Donald "Don" M McLean

Donald M. “Don” McLean was born on February 6, 1934 in Huntington, Oregon to parents, Lauchlan (Lucky) and Leone (Zumwalt) McLean. He died on February 22, 2026 at his home in Hermiston, Oregon at the age of 92 years. 
 
Don was raised in Huntington except for a few years when the family moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon, while his dad, Lucky, worked at the Oregon Portland Cement Company. Then they moved back to Huntington. He really liked trap shooting and was very good! He started this in junior high by loading the clay pigeons for others, then they let him shoot. He competed in trap shooting events for years. Don belonged to the Huntington Gun Club. In high school he played football, basketball and baseball. Don loved baseball and played in Weiser, Idaho for two years on the American Legion team. 
 
Don graduated from Huntington High School in 1952. That summer he met the love of his life, Erma Sinden at Jerry’s Drive-In in Weiser, Idaho. The following March 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army as an infantry man. He served as an Infantry and Intelligence Specialist with a duty assignment with the 74th Engineering Battalion. Don was sent to Korea and was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He spent one year in Korea and earned the rank of Corporal E-4 and was honorably discharged in February 1955. Don and Erma were united in marriage on August 26, 1953 at Erma’s parent’s house in Weiser. They lived in Monterey, California while Don was at Fort Ord. Don was a member of the VFW in Huntington, Oregon.
 
After his discharge they moved to Huntington, Oregon and resided there 56 years. Don and Erma welcomed their first daughter, Cherie in 1956 and second daughter, Carla in 1958.
 
Don first worked for Morrison-Knudson Company building the Snake River Railroad Bridge near Huntington. Don worked at Bubb’s Motor for several years. He drove school bus for sporting events, and also served on the school board for years. Don worked for the city of Huntington in the Sanitary 
Disposal Department (garbage man). He also owned his own backhoe and did work for people on the side. Don went to work at Oregon Portland Cement Company at Lime, Oregon in 1969. Don retired in 1993 as a control room operator at the plant in Durkee, Oregon. 
 
Don and Erma opened the McLean Mercantile in 1980. It had all kinds of merchandise “best” fishing stink bait, tackle, house hold goods, hunting and fishing licenses and a liquor store until selling the store in 1990. Don and Erma enjoyed camping, fishing trips, with family and friends. He also was a successful avid hunter. He got to hunt with lots of family members and friends. 
Don was a huge Chicago Cubs fan just like his mother and now many family members root for the Cubs. In 2019 he went to Seattle with family to watch the Cubs vs Mariners. Cubs won!!
 
Don was always a cowboy at heart! He’s had many horses over the years. He bought his two daughters horses and taught them to ride, plus his grandkids. Later on he rode for several different ranches on cattle drives. He and his bother Neil rode all over the hills surrounding Huntington. His pride and joy was his horse Midge, who pulled his buggy. They were in many parades in Huntington. 
 
The most important things for Don was loving his wife, Erma, for 71 years and all family. He loved and supported them with his whole heart. Don and Erma traveled to Hermiston and Triangle Lake to enjoy being with their daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, attending school events, sport events, and celebrations. 
 
Don was a good husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and now he’s reunited with his loving wife and we are assured they are holding hands in heaven. 
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lauchlan and Leone McLean, his wife Erma McLean, his sister and brother in-law: Bonnie and Roy Frerichs, his brother and sister in-law: Neil and Beverly McLean. 
 
Don is survived by his daughters: Cherie Bellingham (Jim) and Carla Hoyt (Rob); grandchildren: Randy (Chrissy) Niki Gonzalez (Jose), Mindy Bonifer (Jerimiah) Kevin Smith (Ashlee), Kyle Smith, Keith Smith (Maggie), and Kristopher Smith (Ashley), great grandchildren: McLean, Manny, Monika Myah, Christian, Hayden, Abigail, Luke, Wyatt, Emmy, Kenley, Kasen, Kade and Kenadee; great great granddaughter: Lillian Gonzalez, sister: Linda Thompson (Vic) as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 
 
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, Hermiston, Oregon. Burial with military honors will follow at the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Oregon.
 
Please share memories of Don with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
 
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston, Oregon is in care of arrangements.

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