Donald Weatherby

Donald Bakke Weatherby, 86, of Duluth passed away from this earth on Monday, January 23, 2017 at St Luke’s Hospital (Duluth) surrounded by his loving family, due to complications arising from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Don was born Sept 20, 1930 to David and Margaret (Bakke) Weatherby. He was the second child of three brothers.

Don graduated from Central High School in Duluth in 1948, and started working for the DM&IR Railway after graduation. He joined the MN Air National Guard in 1950 and was called to active duty with the U.S. Air Force from 1951 thru 1953, during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he continued to work for the DM&IR Railway until he retired in 1986 as the Head Storekeeper in Proctor.

In 1953 Don married Marjorie June Beckwith, the love of his life. In their 63 years of marriage they raised 3 children, and a menagerie of animals. Don cherished his time getting away to hunt, fish, and camp with his family and buddies. Don’s love and knowledge of the outdoors was passed on to his children to teach them how to build a fire, bait a hook, and to catch a lunker fish. Don and Marge would hook-up the camper or pack the tent and spend many hours teaching their children the finer arts of being an outdoors person. Don had a great sense of humor and told many stories and jokes that kept his family and friends laughing. As a testament to his love of wild places, his children carry on his traditions in their close relationship with the natural world through gardening and other conservation efforts.

After retiring, Don and Marge purchased a cabin and spent many hours living in the great north woods. Their joy was to improve the cabin and property, fish the lake, and spend many hours with their children and grandchildren.Don was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law (Gade and Delores Beckwith); his brothers (Richard and Bruce); two grandchildren (Philip and Evan Berg); and many other family and friends.

Don is survived by his loving wife Marge; his children Greg Weatherby, Mary (Bruce Berg) Weatherby-Berg and Jennifer Kelly; his grandchildren Jason and Joe Berg, Hailey and Taylor Weatherby, and Michael, Heather, and Kristen Kelly; his brothers-in-law Richard and Charles (Buddy) Beckwith; many loving nieces and nephews; and his lifelong friends Jack and Betty Lou Barlass.

Special thanks go out to the caring staff at St Luke’s Hospital ICU and Hospice units, and to the outstanding caretakers at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5-7pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home, where visitation will continue Friday from 10am to the 11am Service.  Burial at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the local Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota/North Dakota ( http://www.alz.org/mnnd/ ), Animal Allies of Duluth, 4006 Airport Rd., Duluth, MN  55811 or the Minnesota Ruffed Grouse Society, C/O Ted Dick, 1201 E Hwy 2, Grand Rapids, MN  55744.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2 ^nd St. Duluth, MN, (218) 727-3555.