Don Pinkerton

Donald LaMoin Pinkerton, 90, passed away at the Chadron Community Hospital on September 6, 2023.

Don was born to Harry and Loretta (Lecher) Pinkerton on May 15, 1933 in the upstairs bedroom on the Pinkerton family farm East of Chadron, on Slim Buttes Rd.  He rode a horse most days to a one room Rural school on Slim Buttes Rd with 3 other students and as well as attending Alpha school on Hwy 20.  He always said he was too stupid for school and only had a 10^th grade education.  Don started out working on a job putting up telephone poles.  As the skinny guy, he was the one designated to set the dynamite any time they hit rock. Don later started working for the railroad in Chadron.  In 1953 during the Korean war he was sent to Fort Eustis VA, for 2 years as a Railway Locomotive Operator in the 702^nd Transportation Group (Railway).  His father Harry told him to tell the Army that he was working for the railroad, that way he would ride instead of walk.  Well Don said, shoveling coal in a steam engine was hard work. 

After the army Don came back to Chadron and continued working for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad as a fireman and in 1966, became a locomotive engineer until he retired in 1986.  Don was married 3 times, but on August 23rd 1960, he married Judith Gregory and remained married until she passed in 2021.  Don and Judy had a combined three sons and one daughter with 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

He is survived by his son Marcus (Cathy) Snyder, granddaughter Robin (Vernon) Scarrow; son Donald Ray (Donna) Pinkerton, granddaughter Bobbi (Scot VanLuvan) Deschamps; son Larry Pinkerton, grandson Orrin Pinkerton; son-in-law Wayne Mintken, granddaughter Melissa (Dave Lewis) Fox, grandson David (Anne) Fox, granddaughter Victoria Mintken;  8 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Judith Pinkerton, his daughter Beverly Mintken, and his great-granddaughter Krysteena Marie Deschamps.

Memorial Services will be held at the Chamberlain Chapel on Tuesday September 19, 2023 at 10:00 am.  Inurnment will follow the services to Highland Center Cemetery in Dawes County, NE.

Flowers and Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337
and online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com