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Donald Gardener Obituary
At his request, no services are planned. Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home of Rapid City is in charge of arrangements.
Don was born Oct. 16, 1920, to Albert H. and Selma (Johnson) Gardener, and was raised on the family homestead one mile south of the Canadian border in the Sweet Grass Hills east of Interstate 15, also known as the Al-Can Highway in Montana. He was the last of five siblings.
Don served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, and was a mechanic on P-38 and P-51 aircraft, stationed in England.
He married Doreen Hawkins in June 1944, and they had two children, Gloria "Diane" and Donald "Glenn" Jr. They were later divorced.
In 1948, Don moved to Great Falls, Mont., where he met and later married LeNaire Peters on Dec. 5, 1948. Don started "Don's Shoe Repair," which he operated along with three laundromats until retiring in 1996 and moving to Rapid City, S.D.
Don is survived by his daughter, Diane White of London; his son, Glenn Gardener of Sydney, Australia; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife LeNaire in 1987.
Condolences may be posted online at www.behrenswilson.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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