Donald Leroy Burris

 Donald Leroy Burris, 94, left this earth peacefully on Aug. 5, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood, Idaho. 

 Don was born to Calvin Poulson and Margaret Helen Burris on May 27, 1932, in Boise, Idaho. 

 At an early age, he went to live with his grandparents, Don and Stella Burris, on their dryland ranch north of Weiser, Idaho. In 1938 Don’s grandmother bought and operated a small neighborhood store in Weiser. 

 Beginning in 1907 Don’s grandfather grew broom corn, made brooms and later taught broom making at the Intermountain Institute in Weiser. Don was known to make and gift brooms to family and friends. His grandfather also worked in the Portland shipyards during WWII.

 From fourth through seventh grade, Don joined his mother and brother Dwight in San Diego, Calif. His mom worked in a defense plant building B-24 bombers.

 Don joined the Idaho National Guard on Dec. 7, 1949, and went on active duty (tank division) in 1950 to Fort Knox. Thus began a lifelong love and commitment to his country. He worked as an Engineer VI on the Marshall Irrigation Project in American Falls from 1956-1958.

 Don married Gloria Reininger on Oct. 3, 1951. Together they welcomed four children: Jackie, Helen, Dawn, and John.

 At the end of the Berlin Crisis in 1961, Don was called up with the Delta Company, 116th Combat Engineer Battalion, and went to Germany to help with the airlift.

 In 1968, as Company Commander of Company D Combat Engineers, he took over 200 men to Vietnam. His time there was cut short after being severely burned and he was evacuated to Japan for 2 weeks and then to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Don gratefully acknowledged the importance of his future wife’s Marilyn’s visit to Texas in encouraging his recovery. He was medically retired from military service in 1970.

 Don moved to Grangeville in 1957 and worked for the US Forest Service as an engineer in road construction. After 32 years of service, he retired in January 1988.

 On May 29, 1969, Don married Marilyn Lee Thorson Eisenbarth at her home in Weiser, Idaho. Marilyn brought 5 more children into the family. They lived at Ft Lewis, Wash. and Grangeville, Idaho.

 In 1978, Don and his uncle Ross Paulson designed and built Don and Marilyn’s long-time home in Grangeville. Don was very proud of this home.

 After his retirement, Don and Marilyn became Snowbirds for over 31 years to Lake Havasu and Yuma, Ariz., where they met and kept many lifelong friends. They also enjoyed adventures, cruises, and trips around the U.S. and the world, including China, Italy, Russia, Sweden, England, New Zealand, Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska and Canada.

 During his lifetime, Don was an active member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Elks. He served as Post and District

Commander and as Service Officer. Don enjoyed reading, especially military history and was committed for years to raising the American flag at the Border Days Rodeo. He and Marilyn supported many charities.

 Those who knew Don know he was a firm believer in compound interest, the importance of money management, and that he carefully invested in the stock market throughout his life. 

 Don had no electronic devices but diligently tracked his stocks monthly by hand on multi-columned graph paper that looked very much like an Excel spreadsheet. His handwriting was neat and

precise until the end of his life.

 In his later years, Don solved Sudoku puzzles daily, visited with the morning coffee group at the Veteran’s Center, and ate many meals at the Grangeville Senior Center.

 Don was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, his wife Marilyn of 53 years, brother Dwight Burris, daughter Jackie Burris, son John Burris, and grandson Russell Jon Nida.

 Don is survived by his children: Helen Nida, Clarkston, Wash., Dawn (James) Zbytovsky, Unity, Saskatchewan, Canada. Linda (Lynn) Barrows, Nampa, Idaho; Larry (Kathy) Eisenbarth, Blackfoot, Idaho; Christy (Bob) Fischer, Twin Falls, Idaho; Greg (Kathy) Eisenbarth, Hillsboro, Ore.; Ted Eisenbarth, Grangeville, Idaho; plus 12 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

 The family extends their heartfelt thanks to all the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood and to Lucky Gallego, Veteran Services Officer, for his assistance and friendship with Don.

 A special acknowledgement to Ted Eisenbarth who moved to Grangeville to assist Don in 2024. Ted, with a caring and ever-willing attitude, allowed Don to stay in his home until the end.

 A formal military service and burial is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21 at 1 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. A VFW Ceremony will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 at 1 p.m. PST at the Prairie View Cemetery, Grangeville. A celebration of life will follow at the Grangeville Elks Lodge at 1:30 p.m.

 Arrangements are under the direction of the DeFord Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at defordfh.com.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Idaho County Veterans Center, 318 E. Main St. #2238, Grangeville, ID 83530.