Donald Fletcher Davies

Donald Fletcher Davies, 68

October 4, 1952 - July 13, 2021

Donald Fletcher Davies, known to many as Don, Slim, Stinky but mostly Cinch, left this world at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, July 13th after a long battle against cancer. He was born on October 4, 1952, to Stan and Hilda Davies in Missoula, joining Stan's older children, Bruce and Susan, later to be joined by brother JD and sisters Vicky and Leann. The family lived in Missoula and Polson before settling in Ennis. Cinch graduated from Ennis High School in 1971, lettering in basketball and track his senior year.

In November of that year, he enlisted in the US Navy, giving his mom a phone call to let her know he was shipping out. He was assigned to the USS Hollister before being assigned to the USS Long Beach. While serving during the Vietnam War, he earned several medals and commendations.

After the service, he returned to Ennis for a short time before joining The Montana Power Company in 1976, landing in Butte, to work as a Communications Technician. He remained at the company for 37 years, retiring in 2013 from Northwestern Energy, making many friends and finding the love of his life, Bonnie Matthews, along the way.

Thanks to a company bowling tournament, they started dating and were married on March 27, 1981, when he became a dad to her son, Neil. Over the next 40 years they shared many adventures, from camping and riding ATVs in the forests of Montana to snorkeling in the ocean off the Hawaiian coasts and cruising the Caribbean Sea to finally finding a retirement spot in Apache Junction, AZ to snow bird during the cold Montana winters.

If you knew Cinch, you knew he never sat still for long. He could often be found taking a walk, puttering in the garage, fixing his ATVs, swimming in pretty much any body of water, or running around with his grandson, Hunter, and all of his nieces and nephews.

Cinch is survived by his loving wife, Bonnie, who took care of him until the very end, his son Neil LaPalm and his wife Heidi, and grandson, Hunter Dixon, brothers Bruce Davies and his wife Gail, JD Davies, sisters Vicky Eblen and her husband Lance, and Leann Leyva, sisters and brothers in law, Charlotte and Dar Noyes, Kay and Denny Sullivan, Carol and Rich Henningsen, Don Matthews, and Debbie and Kirk Petersen. He's also survived by many beloved nephews and nieces and their children and best buddies Lewie, Joe, and Dano. His little partner, granddog Marty, who rested his head on those big feet for hours, will miss him too.

His parents and sister-in-law Linda Matthews preceded him in death.

A Celebration of Life for Cinch will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at the Copper King Hotel in the Grand Ballroom, 4655 Harrison Ave. Any and all who knew Cinch are invited to join us in this celebration. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donation to Camp Mak-A-Dream or a charity of choice.

Cinch loved his wife deeply and was a good man, who raised a good man, who raised another good man. And really, what better mark can a man leave on this earth?

A Strong Man

He will not let anyone see the terrors he holds inside

Yet, he is not afraid to cry

He is strong for everyone else on the outside

Always there for whoever is in need

He is a rock, he knows no greed

So sincere in all he does

Kindness is all his heart knows

He is a Strong Man, the strongest I have ever known

Gentle is his eyes, his generosity flies

Soars beyond the skies

He is real and that is rare

Positively one of a kind

A caring father

A respectful son

A loving lover

A Strong Man

-Ashley Dowdy

Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Cinch.

Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Cinch and his family.