Memorials › Donald Lavern Ficken
Donald Lavern Ficken
20 Mar 1927 – 17 Dec 2016
| Birth | 20 Mar 1927 |
| Death | 17 Dec 2016 |
| Cemetery | Memory Gardens Fort Morgan , Morgan County , Colorado , USA |
| Added by | Cindy (Seifert) Cooper Abelson on 01 Apr 2017 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176679584 |
Bio
Donald Lavern Ficken, 89, of Greeley passed away on Dec. 17, 2016, at Grace Pointe Continuing Care in Greeley. Don was born March 20, 1927, on his parents' homestead north of Fort Morgan to Fred W. and Alta (Robertson) Ficken. Don grew up on the family homestead until the age of 6 when the family moved to Delta, Iowa. He attended Delta schools, graduating in 1945. Soon after graduation he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Fort McClellan Army base in Anniston, Ala. He served his entire 17 months there and became a drill sergeant. While in Anniston he visited the USO Club, where he met his wife, Edith M. Cheyne, who worked at the USO club her parents managed. They were married on April 9, 1947, at Carpenter Methodist Church in Anniston, Ala. Immediately after their wedding, the couple moved to Fort Morgan. In the early years in Fort Morgan, Don had various jobs. Later, he was hired by the U.S. Post Office, first as a clerk and then as a mail carrier with his own city mail route. Eventually, he drove a rural route for several years before retiring in 1982. His goal was always to be a good provider to his family so he also worked part time doing carpentry, helping to build homes, and even ran the projector at the local drive-in theater. Don and Edith raised four daughters in Fort Morgan and were very involved in their daughters' activities. He attended many music recitals, band concerts, choir concerts, and served on the Campfire Girls board, earning their highest service award for his dedication. Don was a very active member of the United Methodist Church in Fort Morgan, serving on every board and committee, sometimes multiple times. It was important to him that his daughters were raised in the church, assuring that they all had a strong faith. Family was very important to Don. He spent time each summer taking camping trips with his family, going to the swimming pool, and playing backyard games with his wife and daughters. Winter meant ice skating at the pond or sledding. Working with his hands in his workshop was Don's greatest avocation. If it was wooden, Don could make it. He made furniture for all of his daughters and many picture frames for his wife's paintings. His answer was always "yes" when asked to build or repair something for friends or his church. He completely remodeled his home of over 50 years. Don loved to travel with his wife, Edith. Together they visited all 50 states and many of the National Parks, Scotland, England and the Caribbean. They loved the mountains and picnicked many times in Rocky Mountain National Park at Sprague Lake. Don and Edith were often seen riding their tandem bicycle around town. Don and Edith moved to Greeley in 2005 to be near their daughters. He is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith; parents and six siblings. (7 siblings)
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Family
Parents
Spouse
Siblings
- Bernice Ficken Robert 1914–1994
- Berneice Alvyra Ficken Shepperd 1914–2000
- Gerald Wayne Ficken 1920–1979
- Marjorie Maxine Ficken 1922–1923
- Doyle Lavon Ficken 1927–1999
- Doris Arlene Ficken Gammel 1931–2015
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