Donald Wilt

Donald Wilt, 85, a longtime Williston, N.D. resident, passed away at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, N.D. on Sunday, June 15, 2014.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning, June 23, 2014, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Williston by Father Russell Kovash.  Interment in Riverview Cemetery will follow the Mass.

An Evening Vigil will be held Sunday evening at 5 p.m. at the Everson Memorial Chapel.

Friends may call at Everson Funeral Home on Sunday, June 22, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Monday.

Donald LeRoy Wilt was born to Cary Lee and May Anna (Scheck) Wilt on March 7, 1929 in Sunol, NE. He was raised in Sunol and graduated from Sunol Consolidated School in 1946.

Don grew up in a farming community, beginning work as a young boy.  At the age of 12, Don drove a load of cattle 180 miles to market in Denver, all by himself.  As a boy, he would catch fish to sell to local workers for a nickel or dime a piece, usually using his earnings to pay for a day at the movies.

In Dec. 1950, Don joined the U.S. Army at Denver and served in its 216th Chemical Corps, participating in "Operation Tumbler Snapper," the 1952 above-ground nuclear bomb tests in the Nevada desert.  Over the years, he kept in touch with his fellow "Atomic Veterans," attending several reunions with "The Forgotten 216th" organization.  He received an honorable discharge in December 1952.

On Feb. 14, 1953, Don was united in marriage to Maxine Claire Stormberg in Sidney.  They enjoyed 61 years of marriage and raised five boys.

For 36 years, Don worked for Schlumberger.  He began as an operator and retired as Rocky Mountain Division Mechanic in May 1986.  Working for an oil-field company, Don and his family moved several times, living in Kimball, Nebraska; Farmington, New Mexico; Vernal, Utah; Billings, Montana; finally settling in Williston in 1970.  In retirement, Don and Maxine were able to spend the winters in Phoenix, Ariz., close to two sons and their families.

He was a member of the Williston American Legion Post #17.

Don enjoyed golfing, reading anything about the military and World War II, listening to Country-Western and Gospel music, and doing crossword puzzles.  He shared his love of fishing and hunting with all of his sons.

Surviving Don are his wife, Maxine, of Williston; his five sons, Brian (Laura) Wilt of Appleton, Wis., Nick (Cherie) Wilt of Glendale, Ariz., Eric Wilt of Williston, Kevin (Annette) Wilt of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Joel (Amy) Wilt of Williston; 12 grandchildren; his sister, Arlene Tank of Sidney; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cary and May; three brothers, Ray, Elmo and Max Wilt; two sisters, Dorothy Emanuelson and Fern White; and his infant sister, Eileen Wilt.

Friends are welcome to visit http://www.eversonfh.com to share remembrances of Don.

The Everson Funeral Home of Williston is caring for the family.