Don Roben Knievel

1936 - 2026

Mr. Don R. Knievel passed away on January 7th, 2026 at the Springs of Butte, a long-term care and rehabilitation facility in Butte, Montana. Don was born on December 30th, 1936 in Butte Montana, the second oldest of 3 children, born to Naomi and Donald Knievel.

Don was a true Butte native, born and raised from birth.  He attended Hawthorne grade school and graduated from Butte High.  He started working at 9 years old selling various household products in town, moving on to a newspaper route at 12.  In 1949 he joined his grandfather and father in a tire recapping shop named Knievel Tire and Supply.  Once his grandfather retired the tire shop, he joined his father at his father’s newly formed Hardware store, Montana Valley Hardware. In 1959 he married Adella Ann Ament Knievel after a blind date and 3 months of romance.  In 1960 Don joined Safeway in Helena MT where he became a Non-foods Manager trainee as a way to build a more stable life to start a family, transferring back to Butte after 6 months and continued to work at the 5 different Safeway stores located in Butte until 1965.  With his extensive sales training, Don then took a leap of faith into the life insurance business where he settled in for the rest of his career, building a thriving business that also included work in the financial growth industry.  From 1954 to 1966 Don also proudly served his country in the Army Reserves.

After Don secured a more stable income, he and Adella began to build a family in Butte, ultimately raising their 3 children to adulthood.

Don was involved with many organizations over the year’s, most prominently the Butte Rotary club which he joined in 1972 through his father Don, to continue the Knievel family honor of serving the community since 1915 when his Great-Uncle A.J. (Tony) Knievel was a charter member.  Don Served as VP of the Butte Rotary club 1981-82, President 1982-83, and District Governor serving Montana from 1987-88.  He remained an active member of the local Butte club for many years before retiring from club duties.  

Don also was involved in many civic organizations including the Red Cross, the Butte YMCA, and fund raising committees for the Jaycee’s and the Butte Art Chateau. He also spent several years as a member of the National Ski Patrol volunteering at the Deep Creek Ski Area – Wise River, MT.

His favorite pass times were golf, skiing, bowling, hunting, and golf.

Don was preceded in death by his grandparents Eva & George Gates, and Emma & Ignatius Knievel, his parents Naomi and Donald Knievel, his older sister Linda Lou Knievel, his sister-in-law Sandy Knievel, and his beautiful wife Adella Knievel.   

Don led a full life and will be missed by his surviving family, Daughters Dana Knievel and Marci Robinson; son-in-law Christopher Robinson; granddaughter Rachel Robinson; Son Gregory Knievel; Brother Kurt Knievel; Sister-in-laws Mary Otto and Becky Ament; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended relatives in both the Knievel and Ament families.

Friends may call on Saturday, January 24, 2026, between the hours of 10am – 11am at the Duggan Dolan Funeral home - 1805 Meadowlark Ln, Butte, MT 59701.  A Private Rite of Committal will be held in the Columbarium of Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery at a later date.