Donald Alan Altermatt

Donald Alan Altermatt, also known as Rocky, passed away unexpectedly on April 11, 2026. He leaves behind his wife, Natalie, one daughter, Heidi, two sons, Brandon and Michael, and a community of extended family and friends who will miss him dearly. Don’s integrity, kindness, and great sense of humor earned him the friendship and respect of people everywhere he went.

Don was born in Salem, Oregon in 1964, into a family with seven siblings, though two passed before he was born. In high school, he went on an exchange trip to Australia, where he met friends he would keep for the rest of his life. After graduating from McNary, he earned his Bachelor’s degree while he traveled the world with the Army, stationed in Colorado Springs, Egypt, and Germany. In Bremerhaven, he met the love of his life, Natalie. Together, they returned to Keizer to raise their family.

He encouraged his children’s sporting interests, and took a leading part in the Colonel Allison Junior Rifle Club at the Four Corners Rod and Gun Club, running it for many years.

Don worked for 30 years as an IT specialist at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. There, he built the digital infrastructure of the department. The agency had six computers and no internet when he started, and by the time he retired, they had 1,500 devices attached to various networks on any given day. As the team grew, he moved up the ranks, retiring as the head of information technology for the department.

Outside of work, Don loved fishing, camping, hunting, and traveling the world. He enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Florida, Australia, Korea, England, and Las Vegas. Most of all, he loved sharing these activities with his family and friends; he loved sharing the joys and the adventure of new experiences with them.

Don’s memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on April 21 at Virgil Golden funeral home, followed by committal at Belcrest. His absence will be felt deeply, but so will his presence - in the joys, lessons, and experiences he gave us.