Donald Arthur Rindal 91, was born in Lewistown, Montana on June 19, 1929, at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was the second of seven children born to Lars (L.J) and Grace (Olsen) Rindal. Don was raised on the ranch at Fergus and attended the Fergus School and graduated from Roy High School in 1946. Following graduation, he worked on the family ranch and opened Don's garage doing mechanic work.
In late 1953 he was approached by a family friend who told him Phillips 66 would soon open a bulk plant in Lewistown. He threw his hat in the ring and on January 9, 1954, he opened as the Phillips 66 commissioned agent. In his words "it was 20 below zero with no customers and no idea what I was doing!" He did what that generation did-he went to work. Things worked out and he built the business from the ground up! Before natural gas came to Lewistown, Don had over 600 "keep full" fuel oil accounts just in Lewistown, in addition to farm, ranch, and commercial business. Don and his brother Glen were also business partners on the family ranch until the end of the 1990s.
In 1968 he married Marlene Gardner and soon after adopted her daughters Verna and Debbie. In 1971 their youngest child Chris was born. Don and Marlene then spent the next couple of decades raising kids, volunteering in 4h and church activities, building a business and living life to the fullest. Don loved flying, water skiing, camping, hunting, playing cribbage and of course dancing. Don loved dancing so much with all the girls that he only recently at the age of 90 had to hang up his dancing shoes.
Don leaves behind his daughters Verna Fischer, Debbie Becker (Gary Irish), and son Chris (Jennifer) Rindal; brothers Glen (Dolly) Rindal, LeRoy Rindal; sisters Lucille (Gene) Eckhart and Phyllis Logsdon; Grandchildren Nic (Collette) Cutting, April Cutting, David (Tiffany) Kirby, Matthew Kirby, Mark (Kendra) Becker, Logan Wisenbaugh, Tori Rindal, and Kaitlyn Rindal, 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marlene, parents, brother Melvin Rindal, sister Joyce Murphy, sons-in-law Rob Fischer and Larry Becker and grandson Bradley Becker.
Don valued family and friends over everything and served others without a second thought and always with a smile. Not a perfect man but made perfect through his relationship with Jesus Christ.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 5th, 2021 at the Roy School at 11:00 a.m., cremation has taken place and committal was in Central Montana Memorial Gardens. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Memorials are suggested to Lewistown Sea lions Swim Team, Farm in the Dell, or donor's choice and may be left at Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.
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