Donald Lee Haynes

Donald Lee Haynes was born on February 12th, 1935. He passed away February 20th, 2022, at the age of 87. His funeral service will be on March 3rd at 12:00 at the United Methodist Church in Valier and he will be laid to rest at the Lakeview Cemetery in Valier.

Don was the 6th of 7 children born to Ed and Agatha (Stoltz) Haynes.   He graduated from Valier High School in 1952 and on February 15th, 1953. Three days after his 18th birthday, he married his high school sweetheart, Eva McGrew.  They farmed together for 58 years and in 2010 they moved into their retirement home in Cut Bank.   Although it was thought Don retired, he never really did, you know the old saying “You can take the farmer off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the farmer”.   It was what he knew and what he loved.

Don owned many horses during his life, and they were one of his greatest joys.  Flash was raised from a colt and was his “Ole reliable work horse” and a force on the Polo field.  Don played on the 2 time State Polo team of 1964 and 1965.  “Brandy” was his high-spirited mare that could carry him thru anything and put him in the hospital during one of her moments.

Don and mom rode their horses every day when they were young, it didn’t matter what the weather was.  If Ed needed his cows worked, they were on their horses.  Later dad and mom had a herd of Black Angus cattle of their own.  Don knew each cow by looking at her and knew what kind of a mother she was, a mellow one or one you wanted to give a wide berth.

Don and Eva also spent many weekends dancing at the old elementary school with friends.  What amazing dancers they became.   When time permitted, they attended Omaksees, enjoying the games and races on their horses.

Many fall seasons after harvest was over, dad and mom would pack the horses and head in behind Swift Dam for a vacation.  They hunted and enjoyed their time in the woods away from the everyday stress.   Candy and Randy got to go with them on 2 of these trips.  The first trip was beautiful weather and Don carved rifles out of wood, and we played Daniel Boone and Mingo for hours.   The next and last trip for us was rainy, snowy and cold.  It was probably not a stress-free trip for them as it was our last.

Randy was Don’s right-hand man even when he was little.  Don had him driving all of the farm equipment and that was more to Randy’s liking as he sure didn’t like riding horses.  Candy on the other hand liked to ride and gather the cows.  In 1966, Staci was born and in so many pictures she would be sitting on dad’s lap eating marshmallows or raisins out of a cup when he came in for a break.  She was his little girl and he was her hero.

In 1994, Don and Eva built a log cabin in Slippery Bill at Bear Creek.  This was the beginning of many happy years of snowmobiling with family and friends.  Don could talk for hours about all the trips made into the back country, lots of funny stories and some not so funny, like the time he went over an edge on his snowmobile and broke his leg.  Don and Eva loved this cabin and were so proud to share it with their kids and grandkids.  Christmas was spent at the cabin all but 3 of the last 27 years and became a tradition for his grandchildren right up to this day. Don and Randy started Bear Creek grooming in 1997, and groomed the snowmobile trails together for 14 years.

Don was a good farmer, the farm always came first and like all farmers know, there are more bad years than good ones, but he expanded the land and the equipment and kept on working.  Don, Eva and Randy worked this farm together and were very proud of what they had accomplished.

Don loved his grandkids and great grandkids.  He was always prepared to make them a Green River, Jurassic Park, Coke or Root Beer float when they visited and the candy drawer was always stocked.   Don was a very generous man and would always lend whatever he had without hesitation.

Don had a stroke on October 20th, 2020 and spent 10 days in Benefis before being sent to the Cut Bank hospital for comfort care.  Don had a great will to live. He worked hard to bring himself almost back to his pre-stroke self.  In January 2021 he moved to the Beehive home in Conrad until his passing.  During this time, he spent a lot of time riding around the streets of Conrad in his ranger with Cory or riding his scooter while the girls rode their bikes, or telling stories during dinner for Miesha’s memories book.

Don was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Eva; his siblings, Marian, Winnie, Phyllis, Eddie and a newborn brother; and lifelong friend Larry Stoltz.  He is survived by his children, Candy (Kurt) Johnson of Havre, Randy (Tina) Haynes of the family farm and Staci (Robert) Mazurkiewicz of Cut Bank; his beloved grandchildren, Brandi Baker of Havre;  Brady Johnson of Columbia Falls;  Cory (Miesha) Mazurkiewicz of Conrad;  MacKenzie (Drake) Zubatch of Havre;  Kacie (Charlie) Mack of Havre;  Bryce (Jonnie) Mazurkiewicz of Havre;  Lacie (Nicholas) Mitchell of Overland Park, KS;  Paige (Dillan) Mazurkiewicz (Bahr) of Anaconda;  Joey (Casey) Tilleman of Havre; Tucker (Heather) Klette of Valier;  Kyle (Paulina) Klette of Scottsdale AZ; 17 great grandchildren;  his brother, Jerry (MaryAnn) Haynes of Chelan, WA; many nieces, nephews and cousins.