Marvin Lee Donahue Sr.

1926 - 2012

Marvin Lee Donahue Sr., 85, of Belgrade passed away March 15, 2012. He was born Aug. 29, 1926 in Bozeman to Tuck and Lila (Hayes) Donahoo.

Marvin was educated at Gallatin County schools and joined the Navy in 1945. After being honorably discharged, he married Leona Mae Parsons on Sept. 19, 1946 in Bozeman. The couple settled near Kelly Canyon and bought their house in Belgrade in 1961.

Marvin worked at Shadoan Sawmill, Kessler Dairy, Parsons Logging, Kenny Gee Ranches as a combiner, and as a veterinary researcher at Montana State University for 30 years. He retired from MSU in 1984. He later worked for Weidenaar Potatoes and as a greeter at Walmart.

Marvin was quite the outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, arrowhead collecting, trapping (he trapped beaver for the government), horn hunting, asparagus and mushroom hunting, gardening and 4-wheeling. He also enjoyed road trips with his family on Sundays, going to stock auctions and out to dinner at Gusick's in Billings. He is famous for his smoked fish. Marvin was also a decorated, sponsored bowler. He worked as a pin setter at the old arcade in Bozeman. He sponsored many teams that went to state and national competitions. He went to the Bowling Nationals in Las Vegas, Reno, Tulsa, Mississippi, Corpus Christi and was inducted into the Bowling Hall of Fame in 2002. He was on a bowling team with his son Donnie who passed away in 1994.

Marvin was a 45 plus year member of the Eagles. He was an officer and state grandfather in 2011.

Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Leona; his son, Donnie; his brothers, Carl "Junie" Erickson Jr. and Esley "Sonny" James Donahoo; his sisters, Jeanette Covey, Ernistine Krumenacker and Alberta Bacus.

Marvin is survived by his son, Marvin Jr. and wife, Mary Jo of Belgrade; his grandchildren, Scott Donahue of Belgrade, Sabrina Donahue of Oregon, Troy (Kristina) Donahue of Salem, Ore., Jill (Jay) Burris of Salem, Ore., and Corey (Sherry) Donahue of Three Forks; his great-grandchildren, Ryan, Isabella, Regann, Kaden, Kyler, Justin, Jennifer, Jonathan "Hank," Tristen and Kiera; and sisters, Darleen McMillan of Belgrade, and Carleen Clark of Twin Bridges.

Marvin's family would like to thank the staffs at Rocky Mountain Hospice, Mountain View Care Center, the Veterans Administration and Dr. Robbins.

A visitation will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2012 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Dahl Funeral Chapel.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.