Donovan Hubbard

Don Hubbard passed peacefully at home the morning of December 31, 2023. Donovan Francis Hubbard was born in Page, Nebraska to Guy and Vivian Hubbard May 8, 1930.  He was the third born of their fourteen children. Don was raised on a farm north of Ft. Laramie, WY by his paternal grandparents-Edmund and Mercedes Hubbard. He revealed to his family, later in his life, that he was the happiest at work, when he worked on his grandparent’s farm. He graduated from High School in Neligh, Nebraska in 1948 and entered into the Air Force in April of 1951. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in April of 1955. Donovan began working at the State Hospital in Norfolk, Nebraska upon discharge from the Air Force. Upon leaving that job, he started a career that would span 20 years at the State Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. It was during this time that he met a nursing student, Kay Hagen. Kay and Don were married in Yankton, SD September 2, 1958. The added four children to their family in the following years-Todd, Karen, Kelly, and Tyrone. Don went to school and became an X-ray Technician and worked for the State Hospital until he moved his family to Effie, Minnesota. He worked as an X-ray Technician at the Hospital in Bigfork, MN until his retirement in October of 2000. Upon retiring you could find Don on the golf course during the warmer months, spending time and caring for his grandkids and being a house husband until Kay’s retirement in 2005. Kay and Don traveled to see family and enjoyed the bus trips they took to Branson, MO, and Washington DC. In August of 2015 Don lost Kay, who he referred to his best friend, to cancer. He moved to Gillette, WY in May of 2016 to be closer to family.  During his time in Gillette, he made many good friends at the Campbell County Sr Citizens Center. Don is preceded in death by his parents, wife, siblings-Myrtle Gronewald, Bill Hubbard, Keith Hubbard, LaQuita Howe, Ardith Brown, Linda Baxter, and Bryan Hubbard, brothers-in-law, Dewey Gronewald, Doyle Gobble, Lloyd Howe, and sisters-in-law, Joanne Hubbard and Donna Hagan.  He is survived by his children, Todd Hubbard, Karen Hubbard, Kelly Hubbard, Tyrone (Sandy) Hubbard, Grandchildren-Sam, Jace, Bailey and Corinne, siblings Garner Hubbard, Pete (Linda) Hubbard, Naoma Gobble, Sonya (Walter) Jefferis, Dennis (Mary) Hubbard, Alan (Sandra) Hubbard, brother-in-law Greg (Rose) Hagen, Roland Brown, Frank Baxter, cousins as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  His family would like to give thanks to the Campbell County Memorial Hospital Hospice staff and volunteers that cared for Dad in his final years and the staff and friends at the Campbell County Sr Citizens Center. A memorial service will be held at the Campbell County Sr. Citizens Center Monday, January 8, 2024 from 3-5 pm. Donovan will be buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery-South Dakota at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Campbell County Senior Citizens Center 701 Stocktrail Ave, Gillette, WY 82716 or Hospice of Campbell County 300 South Burma Ave, Gillette, WY 82716 in Don’s name. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com