Donald Hicks
April 14, 1935 - August 12, 2024
Obituary
Dr. Donald Lee Hicks passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, after his bout with colon cancer and many years' affliction with severe scoliosis.
He is preceded by his mother, Bessie, his father, Clarence, and his two brothers, Enfield (Brother) and Clarence (Chicks) and survived by his wife Georgia, children Kim, Merritt and Lee, daughter-in-law Noemi, grandchildren Lindsey, Kayley, Aliyah (great granddaughter), Taylor, Seth, Charlotte, Benjamin and Sophia, nephews, cousins and his faithful dog Cash.
Donald's journey began on April 14th, 1935, in the small town of Oakhill, West Virginia. With his wits and yearning for higher education propelling him, he left his impoverished youth and enrolled into Columbia University in New York City on a full-ride scholarship. After Columbia University, he attended and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia. There he met the love of his life, Georgia Padgett; they married in 1960.
Upon completion of his residency at the University of Oklahoma, he began his lifelong passion of serving others and became the first Nephrologist in Montana. He was drafted into the Army in 1967 and practiced medicine at the Ireland Army Hospital for two years at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he reached the rank of major.
Donald returned to the Billings Clinic where he started much-needed satellite dialysis units in both Montana's and northern Wyoming's more remote regions; however, he was most proud of his part in helping to establish the Billings Clinic Medical Ethics Committee. Retirement arrived in 2000, thereafter his remaining time was spent with family and at his beloved cabin in Red Lodge.
With pride and enduring love, he will be missed by his family and those that knew him.
We wish to express our deepest gratitude to St. John's United Hospice and Cornerstone Caregiving for their outstanding compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Billings Clinic Foundation or an animal shelter of your choice would be appreciated.
To honor Donald's wishes a private family gathering will take place to celebrate his life.