Donald Lee Wilson Jr., 67

It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Lee "Don" or "Donnie" Wilson Jr. announces his passing May 8, 2023, after a short battle with liver cancer. His loving wife, Deanna, and daughter Kaylee were there as he took his last breath.

Donald was born May 28, 1955, in Kellogg, Idaho. His family moved to Sacramento, Calif., around 1962, where he attended Riverside Elementary School in Sacramento, followed by Arcohe Elementary when he moved to Galt, Calif., in 1968. He went to Galt High School and graduated in 1974. He then attended two years of community college at Cosumnes River College. Don enjoyed playing baseball in his high school years. He was also involved in FFA. Don moved his family to North Idaho in 1996. He has always had a deep love for music and it wasn’t a shock when that love for music grew as a result of working as security for Bill Graham Productions. He met quite a few of the big-name artists and added their records to his extensive record collection. Don loved to dance and he was really great at it. If he was anywhere where there was a dance floor, he would be on it!

He was proud to work as a Truck Driver for 30 years and eventually retired from Interstate Concrete and Asphalt after 20+ years of employment with them in June of 2022.

Donald married his first wife, Kim Dickhoff, on Oct. 4, 1980, and had a daughter, Taylor, together in 1982. Even after their divorce, Don and Kim remained good friends. He later met Deanna Richardson (his “Baby Doll”), whom he was smitten with quite early on in their courtship and they married July 17, 1993. She brought into the marriage a son named Nick, who he loved as his very own. With their daughter Kaylee born in 1994, the family the couple lovingly referred to as "His, Mine, and Ours" was complete. He later adopted a daughter Jodi and additionally took in three foster daughters named Brittany, Kayley and Brianna. His heart was big enough to love them all!

Don was known for his hard work and silly personality. His proudest accomplishment was his family. He enjoyed many activities, such as car races, baseball, fishing, hunting and watching the Gonzaga basketball team, but he cherished these things the most when he was doing them with friends and family.

Don is survived by his wife, Deanna Wilson; His children, Taylor Dan, Nick Nicholson, Kaylee Wilson, Brittany Marks, Jodi Notarstefano, Kayley Marks and Brianna Coleman. His grandchildren, Michael Dan Jr, Carter Dan, Cassidy Nicholson, Colten Nicholson, Merritt Dan, Elena Bews, Isaac Bews, Kaliyah Williams, Nico Williams, Claire Coleman, Emma Coleman and a grandson or granddaughter due in December of 2023 from his daughter, Kaylee. His parents, Donald and Kay Wilson; and his siblings, Patti Shaw, Jeff Wilson and Zabrina Brannan.

Don was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Raymond Ray Wilson and Myrtle Slusher, and his maternal grandparents, William Taylor and Ella Peterson. There were also numerous aunts and uncles and cousins that preceded his death. Family and friends of Donald are invited to a Memorial Service to honor his life on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 1 p.m. at Bell Tower Funeral Home in Post Falls, Idaho. The family requests that expressions of condolences be made to the family in lieu of flowers.