Fraser Paul MacDonald (July 18, 1935 – January 6, 2024)

Fraser Paul MacDonald has double dribbled for the last time.  He passed away on January 6, 2024, in Butte, Montana.  He was born July 18, 1935, in Seattle, Washington to Fraser MacDonald and Nelda Hanlin.  He lived in Butte and Victor, Montana until 1942, then in Tacoma, Washington until the end of WWII.  He returned home to Colorado Street in 1946 and graduated from the Webster-Garfield in 1949.  It was onto Butte High School, where he lettered in football and basketball, was captain, and played in the first North-South game in 1953.  He also lettered in track and played American Legion baseball.  He was vice-president in his junior and senior year and graduated in 1953.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955.  He started college at the U of M and graduated from Western Montana College in 1960.  He received his Master of Education degree from Central Washington.

He married Charlotte Olson in 1959 and had four children together, Lynn, Scott, Terry, and Laurie.

Fraser started his teaching career at St. Regis, followed by Miles City and CleElum, Washington.  Fraser returned to Butte again in 1966.  He taught US History and Government at Butte High School along with being an assistant football coach with Bill Kambich and Sonny Lubick, winning the State Championship in 1967 and 1968 and being the runner-up in 1969.  Fraser was head basketball coach from 1968-1972.  He was assistant track coach from 1967-1971.  Fraser became the BHS Dean of Boys in 1977 until his retirement in 1995.  Fraser was also the Executive Director of the Montana State Golf Association from 1974-1999.  He was also a sportscaster for KBOW from 1967-2000, broadcasting games at both the high school and college level.  He was the voice for the Butte Copper Kings of the Pioneer Baseball League and finished his broadcasting with the  Daredevils CBA Team for the two years they were in Butte.

Fraser was extremely proud of the fact he was inducted to 4 Hall of Fames for the different aspects of his career, Western Montana College as a Baseball Player, the Montana State Golf Association as an Administrator, the National Foundation of Football Coaches as a Sportscaster, and the Butte Sports Hall of Fame as both a Coach and Contributor.  Another highlight for him was being selected to help coach in the first annual Southwest Montana High School All-Star Basketball Classic. These honors were only second to the pride he had in the achievements of his children and grandchildren.

At various times he belonged to the Butte Country Club, Silver B's, St. Ann Church, American Legion, BPOE, Butte Teachers Union, and was a committee man for the USGA and the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.  Fraser moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 2008 and returned home in 2020.

Fraser was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest son, Scott, and many dear friends.  He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Lynn (Leo Myers), Terry (Alyssa Powers), and Laurie (Perry Hawbaker), his six grandchildren, Brandon (Bobbi Miles) MacDonald, Jestine (David Malcom) MacDonald, Mack (Megan Young) Hawbaker, Michael (Brianne McClafferty) Hawbaker, Mitchell Hawbaker, and Tyler (Berenise Esparza) Myers, and his five great-grandchildren and one on her way, Kalum MacDonald, Decklyn MacDonald, Finley Hawbaker, Cohen Hawbaker, Shaw Hawbaker, and Baby Neela.  He is also survived by his special friends, Charlotte MacDonald, Mick Delaney, and since 1983, Bill W.

Fraser had a great sense of humor, had a contagious laugh, was a man of integrity, was extremely loyal, and he very much disliked mean, pretentious and cheap people.  His love of Butte, America was only superseded by his of love of family.  He always said, "There are two kinds of people…people from Butte and those who wished they were," and "If you have to ask what makes Butte special, you will never know!" His last words were, "I'd rather be golfing!"

His family would like to give special thanks and gratitude to Big Sky Living, BeeHive, the Honeybee Hospice Staff, and Dr. Yates.  Friends may call of Friday, July 05, 2024. after 10:00 am in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel.  Funeral Services will be celebrated at 11:00 am.  The family requests that any donations be made to the Scott MacDonald Memorial or to donor's choice.