Following a short illness, Don (90) passed away on Thursday, September 25, 2025. He was surrounded by his family and friends during his final days and passed peacefully in his sleep, just as he wanted.

Don was born in Laurel, Montana, on January 14, 1935, to George Sr. and Mollie Schuman. When Don was three, the family moved to and later purchased property from the Leiter estate, where they farmed and ranched. He attended school in Clearmont and graduated from Clearmont High School in 1953. His passions in high school included football, track, and various class roles. To this day, Don remained an undying fan of college football. He was the last surviving member of his graduating class. Soon after graduating from high school, Don married Delores (Dee) Palmer, and they moved to Buffalo, Wyoming, where they had five children together: Sue (Keahey), Donald Jr. (deceased), Mark (deceased), Mike, and Val. Don worked as a salesman for the Buffalo Creamery and later Jersey Creamery in Sheridan from 1953 to 1978. During this time, he served as the president of the Buffalo Kiwanis Club and the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce. Don loved to hunt and fish and always enjoyed spending time with his family during hunting seasons in the Big Horn Mountains and the Ucross valley. He also enjoyed working with his family on their property in the Ucross-Clearmont area; he loved farming. Don has four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and three great-great- grandchildren from this union. In 1972, Don and Dee decided to take separate paths. Dee passed away in 2017.

Don moved to Sheridan in 1972, and in 1975, he married Melva Tetchner-Hoyer, his soulmate and partner. The family grew with this marriage, adding Paul (Maggie), Slayter and Michelle (Travis) Jones to the blended family. They loved spending time in the mountains and with their extended families whenever possible. From 1978 to 1998, Don worked for Decker Coal, coming full circle and doing what he always loved by doing reclamation work (farming) and maintaining the water treatment plant. Don has four grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren from this union. Melva passed away in 2009.

In 2010, Don married a longtime family friend and fellow church member, Docia Carrol-Chesbro, and the blended family grew again with the addition of Cam (Shirley) Chesbro, Vicki (Jay) Ward, Clark (Belinda) Chesbro, Peggy Katen, Brant Chesbro, and Bryan Chesbro. Docia’s extended family is large, with eleven siblings, and Don and she enjoyed all the time they spent with her family immensely. The list of grandchildren grew by fifteen, and great-grandchildren by eighteen. Docia passed away in 2021.

After Docia’s passing, Don decided to move into the Cascade at Sugarland assisted living facility, which turned out to be a great move for him. The residents and staff at the facility became additional members of his extended family; he loved them, and they truly loved him in return. Don was the unofficial greeter and could always be found sitting out in the sunshine, speaking to anyone and everyone who would drop by the facility to see family or check into bringing a family member in to join the residency. Don would let the staff show his apartment to potential new residents. He made many new friends and acquaintances and reconnected with many others while at Cascade.

Don’s memory was incredible, and he would amaze everyone with his stories of the people, places, and events in and around Clearmont, Buffalo, and Sheridan. He seemed to know everyone or at least someone who knew people he did not know personally. Don always knew what was going on in his community of family, friends, and acquaintances and was diligent in sending out birthday cards, sympathy cards, and get-well cards or making telephone calls to everyone he had information on. He always asked his church and the staff at the residency for lists of upcoming events and was as reliable as clockwork in reaching out to each person. You could always count on getting a couple of pieces of candy with your birthday card or as a thank you.

Besides the people listed above, Don is also survived by his four siblings: George (Doris) Schuman, Les (Shirley) Schuman, Jerry (Joann) Schuman, and Phyllis Foss; numerous nieces and nephews; and great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Don was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church, and his church community in Sheridan was at Immanuel Lutheran Church. His faith is strong, and his confidence in his eternity is unshakable. His church participation and spiritual belief are very important, if not the most important, aspects of his life.

Don and his family would like to extend their thanks to all the staff and residents at Cascades for the support, love, and care they provided as he completed his journey in our physical world. Additionally, Don and his family want to thank the caregivers at Sheridan Memorial Hospital for their excellent care. The same thanks extends to family, friends, and acquaintances who made his final days with us as enjoyable and memorable as possible.

Per Don’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Martin Luther Grammar School, 1325 Burton Street, Sheridan, Wyoming.

A Celebration Of Life will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 1:00 P.M., located at the Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Cain Officiating. A dessert reception will immediately follow the service in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Reception Hall. To conclude services inurnment will be held at the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

‍

‍