Fort Benton - Douglas R. Ferguson, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away quietly on Sunday, April 24, 2022, due to complications resulting from a long battle with Parkinson's disease.  Doug had just turned 80 on April 3 rd .

Doug was born on April 3, 1942, in Britton, South Dakota.  Doug's parents were Pauline(Schweigert) and William Ferguson.  Doug was the sixth of eight children.  Doug was raised and attended school in Cogswell, North Dakota and then was a member of the first graduating class of Sargent Central High School located in Forman, North Dakota in 1960.  Doug was a rare three sport star athlete; competing in football, basketball and baseball.  Doug received a full ride baseball and basketball scholarship to the University of North Dakota.  After one year, Doug transferred to Valley City State to pursue playing basketball and baseball as well as a teaching degree.

On May 31, 1962, Doug married the love of his life, Judith Marlene Bosse.  While attending college and living in Valley City, Doug's son Jeff was born.  After graduating from Valley City State, Doug's first employment as a teacher and coach was in Fairview, Montana for four years.  While living in Fairview, his daughter Marta was born.  In 1968, the family moved from Fairview, to Fort Benton, Montana where Doug taught and coached until he retired in 1994 after twenty-six years.  Doug taught drafting and introduced the AutoCAD Program, physical education, government and driver's education. Doug was also asked to coach many sports and activities during his teaching career; cross country, boys'basketball and girls(AAU) basketball, track and field, football, volleyball(coached with daughter Marta in 1987, imagine this pair on the floor together) and class advisor to numerous classes. He was the boys head track and field coach for 25 years.  His boys track and field teams won consecutive State Championships in 1986 and 1987.  Doug was inducted into the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame in 1994 and was inducted into the Fort Benton Hall of Fame the same year. At this time, he was selected Boys Track and Field Northwest Regional Coach of the Year and nominated for National Coach of the year.  Interestingly, Doug never participated in track and field. Doug coached many boys and several were State Champions in track and field and he was happy to share his coaching knowledge with anyone who asked and if anyone needed help.  He never really left the track, after daughter Marta returned to Fort Benton to teach, Doug started coaching as a volunteer junior high track and field coach in 2002 thru 2018. Doug truly loved to coach and loved all the athletes that he coached. Doug spent countless hours at the track field every spring which was truly his happy place.

Doug was an avid outdoorsman. Hunting was his passion. He tolerated fishing because Jeff liked to fish and he loved to eat fish, especially Walleyes and Northern Pike. Doug won so many frozen turkeys at the Square Butte Turkey Shoot one year with his shotgun with no bead, that Judy had to run to Ft. Benton and purchase more coolers to hold the thawing turkeys. Doug also housed a room full of trophy whitetails that impressed everyone who saw them. Doug was well known in Fort Benton as an extreme Boston Red Sox fan (1975), with hundreds of hats in his collection and participated in several trips to Boston and Fenway Park with his son, Jeff.

Doug was also a fantastic softball player and very good golfer. During his prime, Doug would hit so many homeruns, Jeff had to stand behind the right field fence and retrieve the balls Doug hit out of the park so that the game could continue. Doug won the first ever open golf tournament at Signal Point.

Doug loved many things in life but he especially loved his grandchildren. Doug's grandson, Hayden, fondly remembers the countless hours his grandfather dedicated to coaching and encouraging him in various sporting activities including how to clear a high hurdle, how to rebound after a missed free-throw, and how to chip from the sand trap. Doug and Hayden spent many summers on the Signal Point Golf Course, where Doug taught life lessons and how to play the short-game. Hayden will always remember the Canadian fishing trips with his father and grandfather, where he caught the largest Walleye 2 years in a row, despite his attention being focused on soaking up the sun and getting some R&R. As an adult, some of Hayden's fondest memories of his grandfather include the times he stayed with Doug while Judy and Marta were traveling. The two grilled steaks and sat on the back porch, enjoying the cool of the summer sunset, talking about the meaning of life, challenging each other's political views, and discussing other existential topics. Doug taught Hayden that your mark on this world is most often evident in the way you treat others. Hayden was always in awe of how much the community of Fort Benton loved his grandfather and came to understand this as a testament to the impact he had on his community. Hayden proudly carries Doug's namesake as his middle name.

Doug would often refer to his granddaughter, Delanie, as his "good luck charm" during their numerous trips to play his favorite poker machine at the Club House because he always won when she was sitting next to him. They would take turns hitting the "bet" button and they would quietly fist bump and high five each time they won (which was a lot). Doug and Delanie spent many summer nights staying up late watching Field of Dreams and eating rocky road ice cream. Doug taught Delanie how to make jerky, to never ever load someone else's dice cup, and how to appreciate the quiet moments when someone's company was enough. Delanie was fortunate to have many conversations with her grandfather and finds comfort knowing how proud of her he was. Delanie will greatly miss Doug's company and his unconditional love and support.

Doug is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Judith Bosse Ferguson, his children; Jeff (Debbie) Ferguson and Marta Ferguson; grandchildren Hayden Ferguson and Delanie Ferguson; Sisters Barbara Seelhammer, Sharon(Ray) Johnson, Peggy (Norman) Payne, Susan Drammeh; Brother David (Nancy) Ferguson and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents and two brother's CharlesFerguson and John Ferguson.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.bentonfh.com

Doug was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2010. This disease had a profound impact on Doug and his family. Yet he managed the disease through telling jokes and being surrounded by those who loved him. Please consider donating to the McLaughlin Research Center who is doing advanced research on Parkinson's, with a hope for a cure.

Memorials are suggested to the McLaughlin Institute for Parkinson's Research, 1520 23 rd St. South Great Falls, MT 59405 OR www.mclaughlinresearch.org with Gift Online available.

Gifts may also be sent to the Fort Benton Memorial Ambulance 810 15 th Street, Fort Benton, MT 59442.

A Memorial Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on July 9 th , 2022 at the Brampton, North Dakota Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will take place immediately following at the Cogswell Community Center.  The Ferguson Family wants to thank everyone for the unbelievable outpouring of thoughts, p rayers, and memories that have been told and sent to us. There will be no Memorial Service in Fort Benton, Montana.