Obituary: MTA loses Linthicum, veteran Poplar member
Pub Date: 10/1/2008
A loyal member of the Montana Tavern Asociation for almost three decades, William Donald "Don" Linthicum of Poplar, co-owner of the Montana Bar in Culbertson since 1981, passed away Tuesday, August12, 2008 at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson.
On August 20, 1920 Don was born to William and Louise (Murphy) Linthicum in Crosby, No. Dak. His childhood years were spent in the states and Canada.
Don enlisted in the Navy on October 13, 1943 and served in the Asiatic-Pacific-European-African-Middle East areas. He earned campaign awards and a Victory Medal in World War II.
After serving in the war, he returned to Billings where he worked as a carpenter. He moved to the Poplar area to do some farming with his Uncle Ellis Guy and Marvin Wambach. For many years, he farmed for Chris Tange in the Mineral Bench area.
On June 4, 1949, he married Irene O'Brien. They made their home in Poplar and raised eight children. Their home was always full of love and laughter.
While living in Poplar Don worked in construction with his brother-in-law William Gatlin. He also drove truck and continued farming. He was a rancher and loved raising and riding horses.
In the early 60's, he worked as a police officer in Poplar. While serving as a policeman, Archie Bear Cub Senior and Don received a letter of commendation from J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI at the time, for arresting a man on the FBI Most Wanted list.
In 1981, Don and his son Robert bought the Montana Bar in Culbertson. He became a strong member of the Montana Tavern Association and made all but two state conventions.
He bowled on the Montana Bar team and went to both state and national bowling tournaments.
Don loved riding horses and participating in wagon trains. He talked his daughter Shirley into going with him and they rode 130 miles on a wagon train from Wood Mountain, Sask., to Scobey. In 1989, Larry Burshia and Don went on the "Drive of '89" from Roundup to Billings.
At the young age of 78, his son Clint got him started playing golf at Airport Golf Club in Wolf Point. He loved golfing in both Tuesday and Thursday night league. He also golfed in some tournaments.
In 2006, Don decided to go back to work and started working at the FPCC Wellness Center in Poplar. He enjoyed working with his two daughters, Judy and Joanne. During this time, he gained an adopted daughter, Ilene Standen.
Don loved sports and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He went with his oldest son Don to a Minnesota Twins baseball game and Minnesota Vikings game in Minneapolis.
Don loved to travel and his son Robert kept him busy traveling all over. They made a trip to Farmington, N.M., and Casper, Wyo., to visit his daughter LaRene and family.
He was involved in the Poplar and Culbertson saddle club and was a member of Poplar's American Legion Post 55. He loved to dance and so Irene and he were in a square dancing group. He was a long time member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, wife Irene of 54 years, daughter Amy Lou Beth Linthicum, sister Merle Koester, and grandchildren Chelsey Marchwick, Landon Park, and Annette Linthicum.
He is survived by his children Donald William Linthicum, Robert Linthicum, Shirley (Gene) Marchwick, all of Culbertson'; LaRene (Larry) Park of Casper, Wyo.'; Joanne (Jay) Cummins, Clint Linthicum and Judy (Frank) Linthicum Martell of Poplar'; 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Bob and Frank Linthicum and his sisters Jane Hardin and Beth Linthicum and numerous nieces and nephews.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, October, 2008, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.