Donald Gene Graham

Donald Gene Graham, son of Victor and Juanita Maxine (Potter) Graham, was born January 12, 1952. Don was welcomed home by older brother Carl.
Don attended school in Mount Ayr, Iowa then moved to Creston and lived with his lifelong friend Don Clark. Their final home together was a group home in Mount Ayr. After Don Clark’s passing, Don moved in with Dave and Janie Bethards in Garden Grove and became a part of their family for the last five years.
Don loved living on the farm, going for rides, out to eat, playing with the dogs and cats and feeding the reindeer. Don also enjoyed camping at the cabin on the farm.
Don passed peacefully in his sleep March 13, 2025, at his host home. He was preceded in death by his parents and his lifelong friend Don Clark.
Don is survived by his brother Carl; his close friends and guardians Don and Diane Zollman and his loving host family Dave and Janie Bethards and family, and his friend Randy Name.
Services were held 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Don was buried alongside his parents at the Diagonal cemetery. Casketbearers were Don Zollman, Dave Bethards, Kirk Golliday, Tim Giles, Jim Karp, David Robinson. Honorary Pallbearers were Janie Bethards, Elijah Davis, Diane Zollman, Isaiah Davis, Randy Name. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any animal rescue. Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.