July 12, 2023

Douglas H. Croonquist
​ October 21, 1946 - June 4, 2023

​Douglas H. Croonquist, 76, passed away June 4, 2023, at home, surrounded by loved ones. After a severe spinal injury in October, he received home care and therapy, always with a smile, quick wit and unbelievable determination. He didn’t win the battle but gave it all he had every hour, every day.
Born Oct. 21, 1946, in Butte, Douglas was the son of Richard and Jean Croonquist. Soon after, his parents; older brother, Steve; sister, Lynda; and Doug, bought a large cattle ranch outside of Deer Lodge. He was a cowboy through and through, enjoying his first cattle drive at the age of 5. Deer Lodge was home until he was 9 years old, when the family moved to Spokane Valley, Wash., leaving the ranch in the care of his grandparents and ranch hands.
Doug attended Opportunity Grade School and Bowdish Jr. High until the age of 15. He was an outstanding athlete during his teenage years, lettering in football and track. He held offices in the Student Council and Class Officer as well. An outgoing and friendly guy, his friendships were many and continue to this day.
Doug and his family returned to the ranch in Deer Lodge in 1960, where he attended Powell County High School, again being a tough competitor in football and track. The family ranch sold, and they then moved to Gresham, Ore. Doug attended Centennial High and again lettered in his favorite sports.
With interests in geology and engineering, his careers included water well drilling in his early 20s in the Portland area, engineering and supplying goods to Oil Co. Exploration Rigs in Colorado in the 1970s and 80s. Returning to Gresham, he started his own business, Exeter Drilling Co in the early 1990s. He retired as shop foreman from Erector’s Inc.
Doug married Sandi Beck Croonquist on Feb. 14, 1996, in Sedona, Ariz., and the couple lived in Gresham for the next 27 years. They led a very hardworking, but adventurous life together. Loving the outdoors, they biked through England’s Cotswalds, hiked the Alps in Austria and Switzerland, and cruised on a four-masted sailing ship from Thailand to Singapore.
Gold mining was their retirement passion, having lived off-grid for weeks at a time in Montana, Southern Oregon, and finally Nome, Alaska, at several Gold Adventure Camps on the Bering Sea, making special friends along the way. Doug and Sandi relocated to Pinehurst, Idaho, in 2019, where they built their forever home which they greatly loved.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Jean Croonquist; his brother, Steve (Susan) Croonquist; his sister, Lynda (Alan) Cowen; and step-mother, Janice Croonquist.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sandi; a sister, Tracy (Jim) Gaither; two sons, Tyson Croonquist and Travis (Shelli) Croonquist; two daughters, Deedra (Steve) Crofcheck and Dancia (John) Hall; and a step-daughter, Heather Thompson Yoder (Ken). Doug is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Joseph and Cameron Croonquist, Dylon Croonquist, Torrey Jarrett, Zachary and Zoe Hall, Makenna and Kylee Crofcheck, and Jessica and Sam Thompson; four great-grandchildren, Elliot and Clover Jarrett, and Evalena and Martha Hall; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Doug will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His contagious smile and quick wit will always be remembered. His unconditional love for his children; wife, Sandi; and friends, new and old, will be his lasting legacy.
A celebration of his life for his family and close friends will be held mid-August in Deer Lodge. In Doug’s memory, donations may be made to Hospice of North Idaho by visiting https://www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org/donate.
Memories of Doug and messages of condolence may be shared with his family online at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com. Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is honored to assist the Croonquist family with arrangements.

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