Donald Lee Shovein of Highlands Ranch, Colorado passed away on March 19, 2022 at the age of 83. After several months of declining health, Don died peacefully, with his beloved wife Carol, their children and grandchildren by his side.

Don was born on December 8, 1938 to Donald Phillip Shovein (father) and Mildred Palmette Levin Shovein (mother) at St. Luke’s hospital in Duluth, MN. The younger of two siblings, Don grew up working hard to help the family with jobs, such as spray painting the hot trains arriving to the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad. He also took a job alongside his mother bagging groceries, as she was a cashier. On the entertaining side of his life, he was a talented trumpet player, having played for the Ed Sullivan Show, backing up for the Everly Brothers and even playing for the circus band for the Barnum and Bailey Circus during his time at University of Minnesota, Duluth. During his college years at UMD, he was also appointed Cadet Colonel and Commander of the ROTC corps, and upon graduation was the only person designated a “Distinguished Military Graduate,” receiving a regular commission as an Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, the same commission as if he had attended West Point, Annapolis or the Air Force Academy. Upon graduating from UMD, named to Pi Gamma Mu and Magna Cum Laude status in his class, as the first Minnesota Shovein to ever graduate college. All of this was accomplished, despite losing both of his parents in one day at the young age of 20.

Don’s first job out of college was that of an Air Force Officer, stationed at Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming in the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron, then the 809th Strategic Missile Wing and Strategic Air Command. During his tenure, he met his future wife, Carol, on a blind date that led to their marriage in 1962 in Spicer, MN. After months of being on continuous alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Don made a career move from the Air Force that would be more family friendly. He had several roles in corporate employee benefits and managed healthcare departments, leading teams at 3M, Control Data Corporation, growing into executive leadership as President and CEO titles of Medex International, United Healthcare, Maxicare and Mutual of Omaha. Once retired, Don and Carol focused on several charitable endeavors, such as helping hurricane victims in Texas, by cleaning up their homes and helping rebuild the community. Even more special, they were both gifted the training for the Stephens Ministry program, where they comforted patients and families going through crisis, while in hospitals. Another endeavor led them to Sitka, Alaska, where they renovated a church. The adventurous pair explored places all around the world, including several countries in Asia, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and more. His favorite spot was the Grand Platz in Brussels, Belgium sipping a glass of wine alfresco. Other than fishing at any given chance, Don had a love for wood turning, producing many treasures, such as pens, toys, pepper grinders and more. When asked about his unique pens that he always had in his pocket, he quickly found a way to talk about where the wood came from and kindly give to the person.

The most important thing to remember about Don is his love for family. Family was his number one priority and he always asked about everyone else first. Don was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Doris K. Behm. He is survived by his wife Romayne Carol Shovein (aka “The best thing that ever happened to him,”); children Marshall Shovein, Laura Shovein-Brown, Philip Shovein, Matthew Shovein; grandchildren Christopher Shovein, Reid Brown, and Elise Brown.

A private Celebration of Life will be held on April 23rd.

People wishing to honor Don’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations to the Semper Fi Foundation http://semperfifoundation.org or World Vision https://www.worldvision.org/.…

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