Donald Loyd Welter, 83

Donald Loyd Welter, 83, of Upper Gold Creek Road, Sandpoint, Idaho, died Feb. 6, 2010.

Born in Walla Walla, Wash., on June 1, 1926, he was the son of Loyd Edward and Laura Amelia (Clemence) Welter. 

On April 3, 1944, Donald enlisted in the United States Navy, attending boot camp at Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho. Throughout his enlistment he flew as an aerial gunner on PB4Y-2 Privateer Patrol Bombers and was stationed at VPB-100 and Fasron FAW2- MCAS/NAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.  He was honorably discharged as an Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class on April 16, 1947. 

Donald retired as a journeyman lineman from Northern Lights, Inc. in 1983.  He had attained journeyman status in the fall of 1964.  He was a longstanding member of IBEW Local Union 77. 

Donald loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.  After the war and into the mid-1950s he made a living packing mules and guiding hunters, fishermen, sightseers, and contracting for the Forest Service. He also authored a book of poems in 1985, largely inspired of his adventures, entitled “Antlers in the Treetops or Who Goosed the Moose.”

Donald is survived by his son, Michel Patrick Welter; his daughter-in-law, Wanda; granddaughters, Erica Lynn and Crystal Cheri; grandson, Brandon Michael; great-granddaughter, Alexis Marie; brother, Robert; and many nieces and nephews and extended family friends.

He was the brother of the late Beryl Wilson, Helen Lantz, Verda Zinter, Montford, Vern, Richard, and Charles Earl; and the great-grandfather of the late Audry.