A giant tree has fallen in the forest.   Capt. Donald Edward Butler died Wednesday at his home in Butte after a long battle with diabetes.   He received the wonderful gift of a kidney from his son Don Junior in May and the transplant was very successful, but other complications took his life.

      Don was born to Cecil and Dollie (Clawson) Butler on Christmas Eve 1938 in Butte.   He attended Butte schools and joined the Navy at age 17,   His 20-year Naval career took him all over the world, and his family loved to hear of his adventures, the favorites being a helicopter crash in the North Atlantic, boarding Russian ships during the Cuban blockade, the Bay of Pigs invasion, recovering astronaut Scott Carpenter after his splash-down in the Atlantic, and three tours in Vietnam.

      His 24-year career as a policeman in the Butte-Silver Bow Police Department added more stories to his book of life.   At the time of his death, he was captain of detectives.   He was instrumental in organizing the first DARE program in Butte.   He loved being a cop.

      After retiring from the Navy, Don returned to Butte and in 1977 married Karen Hanna his high school sweetheart.   During their 20 years of seperation, they each had married and divorced and between them they were the parents of nine children.   They delighted being together at last in their beloved Butte, where they lived and raised their family.   They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple.

      Don was a high priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved to serve his Heavenly Father by serving his fellow men.   He enjoyed learning, and received his bachelor's degree from Montana Tech in 1985.

      Don is survived by his wife;   son Bill Butler, his wife Debbie, and daughters Michelle and Lisa of Lemmon Valley, Nev;   son Don Butler, his partner Darlene, and daughter Crystal of Palatka, Fla., son Randy Butler and his children Sean, Heather and Danielle of Las Vegas, Nev.;   daughter Kathy Irvine, her husband Sam, and children Jauquetta and Brian of Sun Valley, Nev., son Craig Padbury, his wife Julie and children Kyla, Tanner, Shannon and Carson of Tigard, Ore., son Burke Padbury, his wife Mishelle and daughter Arianna of Portland, Ore., son Dan Butler and his sons Derek and Zack of Sparks, Nev., daughter Cindy French, her husband Ed, and children Joshua, Ashley and Wade of Sparks, Nev., daughter Laurel Mizell, her husband David, and children Cassie and Brenton of Pueblo West, Colo.;   sister Grace Sicotte of Butte;   mother-in-law Eleanor Hanna of Butte;   brother and sister-in-law Kent and Joyce Stoddard of Calgary, Alberta, Canada;   sister-in-law Ardith Hanna of Provo, Utah;   and many nieces and nephews who loved their uncle Don.

      Don loved Butte and was especially appreciative of the outpouring of love and help he and Karen received from the people of Butte and surrounding communities during his last illness.   He was grateful for the wonderful medical care he received through the years from the physicians and staff at Rocky Mountain Clinic, especially Dr. Mike Sadaj, St. James Hospital and the dialysis staff, St. Patrick's Hospital, Hospice, and Virginia Mason Hospital.

      Don loved God, his family, his work, his friends, his town, and he showed his love by his actions.   He was a .45-caliber man.

      His remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home where friends may call Friday evening after 6 p.m.   Funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning at 10 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery.