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A luncheon will be served by the Bonners Ferry United Methodist women following the service.
Donald Joel Alexander was born on July 21, 1942, in Bonners Ferry to Matthew and Florence (Douglas) Alexander.
Don grew up on the family farm in Parker Canyon and rode his horse to Cow Creek School. He later attended school in Bonners Ferry and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1961. Don entered the army in 1962, where he was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharge in 1965.
He then went to work at Alexander Towing and Central Solvents in Spokane. While working at Alexanders he married Julie Brazier. With this marriage he gained a daughter, Leslie, and had one more daughter, Lisa. They later divorced.
While still in Spokane, he married Pat Nelson Fulgham and gained two daughters, Stephanie and Danielle. They had one daughter together, Lael.
They moved back to Bonners Ferry, building a home on his family farm. While in Bonners Ferry, Don worked at the saw mill and drove logging truck and worked for the railroad as a signalman. He went to work at the City of Bonners Ferry in 1983 as a lineman.
Don and Pat later divorced.
In 2001, Don renewed an old relationship with Gayle Boyce Ralph and they married later that year. With that union, Don gained a son. Don and Gayle remained married until his passing.
Don retired in 2004. He and Gayle traveled in their RV for several years until health problems changed their plans and they were forced to stay closer to home. He remained in his Parker Canyon home until his passing.
Don was devoted to the 4-H program and was a leader for 15 years. He also served on the fair board for 15 years, where he was instrumental in getting the new pig and sheep barn built. He enjoyed camping, picking huckleberries, fishing and traveling in their RV. One of his favorite trips was a family trip to the Oregon Coast with all the kids and grandkids.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Matthew and Florence Alexander, and his grandson, C.J. Erickson.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle, daughters Leslie (Paul), Lisa, Stephanie (Chris), Danielle, and Lael (Bill) and son Bob. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Samantha Shelton, Natalie Shelton, Zoe Shelton, Charlie Shelton, Mikki Erickson, Sasha Alexander, Austin Kerr, Gabriel Lewandowski, Gavin Lewandowski, Destinee Davis, Echo Davis, Lexie Levesque, Kaylee McCabe, Matthew McCabe, Steven Diller and Michael Diller, and great grandchildren Pyre Sepulveda, Gabriel Green and Joslyn Green.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don’s honor to the local Bonners Ferry 4-H program or to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org or 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.