Don B. Pfutzenreuter

Don B. Pfutzenreuter “Reuter,” 78, of Bozeman, Montana died Tuesday, February 12th, 2013. A memorial service will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 23rd, at Belgrade Community Church, 119 South Broadway, Belgrade, Montana.
Don was born May 22, 1934, in Chicago, IL the son of Norman and Lucille Laib Pfutzenreuter. He grew up in New Mexico and was a high school All-America running back at Carlsbad High School. In 1952, Don went to the University of Kansas Jawhawks as a running back. Upon arrival at the Jayhawk practice field, the coaches thought the 5’5″ 150lbs Don was too small, so they made him a lineman thinking he would not make the team. That decision only made Don more tenacious, and as a result he was a starter for KU as a guard and linebacker. This was in the days when Oklahoma dominated college football and Don was voted to their All Opponent team. He was also awarded “most effective linebacker” at KU more than once. It was at this time that Don earned the nickname “The Mighty Molecule.” Don also played baseball for the Jayhawks and was a semi-pro baseball player for Phillips Oil. Along with Don’s athletic accomplishments at KU, Don graduated with a two Bachelor of Science degrees and a Masters degree in Business and Economics and was a proud member of the Phi-Delta-Theta fraternity.
After college in 1957, Don was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army as an Airborne Ranger paratrooper. After the Army, Don took head football coaching jobs in high schools in Kansas, Colorado and Roswell, New Mexico. It was in New Mexico where Don embarked on his career in real estate. He then moved to Montana where the real estate market was just beginning to boom and opened his successful real estate company, Country West Ranch and Land in Bozeman. Don was a firm believer in responsible conservation for ranchland, wildlife, fisheries, timberland, range and farmland, and specialized in farms, ranches, and recreational properties.
While attending a reunion at the University of Kansas, Don found Betty Billingsley, a girl he had dated once while in college 50 years prior. They still remembered each other and, in 2001, were married. Don also enjoyed skiing, fly-fishing, hunting and horses.
He is survived by his brothers, Bruce of Bakersfield ,CA, and Bob Pfutzenreuter of Hamilton, MT; three step-children, Mike (Paula) Wilson of Westminster, CO, Betsy (Joe) Mancuso of Manhattan, MT, and Wendy (Abby McMillen) Wilson of Belgrade, MT.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty and his parents.
Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com