Donnie ‘Don’ Ray Lacefield
June 4, 1940 — Sept. 26, 2011
Don Lacefield, 71, passed away on Sept. 26, 2011 in Flagstaff, Ariz., from complications of lung cancer. He and his wife were on their way home from Casa Grande, Ariz., where they spent the winters for the past five seasons. He was taking chemo treatments at the Mayo Clinic and just finished his sixth treatment. They didn’t get further than Flagstaff where they had to take him to the ER. He had blood clots in both lungs and fluid building in his right lung. The medical center and doctors made progress for nine days saying he could be discharged on Monday. Monday morning the fluid came back with a vengeance and in both lungs; the day we were going home.
Don was born in Montrose, Colo. on June 4, 1940 to his parents, Clifford and Ada Lacefield of 601 N. Nevada Ave. He grew up there and graduated from Montrose High School in 1958. He married Jan Bish in 1960 and had two daughters, Tami Leigh (Delta, Colo.) and Lori Lynn (Denver, Colo.) He married Rose Burgess and had a step-daughter, Patrice. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Kruger in May, 1982. They remained married almost 30 years until Don’s death. They had no children. He had two lovely granddaughters, Kisha (Denver, Colo.) and Christy (Delta, Colo.) He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren, Logan, Sean, Angel and Madison. He is also survived by his two brothers, John (Marie) of Ridgway, Colo. and David (Judy) of Grand Junction; four nephews, Mark of Spanish Fork, Utah, Mike of Grand Junction, Colo., David of Denver, Colo. and Robert of Grand Junction, Colo.
Don left Montrose shortly after graduation to go to a job fair in Denver, where he was hired by the Boilermakers’ to begin an apprenticeship as a union welder. He was initiated July, 1963. From that point on he was with the Boilermakers’ for 40 years. During that time, he traveled all over the country welding at power and nuclear plants and various other job sites and was a lifetime member of the Denver Local 101. In 1971, he was elected one of the youngest business agents ever and was re-elected in 1974. In November 1975, he was appointed to the international staff as an International Representative as well as a hearing officer. He was in that position for nearly 20 years. In 2000, he was appointed Vice-President of the Western States for the Boilermakers’ to replace the previous VP, who resigned. A year later, he was officially elected to that office. He retired in June of 2003.
Don was always passionate at whatever work, hobby, or project he would undertake. With the Boilermakers’ he was always for the “members.” He didn’t care about the politics involved and he would fight fiercely for any injustice. He was respectful, fair and caring, but you didn’t want to cross him. In turn, he was also respected for those qualities while working for the union. You always knew where you stood with him. He had many friends in his work and in his personal life. He would always complete a project and never started another one until that first one was done. He had a tremendous capacity to concentrate intently. His real passion, for almost 20 years, was to restore old cars and trucks. During that time, he had completed at least 12 trucks and cars of different years and various states of disrepair. He was very proud of those vehicles, and he and his brother, John, worked daily on those cars for the past eight years. Don was a very responsible person in his career and with his family. He was an excellent provider who always went above and beyond for his family and friends. He is already severely missed and was deeply loved by all who knew him. He has left far too soon, but God’s time is not our time. Thank you, Lord, for allowing him not to suffer breathing any more. We all love you very much.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at the United Church of the San Juans, 295 N. Lena St., in Ridgway. Refreshments will be served following the service, and a private burial will be held at 3 p.m. at Grand View Cemetery in Montrose. In lieu of flowers, please send any remembrances of Don to the American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, or the United Church of the San Juans. Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.crippinfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
