James Donald Kerlee

James Donald “Don” Kerlee, 87, peacefully left his mortal life behind with his two daughters at his bedside on October 17, 2025.

He was born on March 20, 1938 in Hamilton, MT. to James David Kerlee and Alma Alice Yarbrough. He lost his father when he was only a year old. His mother remarried Basil Call a few years later and their blended family moved to Rigby, ID, where he spent his formative years.

He grew up with a sink or swim work ethic, making his own way for the majority of his life, beginning with his first paying job at the age of 10 years old on his Uncle Cecil Call’s farm. From a young age he liked order and organization and was always very driven to succeed. When he learned about the Scouting program, he was fully invested. With the help of some amazing Scout Masters, he achieved every rank and earned his Eagle Scout Award at the age of 14. This was something he was always proud of. The Army also caught his attention, and just out of High School he joined the Idaho National Guard, where he served for eight years, the last two in the Army Reserves. He wasn’t afraid of anything and once even taught himself how to skydive, buying an Air Force parachute and then taking it to a shoe cobbler who took his modifications and cut and stitched Blow holes on each side with cords hooked to them, and Double L and T holes that were 3’ up that were supposed to help give him direction after he jumped. He bought a white jumpsuit from JC Penney’s, boots from the army store and goggles wherever he could find some.

In 1960 he went on a blind date with Berteen Berrett, from Roberts, Idaho. They married in August of 1960, and in the next five years welcomed two daughters. The Berrett family welcomed him with open arms, and he loved all of them with all of his heart. While working at the shoe department at Roper’s Men’s Store in Idaho Falls, a representative from Weyenberg Manufacturing company told him that the company was hiring traveling Manufacturer Rep’s and that he should apply. He did and was hired. In the next 7 years his job moved their family from Idaho to Colorado, to Wisconsin, and eventually to Texas where they stayed for many years. Don and Berteen both loved to play golf, and golfing together brought so much joy into their marriage. In 1983 he and Berteen added eternity to their marriage vows in the Salt Lake City Temple.

In 1993 his beloved wife, Berteen died from heart complications. A year later he married Sheila Marie Moon Bastian in the Dallas Texas Temple in Dallas, TX. She had 9 children, with 5 of them still living at home. In 1994, Don retired from the shoe business, went to Massage School and got his certificate as a Massage Therapist. A year later, he and Sheila decided to move back to Idaho, where she had a home and property. They bought some horses and began ranching while also working - he as a Massage Therapist and Sheila as a Physical Therapist. In 2000 they bought their dream home in Cascade, ID. It was a fixer-upper, and they worked very hard for two years fixing up the land and home, before they finally moved in.

Not long after, Sheila was diagnosed with Dementia and eventually passed away in 2015. With his heart broken again, and with the work of their 60-acre property taking a toll on him, he sold his home and property and moved back to Eastern Idaho. There he reconnected with many of his old and treasured friends and family. He so enjoyed his bi-weekly lunches with his old buddies from Rigby and loved being back in Eastern Idaho, where he remained until his passing. He lived a very full life, enjoying his family, golfing, ranching and being with friends. You knew you had an “in” with him when he blessed you with a nickname that would be what he called you forevermore.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Berteen Rae Berrett Kerlee and his 2nd wife, Sheila Marie Moon Bastian Kerlee, his parents, James David Kerlee and Alma Alice Yarbrough, his sister Karolyn (Dee) Ellis, his step-father, Basil Call, his step-sister Dorothy Jo Call (Ralph) Archibald, and his brother Alan (Elaine) Call,. He is survived by his daughters, Kailyn (Robert) Cano and Krikit (Brian) Rast, his step-sister Peggy (ZJ) Egbert, his step-children, Sid (Leslie) Bastian, Katherine (Steve) Moore, Heidi (Derek) Bills, Jennifer (Curtis) Whiting, Ryan (Whitney) Bastian, Christi Macy, Dan (Sarah) Bastian and Ilene (Morgan) Compton, with many grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We wish to thank the amazing care team at The Fairwinds for their love and care of him over the last ten months. Don’s family wishes to invite friends and family to attend the services, Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Eckersell Memorial Chapel, 101 West Main Street, Rigby, Idaho 83442. The family will visit with friends from 9:30 until time of service at the funeral home. Interment will follow services at the Market Lake Cemetery, Roberts, Idaho.