Don was a member of St. John the Apostle Church for 45 years. He served as a lector, Commentator, and CCD teacher for several years. Don and Charlotte made their first Marriage Encounter (M.E.) in May 1973. They felt a calling to serve the church through M.E., becoming a team couple and leading over 100 M.E. weekends over the next 20 years. Don is a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the American Legion as well as a past member of the Moose Lodge and the Eagles Club. He was very proud to be able to give all his kids a Catholic education at Bishop Ryan High School. Over the years Don & Charlotte hosted 12 high school foreign exchange students who attended Bishop Ryan, and all of them still call him "Dad." Don is survived by his wife Charlotte; sons Michael (Michele) Towle, Bismarck, ND; Steven (Tami Huff) Towle, Bismarck, ND; Patrick (April) Towle, Audubon, MN; and daughter Susan (Chad) Evenson, Minot, ND. Grandchildren Joseph (Amanda) Towle, Minneapolis, MN; Jessica Towle, Flagstaff, AZ; Amanda and John Towle, Minot, ND; Hunter, William, and Luke Huff Towle, Bismarck, ND; Gunner and Mariah Evenson, Minot, ND. Great-grandson Elijah Towle, Minneapolis, MN; and sister Joan (Paul) Neff, Yuma, AZ. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Martha Towle; brother Robert Joseph Towle; and sister Phyllis (Towle) Altringer and several nieces and nephews. It was Don's wish that in lieu of flowers all memorials be given to: Worldwide Marriage Encounter Visitation: Sunday, January 18, 2009 from noon until 4 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot and from 5 until 6 p.m. at the church Vigil Prayer Service: Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 6 pm at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, Minot Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, January 19, 2009 at 10:30 am at St. John The Apostle Catholic Church, Minot Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot
To sign the online guest register
for Don |
Donald
J. Towle, 82, Minot, died Thursday, January 15, 2009 in a Minot
hospital.