Donald D. Mitchell

Don Mitchell was born January 15, 1949 to Hazel and Marion "Doc" Mitchell in Lansing, Michigan where his father attended Michigan State College School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon his father's graduation, the family moved to Shepherd, Michigan and then to Browns Valley, Minnesota where he began school. Later, the family moved to Pierre, South Dakota where Don entered second grade and graduated from high school. He entered the Army on June 26, 1968. He met his wife Alexa "Lexie" Riley, March 13, 1971, while attending Northern State Teacher's College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He obtained a degree in Business Administration. While in Rapid City, South Dakota Don was employed by the South Dakota Department of Labor. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where Don was then employed as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America. Don was a Master Mason with Mt. Rushmore Masonic Lodge No. 220. During his life, Don was always quick to volunteer and was a soccer coach for his boys and very active with the Boy Scouts as a Scoutmaster. He was a member and volunteered with the Fort Collins Digital Camera Club as the Committee Chairman in Charge of Programs and Education and with the Rocky Mountain Modeleers where he enjoyed flying gas powered radio controlled airplanes. An avid hunter and fisherman, he enjoyed the many opportunities within Colorado with his family and friends. Recently Don had taken up photography and as a member of the Fort Collins Digital Camera Club and Loveland Photographic Society he learned to hone his skill and was being recognized for his outdoor photography and photographs of birds and animals. Don's real joy came from his trust in his salvation through his Lord Jesus Christ and the time he was able to spend with his family. He will be missed by his many friends and family and the laughter he brought to everyone's life. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dr. and Mrs. M. D. Mitchell. He is survived by his devoted wife, Alexa Mitchell of Fort Collins; sons, Donovan Mitchell of Boone, Iowa, and Jason and Heather Mitchell of Johnston, Iowa and grandchildren, Typhannie, Cherise, Trinity, Teija, Collin, Jaida, and great-grandson, Bryson; two sisters, Bonnie and Robert Oleson of Waconia, Minnesota and Darleen and James Oertle of Wichita, Kansas; three nieces, two nephews, five grandnephews, and three grandnieces. A Funeral Service will be Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at Timberline Church, South Auditorium, fort collins, Colorado. Interment with Military Honors will be held Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery, 20901 Pleasant Valley Drive, Sturgis, South Dakota. Memorial contributions can be made to Alliance Defense Fund or Wycliffe Bible Translators in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524.