MITCHELL: The death of Donald Alexander Mitchell of Rivers, occurred at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Tuesday, December 7, 2004. The Funeral Ceremony will be held at the Rivers United Church on Monday, December 13, 2004 at 2:00 pm. The Rev. Glenna Beauchamp will officiate. Interment will follow in the Rivers cemetery. Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of Don to the Mil & Don Mitchell Music Foundation, c/o Rivers Elementary School, P.O. Box 610, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0. Complete obituary information will follow. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to memorieschapel@mts.net. Arrangements are with memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

MITCHELL: Donald Alexander Mitchell of Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre at the age of 88 years. Don was born in Rivers on September 15, 1916. He was one of six children born to George and Lizzie Mitchell, both Scottish immigrants. Don received his schooling in Rivers and spent nearly all his life in the area. From 1943 - 1945, he served in the Canadian Armed Forces and was stationed in Shilo. He took ownership of his father's business, the Rivers Gas Station, in 1939, which he operated until it was sold in 1975. He married Mildred McMullan in 1945. Don enjoyed baseball, curling, wildlife, animals and all music. He was the Fire Chief in Rivers for 30 years, and drove school bus from 1977 - 1981. He was a lifelong member of the Royal Canadian Legion, United Commercial Travelers of America and took an active interest in all Rivers affairs. Although he had numerous awards and honours to his credit (including in 1981 a Good Citizenship award for Manitoba), Don will be best remembered for his contribution to music in Rivers. Don learned to play the bagpipes while still a schoolboy, and won many prizes for piping and some for piano as well. He became a Pipe Major and in 1937, traveled to Brandon to teach the Brandon Boys Pipe Band for two years. Don was one of the founding members of the Rivers Pipe Band and taught piping from 1959 - 1984. The band was his pride and joy. He was demanding and devoted, and while he demanded the best of his band members they also were his "family". He was proud of their accomplishments and has continued his commitment to music and young people in Rivers through a music foundation he established for Rivers Elementary School in 2002. Don was predeceased by his beloved Mildred in 1990; brothers, Joseph and Roy; sisters, Mary Duguid (Charlie), Frances Stewart and Georgina Mitchell. He is survived by sisters-in-law, Beatrice Mitchell, Jean Mitchell, Marj Donnelly; brothers-in-law, Hugh Stewart and Don Trott; as well as a number of nieces and nephews. The Funeral Ceremony was held at the Rivers United Church on Monday, December 13, 2004. The Rev. Glenna Beauchamp officiated. Urn Bearer was nephew, Glen Mitchell. Honorary Bearers were his friends, Rodger Dupuis, Andrew Wollbaum and Bert Dunn. Interment followed in the Rivers Cemetery. Friends who wish may make a donation in memory of Don to the Mil & Don Mitchell Music Foundation, c/o Rivers Elementary School, P.O. Box 610, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to memorieschapel@mts.net. Arrangements were with memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330. Memorials
Mil & Don Mitchell Music Foundation