Doug Pelham of Stevensville, died at home on November 23, 2024 after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. Doug was born in Seattle, WA on January 22, 1956 to Jim and  Shirley Pelham.

Doug grew up in Redmond, WA, where he attended local schools and graduated  from Redmond High School in 1974. This past summer he attended the RHS 50th class reunion with many of the same people as he attended all years of school.

During his childhood, Doug played Little League through high school-level baseball  at Buckley Field and Hartman Park in Redmond. Later he returned to those fields  as a coach and an adult league softball player.

Early in life Doug developed a deep appreciation for the land and sustainability  from his grandpa Bill. During his brief time in college Doug took agricultural science classes deepening this love of the land. Doug carried these values  throughout his life, which were evident in his love of being outside whether at elk camp, splitting firewood, mowing, inviting friends to a pig roast or constantly  building and improving his property and yard.

Doug met his lifelong partner, Laurie McDanold, in 1971 while attending  Redmond Junior High School. They "went together" for a few months before breaking up for a year, then getting back together. The high school sweethearts  were voted "Best Couple" by their senior classmates and married the following summer. Doug and Laurie were looking forward to celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025.

After first raising pigs, chickens and cows; starting two businesses; and building  their first home, Doug and Laurie welcomed their children Stephanie and Josh. Doug enriched Stephanie and Josh's childhood with camping trips to hear the elk  bugle, coaching Josh's baseball and football teams, modeling how to love family,  having fun, the value of a firm handshake and to believe in themselves.

Together Doug and Laurie designed and built every home they lived in with recent  dreams of building once more in retirement. Doug built their first home in 1977 with the help of his dad and father-in-law. As empty-nesters, Doug and Laurie  began looking for ways to fill their time and move toward retirement. So they returned to their foundation, and tore the house to its foundation, in an extensive remodel. During the years living at this home Doug maintained a small farm of  animals, rhododendrons, Christmas trees and a bountiful garden of vegetables,  berries and cut flowers.

After selling the family home in 2009, it took just two years to get the itch to build  again. It was then that Doug, with the help of his cousin, built their next home looking at the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains. After its completion, Doug and  Laurie fulfilled their longtime dream of relocating to Montana where wildlife  would visit their property daily.

In Montana Doug made new friends and enjoyed tailgating at Griz games,  participating in chili cook-offs, making pizza for out-of-town guests and exploring the vast beauty of this region.

Although Doug continued hunting in Montana, he primarily enjoyed the wildlife that frequented the property and harvested game meat just to share with others. Although his tag went unfulfilled this fall, he took the opportunity to send his friends and family off on their hunts with wishes of a successful hunt and, even more importantly, the message to make memories.

Doug was an entrepreneurial jack-of-all-trades, creating small businesses, which  included lawn services, rhododendron propagation, house cleaning services, horse breeding and racing, construction and e-commerce. The paycheck itself  was secondary to his passion for learning the craft and connecting with people. He always thanked Laurie for having steady employment. His last eight years  spent as a landscape contractor in the Bitterroot Valley were truly some of his most fulfilling as this time allowed "the old guy on the crew" to try to keep up  with the younger guys and impart wisdom on their lives.

More than anything Doug will be remembered for his kindness, high moral  standards, sense of humor, work ethic, craftsmanship, beautifully landscaped  yards, desire to be outside, love of classic country music, crops of hard neck garlic,  spicy dill pickles and the ability to see the good in every situation or person.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Diane. Doug is survived by  his wife, Laurie; daughter, Stephanie; son, Josh and his wife Brittany; four grandchildren; and three godchildren, whom he considered to be like grandchildren. Also surviving is his "no-good, rotten cat" Sally, as well as, many  extended family members and close friends.

Despite the merciless diagnosis, the family would like to thank Doug's entire medical care team; especially Dru T., RN, at Partners Hospice; Dr. Michael Snyder at Providence Oncology; Dr. Jeff Willis at Montana Gastroenterology; Dr. Gabriel  Charbonneau and Serena B., RN, at Providence Primary Care – Stevensville; and  Mari, RN, at Providence St. Patrick's Hospital for their compassion and transparency during this experience.

In his memory, Doug asks that you please take the opportunity to be kind to  others, plant a maple tree or a few rows of his garlic. A celebration will be held in summer 2025.