Donald Ray "Gabby" Ruzicka, 74

Donald (Gabby) Ruzicka, 74, of Grangeville, passed away Thursday, November 27, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood.

He was born December 13, 1933 to Albert and Irene C. (Zehner) Ruzicka at Denver, Idaho. He attended school at Columbus Grade School and Grangeville High School. He joined the Navy in 1950 and spent four years serving his country.

Donald returned to Grangeville and married Donna J. Austin on June 4, 1955. They started their lives together in Grangeville, where he worked as a logger, mill worker, and in railroad maintenance. They moved to the Salmon River area to work on the Spencer Ranch, then to Garfield, Washington to work on the Dippel Ranch. They then moved to Spokane where he started long haul trucking.

In 1975, they returned to Grangeville where he worked for Seubert Excavators in Cottonwood, and then Baker Truck Service in Grangeville. He retired from Uhlenkott’s Well Drilling in 1995 to the family ranch on Cottonwood Creek. There, he enjoyed just tinkering around.

Donald was a life member to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 51. Hunting, fishing, and telling stories were his passions and he loved to be out riding his 4-wheeler.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, at their Grangeville home; three children, Albert E. (Cindy) Ruzicka, Tonda S. (Jeff) VonBargen, and Lois R. (Darrel) Gehring; six grandchildren, Shelly (John) Bentley, Stacy Ruzicka, Shane (fiancee Bridget Enneking) Ruzicka, Jenifer VonBargen, Jason VonBargen, and Joey Gehring; and eight great grandchildren, Stephanie Bentley, Chase Bentley, Kira Bentley, Mikala Esquivel, Khyleigh Esquivel, Jerzee Ruzicka, Darcy Gehring, and Keirsten Gehring.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2008, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 1, at 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Prairie View Cemetery. A potluck dinner will follow the services at the Grangeville Eagles Hall.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.blackmerfuneralhome.com.