Douglas J. Wold

Douglas Jerome Wold, 85, of Polson, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 8, 2025, at his home on Flathead Lake. He was born in Billings on September 16, 1939, to Oliver and “Edde” (Weir) Wold. Doug lived life to the fullest in his 31,220 profound and remarkable days, making a difference in the lives of many as an advocate, a brother in Christ, a devoted father and grandfather, a trusted friend, a generous philanthropist, and a dedicated community supporter.

Doug grew up in Laurel, graduated from Laurel High School, and worked at the family-owned O.M. Wold General Store from an early age. His favorite memories were the summers Doug, and his parents spent on Flathead Lake. Ironically, Doug’s future wife spent time with her extended family across the bay at the lake, but they did not meet until they were in college. He attended the University of Montana, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He enjoyed his foreign studies and meeting new friends while studying at the Goethe Institut, Murnau, Germany.

Doug married his college sweetheart, Linda Jane Madsen, on December 29, 1961, in Missoula during Christmas break, when Doug was at the University of Southern California (USC) and Linda was at the University of Montana (UM). Even a blizzard they encountered driving from Billings to Missoula didn’t keep Doug and his parents from making it to the church on time. Doug and Linda immediately moved to Los Angeles, where he was working on his master’s degree at the University of Southern California.

The couple then moved back to Missoula, where Doug attended the University of Montana Law School. Their first child, Chantel, was born during this time. When Doug graduated from law school, he was also commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. The couple then moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, for JAGC school. Doug was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey, where they spent two years and had their second child, Clay. After two years, Doug was assigned to the U.S. Army Defense Appellate Division, and the couple relocated to Washington, D.C., where he and Linda enjoyed the arts and culture that the city had to offer at that time. Doug continued his legal education at the University of Virginia School of Law and the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Doug was offered an appointment as a Montana Assistant Attorney General, and they moved back to Helena, Montana. In 1969, they moved to Polson. A few years later, their son Chad was born, and the couple and their three children moved into a home on the west shore, where they lived for more than 50 years and enjoyed the beauty of Flathead Lake every day.

Doug was very active in community life. He particularly enjoyed his more than 50-year membership in the local Rotary Club. He was also very active in Jaycees (served as State President), Cursillo, Masumola Club, Sons of Norway, and the Episcopal Church. Recreationally, Doug loved woodworking, golfing, boating, water skiing, snow skiing, jet skiing, sailing in the San Juan Islands, rafting, fishing, hiking, and later, rafting through the Bob Marshall Wilderness, as well as midnight bike rides down Going-to-the-Sun Road. Professionally, Doug retired after 60 exceptional years as a lawyer, serving many professional chairmanships, including the Montana Supreme Court Civil Jury Instructions, the Commission on Practice, President and Trustee of the Montana State Bar, adjunct professor at UM Law School, co-founder and co-chairman of the MTLA Trial Academy, and Mediator. Doug also spent years traveling across the state, nation, and internationally as a motivational speaker, and later in life gave speeches on local history and other interests. The greatest joy in Doug’s life was spending time with his family and cheering on his kids and grandkids in their sports and activities.

Doug assisted Linda in creating spectacular lakeshore gardens, which were often the venue of large groups and fund-raisers. He and Linda were most gracious, generous, and extraordinary hosts. Their “End of Summer” parties were especially looked forward to. Doug and Linda will be long remembered for hosting the Montana Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention dinners, which drew 150-300 guests to their gardens each July for 15 years.

Doug enjoyed traveling with Linda and his family across the United States, to the Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Rarotonga, China, and several trips to Europe, as well as to Hawaii and Alaska. During the last decade, Doug was the brains of the management of the family’s vacation rental business, operating rentals on Whitefish Mountain, the Swan River, and Flathead Lake, where he passed away while preparing for the summer rental season. Doug and Linda were a team in everything they did and were married for more than 62 devoted years.

A loving son, husband, father, and grandfather, Doug is preceded in death by his father, Oliver F. Wold; his mother, Georgia Edna “Edde” (Weir) Wold; and his beloved wife, Linda Madsen Wold. Survivors include their three children, Chantel and her husband, Bob McCauley, and their son, Ethan; sons Clay and Chad, and his wife, Katie (Story), and his four sons, Zander, Keegan, Bode, and Decker.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Linda’s gardens when the flowers are at their peak. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Doug’s honor may be made to the University of Montana Law School.