Donald Oversen, age 90, of Miles City

On the morning of April 1, 2014, Donald “Don” Earl Oversen passed away of natural causes at the Miles City VA Community Living Center. His son Gary Oversen was with him as he slipped peacefully away.

Don was born at home on January 12, 1924 in Sidney, Montana to Niels Peter and Julia Marie Christensen Oversen, the sixth of seven children. Don’s parents were dairy farmers and he learned early the value and ethos of hard work and responsibility.

Don and his two brothers also had a bit of “wild west” in them and would often sneak away to ride calves, however the wild west caught up with them one day when Don broke his leg while riding calves. Mom insisted the leg was broken and they needed a doctor. Pa, insisted he could walk if he just tried, it being in the middle of the depression and all. They finally agreed it might be broken and traded a calf for a mended broken leg. Thus began Don’s rodeo career where he later competed as a bullrider and bareback bronc rider. He passed that desire on to his children and grandchildren who also competed.

When the family moved from Sidney to Savage, he refused to quit school and move with them. Instead he took his two pair of bib overalls and went to work for Anderson Dairy at 16 so he could finish high school with his class. Education was always important to him and he was inordinately proud of his grandchildren who excelled in college.

He entered the Merchant Marines after he graduated from high school and got a chance to see the world which gave him a lifelong appreciation for America’s bounties. After two years in the Merchant Marines, he joined the army for two years and served during WWII. He felt great pride in his service, and in grandson Will who also served in the army.

Don married Dolores Mae Parks and they had three children, Julia Marie, Steven Earl and Gary Allen. He also had another son, Gregg Oversen.

Don drove for Northern Tanklines for many years, but retirement didn’t find him on the front porch in a rocking chair. He instead retired to the mountains where he and his brother Bob mined gold and chased elk.