Donald (Don) H. Getman, 92, of Longmont, CO died suddenly at his home on Monday morning August 1, 2022 from an apparent massive heart attack.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street, Longmont Colorado on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 11:00 am.
Don was born November 24, 1929 to Leon Harry and Sadie Adaline (Long) Getman near Kirk, Colorado. He was one of the last “old-timers” who could claim to be born in a sod house and was a proud member of the Sod House Association. Farm life was challenging for the family during the “Great Depression” and values learned as a young boy continued throughout his life – make do with what you have and don’t throw anything away that you might eventually use. You should see his shops. The family later moved to a farm near Lafayette then to a farm west of Niwot. There he attended Bader grade school, a one room school house on Oxford Road, and graduated from Longmont High School in 1948. That same year, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Hitchcock and were a team for 73 and a half years. Together they raised two children - Sharon Getman of Longmont, Colorado and Mike Getman of Lewistown, Montana.
After marriage, Don farmed for five years and then worked as a route manager at Carlson Frank dairy in Boulder for eight years. Then he worked at Rocky Flats for 30- years where he retired in 1990. He loved his work at Rocky Flats where he began as a janitor and worked his way up to Production Manager – an amazing feat overseeing the production of nuclear weapons by a man born in a sod house with only a high school degree. Upon retirement, he built and moved into a house on his Dad’s Oxford Road farm so he could better watch over and help him.
Don’s Christian faith was important to him. He attended services each Sunday, served in many church capacities, and made sure his children became believers too. The highlight of his week was attending Roy’s Sunday School class at White Fields Community Church. When the Covid-19 crisis closed churches for a while, the family decided to begin daily devotions via phone, a practice that continued until the day before he died. During the last family devotional, he made a comment that the family devotional time together was the highlight of his day.
Don never lost his love of “Farm Life”. He continued farming until the age of 80 when he decided he couldn’t do it all anymore and began renting out the farm. As he aged, he more often talked about not being able to rise at 4 AM to get some work done. Don’s hobby was recycling precious metals (as he called them) and would collect anything of monetary value. One sale was of 80,000 pounds of iron and over the years accumulated nearly 500 non-functioning water heaters to scrap out, mainly for the copper. What he couldn’t sell, he figured out a use around the farm. He loved the warmth of a wood fire and would salvage every downed tree and sizable limb to cut up and burn to heat his house and work shop. He also loved to use his water rights to irrigate everything he could. As a typical farmer, he often complained about the lack of precipitation.
Don was a gracious man, loved people, a friend to all, and relished telling stories. He was known as the neighborhood historian. He will be missed.
Lois loved to travel, Don not so much, but together they went to many places, countries, and on several cruises which was difficult for him as he was prone to motion-sickness. They especially enjoyed going to Kodiak Island, Alaska to visit Mike when he worked on Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge and later to Montana after Mike retired.
A life-goal of Don’s was to live out his life on the farm. This was only accomplished through Sharon’s heroic efforts who moved in with Don and Lois about ten years ago and served at their caretakers. Don frequently credited Sharon for her commitment to help, that as we now know enabled him to accomplish his desire.
Don was preceded in death by Lois. They were one of the few couples who had a 70th Wedding Anniversary celebration. The loss of Lois was really difficult for Don as one can imagine after being together for that long. He was also preceded in death by his Mom, Dad, and three brothers – Gerald, Ivan, and Paul.
Don was the past president of three irrigation ditch companies and served as director of the Boulder County Farm Bureau for 20-years.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to White Fields Community Church, 2950 Colorful Ave., Longmont, CO, 80504. If you wish to send flowers, the family recommends Longmont Florist, 303-776-2804.
Arrangements entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel
