Don would be there, no matter snow, rain or shine, for preg check day.  Never really would be cold as long as there were schnapps to share amongst us all! He taught our family so many valuable things and will be greatly missed for his teachings to so many.   His words of yelling  “andele vaca!”and ”more cattle!” will always be a part of working cattle.   

John, Brenda, Kate, Bill, April and children. 

I have the fondest of memories for Don Lefever.   I remember when first arriving at CSU seeing a ford pickup in the faculty parking lot with the custom plates of "AI Don".  It sure didn't take long to figure who that truck belonged to.  Don taught so many how to preg check and A I that his legacy will carry on for many generations.  As has been mentioned, Don yelling "more cattle", will be long remembered and cherished by many.  
He truly cared for the industry that he served, the livestock that he cared for, and the individuals that he worked with.  
May the good Lord comfort and bless Don's family and friends at this time .  
John and Angie Young

I have so many wonderful memories of working with Don while I was in grad school and beyond.  To this day, when working cattle, I often hear in my mind Don yelling "more cattle" or remember him ringing a dang cowbell incessantly at the San Juan Basin Research Center and his constant good-natured ribbing of his dear friend Dr. Jim Brinks.  

He taught me a great many things and I had the privilege to share many adventures with him and Dr. Brinks.  Including some interesting times at the Loveland Dog Track, gambling in Reno, playing bridge at lunch, and playing poker on road trips.

You were a kind and generous man, Don, and will be greatly missed.  Thank you for sharing your wisdom and talents with so many people and with the industry you loved.  Rest in peace my friend! 

It was a distinct pleasure to know Don and Dotty and to work with Don on the CCA  Board.  He was always a "straight shooter".  He will be missed.

t compton

When Tom and I went back to school as a family with our 7 year old daughter Crystal in tow, Don was so welcoming. Crystal would spend time with us in the lab downstairs as Tom worked on his Masters and I did work study on some projects. The funniest thing was Don didn't realize Tom and I were a married couple for a few months. His laughter when he figured it out still rings in my ears. 
Don was the main help on Tom's master project and he kept things so lively. Don wanted Tom to take a photo of him by the chute with this huge pile of manure they had scooped out. Tom used that photo along with other more serious ones in his  Master's presentation. Don kept things down to earth.

I remember Don and Dotty inviting us to barbecues at their place and their dog that was so funny as it watched tv. 

In his later years we would see Don and Dotty at CCA meetings and always had a great time visiting. Don always wanted the best for cattlemen and he was a strong advocate. 

Don you will be missed but I know you are entertaining other cattlemen in heaven with the stories of your antics. RIP

Our condolences to Dotty and Don's family.

Don you will be missed by everyone.  I remember the trips with the IRM program and your wisdom in handling cattle.  Perhaps most of all I will miss your gigantic laugh.

Your friend Roy

A great man and good friend that I will never forget... I always enjoyed the preg checkings, A-I ings, and cribbage games that he of coarse would always beat me at... I can still hear you up at the chute calling out for 'More Cattle'!  You will be greatly missed...

Dott 
Our deepest condolences 
and celebration of Don’s life and my family’s affiliation with him
From our years at CSU and the animal science dept 
His work on our breeding program 
My years on the CCA board with him
We cherish those memories and his service to the livestock industry  
Sincerely The Dickinson Family

Some of my fondest memories and proudest moments were being on the board of directors of the CCA with Don. Those were great leaders and Don was certainly no exception. Don was famous for what I would call, retrospect. We would be charging along through our usually very long agenda when Don would say those famous words, “you know I’ve been thinking” , meaning that some agenda item we’d dispensed with, Don wanted to go back and revisit. He would always be concerned we hadn’t given it enough thought and as a result, some harm could befall our members. His nature, the people, the core, were to be taken care of and he made sure that was the case. 
God speed Don, hope God has a brand new AI chute up there for you.

So many great hours spent with Don breeding heifers, pregnancy testing, helping me on my master’s project in Utah and lunchtime bridge games with him, Dr Brinks, and Mark Enns. Don was quick to scold you if you overbid and didn’t win enough tricks. Thank you too Don, for serving as CCA president and always  championing animal agriculture, you will be sorely missed. 

Tom Harrington 

I spent a couple of years traveling with Don as an "apprentice" AI student and graduate student--(wishing everytime Don would let me drive) LOL.  I have so many good memories of him and his participation in my education, and, even the mentoring of Gary about "marrying his special gal".

Don touched so many students--including myself, that I know his legacy is living on through many throughout the united States.  

GodSpeed, Don LeFever!

I will always be grateful for all of the support that Don gave me in an effort to better the beef cattle research and teaching programs at Colorado State University.  His assistance in the reproductive management of the cow herds at the the CSU Maxwell Ranch and the Slash J Slash Ranch was priceless.  Many long days and nights were spent with Don at the helm.  He was a tremendous asset to Colorado State University as well as the entire Colorado beef cattle community.  A job well done Don!  We will miss you until we meet again!

Don
was an incredible man. I first met him when he was preg t esting and AI ing my dad's cows probly close to 50 years ago. He was so much fun to be around I remember he hung a Dingle Berry off a cow from my mirror put a little note saying that it was an ancient voodoo symbol

Don, I don't know what we're going to do without you!   When Jim fell into Alzheimer's ,  you  helped more than anyone by taking him out to a movie and  burger so many times.  Before that it was  all the A.I work you did with him.  

When you get to those pearly gates,  give Jim my love, tell him I'm doing the best I can with the farm, then start up a good poker game with him.    

You will be missed!  


OBITUARY

Donald George LeFever

20 March, 1930 – 19 December, 2019

Allnutt Funeral Service – Drake Road Chapel

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