Funeral services for Donald C. Williams, age 85, of Faith, SD will be held on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church with Rev. Lin Jennewein officiating. Interment with full military honors by the Faith VFW and American Legion Posts will be in the Faith Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at the Faith Area Memorial Chapel from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and one hour prior to services at the church.

Donald C. Williams was born December 2, 1924, to Charles and Ethel (Higgins) Williams, at his grandparents Higgins home two miles east of Faith. His parents had a homestead near Plainview and there he attended his first four years of schooling at the Cottrill School.


In 1934, his parents moved to the grandparents place and he attended the Higgins school in Ziebach Co., graduating from the eighth grade in 1938. Don then attended Faith High School, graduating in 1942. At FHS he was active in boxing, on the staff of the School Paper, the "En La Pampa", writing for the paper and took part in the School Plays. While in high school he worked at the Farmer's Store candling eggs, testing the cream, stocking shelves, waiting on customers and delivering groceries. After his graduation he worked full time at Merl Fowlers Grocery.


Later in 1942 he went to Seattle to work in the shipyards and in July of 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. This began a long career in the Military, serving during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Don served in England, France, in the Quartermaster Corps and the 3049 QM Graves Registration Co. In 1946 after returning home for a time, and trying to get into college, he reenlisted in the Army and volunteered to return to Europe. He was relocated to Italy and reported into the 62. QM Base Depot and later in 1947 he was assigned to the 56th QM Base Depot in Giessen, Germany. He remained there for 4 ½ years. At the outbreak of the Korean War, his service was extended. Don applied for and received a commission as a 2nd LT. and was finally discharged in 1953. Don also served in the Army Reserves until retiring in 1978.


Don enrolled at North State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD. He completed his degree work (BS in Education) in 1955 after going to school full time through the summers. He began teaching near Anoka, MN. He then applied with the Minneapolis, MN schools and waited for an opening position, but worked for IBM until 1957. He then was hired into the Minneapolis system, teaching typing and history in Sanford Junior High in south Minneapolis. He later became the Librarian (Media Specialist) for 16 years. He accepted an early retirement incentive in 1982. Don then took French language courses and volunteered in the library at the French Alliance, as well as taking German language classes at the University of Minn.


In October 1956 he was married to Hedy Kraft who he had previously met in Germany. They lived in Bloomington, MN for 43 years until her passing in Jan. of 2000. Don then sold the Bloomington home in 2003 and moved back to his old hometown of Faith, seeking his roots.


Since that time he has been active in the Faith High School Alumni Assoc, the Faith Education foundation and the compilation of the Faith History Book – 2010. He also owned the grandparents family homestead east of Faith where he was raised. He put a lot of time and effort into the needs of the school and alumni assoc. and documenting the history of the area and the burial places of the homesteaders and pioneer families of Faith Country. He made his living elsewhere, but when he retired he returned to his hometown and spent his time helping the community of his birth. He was a proud "Faith Longhorn", and passed away suddenly at his home in Faith on Thursday, August 12, 2010 as the Centennial Celebration, for which he worked diligently, was just getting underway. He also was a faithful member of the Faith United Methodist Church and Faith Lodge #168 AF & AM.

He is survived by one sister, Ruth Titus, Rapid City, SD; two brothers, Frank (Edith) Williams, Las Vegas, NV and Cloyd (Barbara) Williams, Newhall, CA; brother-in-law, Einar Olsen, rural Spearfish, SD; special longtime family friend, Danny Miles; 11 nieces and nephews and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews and several cousins, including Carol Pratt.


He was preceded in death by his wife, Hedy; his parents, Charles and Ethel Williams; and his sister, Aletha Olsen.


A memorial has been established to the Faith Education Foundation Building Fund and the WWII History Round Table.