Dennie Eugene Donahue, 62, passed away at the Donahue family ranch on Barton Flat, north of Mackay, on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.
Dennie was born Oct. 31, 1949, in Pocatello to Dennie "Buddy" Hunter Donahue and Donna Wessman Donahue of Mackay.
He attended schools in Mackay, graduating in 1968. During high school, he competed in basketball, track, football and rodeo.
After high school, he competed and traveled across the Idaho Rodeo Association and Eastern Idaho Rodeo Association, competing in both bareback and bull riding for the first three years, and then focused primarily on bull riding thereafter. During that time, he also worked as a full-time ranch hand throughout the Lost River Valley.
Later in life, he graduated from Treasure Valley Community College with an Associate of Science degree in survey technology and a grade point average of 4.0.
Dennie married Vicki Lee Anderson on July 3, 1979; they knew each other from high school and had two children. Dennie P. Donahue was born in 1980, followed by Daniel R. Donahue in 1982. They later divorced but remained friends.
Dennie worked for the Bureau of Land Management for 10 years and a couple of summers before returning back to Mackay to help with the family ranch work.
Preceding him in death were his brother, Bobby; mother, Donna; and his grandparents.
He is survived by his sons, Dennie and Dan; his father, Buddy; his five brothers, Tom, Kelly, Kevin, Kieran and Tim; and two sisters, Ellen Corgatelli and Peggy Hurless.
His love for animals was undeniable and he was proud of the fact his word was his bond. Some of his most cherished moments were riding in the copper basin and bull riding.
A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church in Mackay. A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the Mackay High School auditorium, with visiting one hour prior to the services. Services are under the care of Lost River Funeral Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dennie Donahue Fund currently being established at US Bank.
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