Donald Hamilton

Donald “Don” 81 was born in Milliken, Colorado to Howard F. Hamilton Sr. and Ruth G. Leighton.
After his parents divorced Don, his mother and two brothers moved to Merino, Colorado where Ruth worked as a housekeeper. She met and married Cecil Nicholson and they had three children.
Don’s mother contracted polio which caused him to step in the roll of “chief cook and bottle washer” he was responsible for many of the day-to-day chores on the family farm.
Don attended all 12 grades of school in Merino where he met and became lifelong friends with the “Hutt Boys” Dick and Dennis. He graduated in 1959 and then attended Pueblo Junior College but decided that school was not for him, so he returned to Merino to help run the family farm.
In 1964 he went on a blind date and met the love of his life Linda McCracken. They married on August 20, 1965. After their honeymoon to the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado they moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado while Linda attended and graduated nursing school. During that time Don worked at the Bar K Bi-Products rendering plant.
They then moved Sterling, Colorado for a few years and during that time Don became a volunteer sheriff’s deputy. He patrolled ball games and the local parks. One time he even got to chase a robber although he didn’t catch him he sure enjoyed the chase. Don and Linda moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado and then to Nunn, Colorado where they had their son, Shawn Hamilton, in 1968.
In 1970 Brenda was born and they moved back to Sterling where Don worked for International Dealers. In 1972 Don was transferred to Casper, WY and then in 1976 he was transferred to Cheyenne, WY where he worked for them until 1991.
In 1991 Don started his own business with Pepperidge Farm Cookies and Crackers. His route was all of southeast WY, southwest NE and northeast CO. In the 10 years he ran the business he was able to increase the business by 100%. After thousands of miles and too many boxes of cookies and goldfish crackers to count and knowing he was going to miss his big yellow truck and all the friends he made along the way he decided in 2002 he needed to retire.
During his retirement years Don and Linda moved to Iowa and then to Nebraska to help care for their two youngest grandchildren. Don enjoyed working around the house, visiting with his neighbors and collecting trucks. His collection slowly grew to 800+ trucks over the years.
In 2019 Don and Linda decided to move back to Cheyenne to be closer to their son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Don was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was always quick with a joke and had a million dollar smile. He would always respond “As fine as frog hair” when asked how he was doing. His grandchildren remember him as an adoring grandfather who didn’t hesitate to get down and play with them or how he would build them things, like stilts or ramps to keep them busy. A fond memory is how he took his Pepperidge Farm cookie boxes and duct tape and turned them all into robots. He was always there to lend an ear or help guide you through your problems with his wisdom and life experience.
Don is survived by his wife, Linda;his son, Shawn (Dawn); daughter, Brenda (Mike); grandsons, Joshua, Justin, Jason and Garrett; granddaughter, Katelea; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Kainen, Necole, Hayleigh, Kirros, Gideon, Aiden and Jaxson; also, his sister, Sharon (Dave) Hovis; along with sisters in law, Wilma Hamilton and Elna Hamilton; and brother in law, Roger (Shauna) McCracken.
Don is preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Cecil Nicholson; his in-laws, Paul and Norine McCracken; brother’s, Robert, Harlan, Howard and Jerry; and his brothers in law, Leslie McCracken and Ronald McCracken.
Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be scattered in the Rocky Mountains, that he loved so much, with Linda at the appropriate time.
A celebration of life will be officiated by Father Tim Davies, Saturday July 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Wiederspahn, Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes 1900 E. 19th St. Cheyenne, Wyoming. A reception will follow at The Gathering Place 1900 E. 20th St. from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Donations can be made to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice.