Long time Montana Tavern Association member Donald E. Ferriter, of Helena, after a courageous battle with cancer, passed away peacefully at home on May 24, 2007, surrounded by his family.
Don was born in Butte May 23, 1935, to John and Lucille (Mulholland) Ferriter. He attended schools in Butte and graduated from Butte Boys Central in 1953. He played football at Butte Central, played baseball in the Copper League and won the light heavyweight state championship in boxing.
Some of his highlights included his induction to the Butte Sports Hall of Fame on July 1, 1995, for playing on the 1952 state championship Butte Central Maroons football team, bench pressing 410 lbs. at 69 years old and competing in many handball tournaments.
He celebrated his Irish heritage through his generosity and charitable involvement in the community. As owner of the Grubstake Lounge & Restaurant, Don and Sharon provided Thanksgiving dinner every year for anyone in the community that needed a place to spend Thanksgiving or just wanted to celebrate the day with others. Everyone was welcome.
Don was active in the Loyal Order of the Moose, Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Butte Hall of Fame.
Don enjoyed spending time with his family at his home or at the lake. He enjoyed working out, hunting, riding horses, playing handball, taking drives to see new places, and he especially liked working in his yard mowing and gardening.
During football season, he never missed watching Notre Dame. One of his favorite trips was traveling to South Bend with his sons to watch Notre Dame play West Virginia.
He married Sharon I. (Dunwoody) Ferriter on Sept. 17, 1976. Don and Sharon own the Grubstake Lounge & Restaurant in the Helena valley.
Don is survived by his wife, Sharon of Helena; sons, Donald (Diana) Ferriter of Helena, Tim (Connie) Ferriter of Helena, John Ferriter of Las Vegas, Jim (Lisa) Ferriter of Helena; daughter, Paddy (John Walker) Ferriter of Butte; brothers, Jack Ferriter of Butte, Tom (Dawn) Ferriter of Butte, Robert (Rose) Ferriter of Helena; sisters, Audrey Jean Turney of Auburn, Calif., Kathleen (Larry) Tuxill of Anaconda, Julie (Mark) Krueger of Reno, Nev.; granddaughters, Tara Ferriter Smith, Erin Ferriter Johnston, Christina Ferriter Jacquez, Bailee Ferriter, Caitlin Ferriter, Bridget Walker; grandsons, Kelly Ferriter, Brady Ferriter, Connor Ferriter, Johnny Walker and 11 great-grandchildren.
A vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, and funeral Mass was conducted at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 30, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Parish. Cremation followed at Anderson Cremation Services of Helena.
Memorials in Donald's name are suggested to Our Lady of the Valley Building Fund, 1502 Shirley Rd., Helena MT 59602 or Hospice of St. Peter's, 2475 Broadway, Helena MT 59601. Local arrangements were entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, July, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.