Obituary of Donald Arthur Kihle

Donald Arthur Kihle passed away October 31st, 2016 peacefully from cancer at the age of 82. He was born April 4th, 1934 in Noonan, North Dakota to Art and Linnie Kihle. Don spent his childhood in Minot and graduated from Minot High School in 1957. He went on to attend the University of North Dakota and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering. While in college, he pledged the fraternity Sigma Chi and was elected President his senior year and remained involved many years later serving as Chairman and President of the Tulsa Sigma Chi Alumni Association. He was also involved in ROTC and upon graduation served for two years as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After serving in the military he accepted a position as an engineer at Continental Pipeline in Ponca City, Oklahoma. In this role he saw many parts of the world and especially enjoyed his time travelling in Libya and all throughout Europe. In Ponca City he met the love of his life, Judy Hudson, and they married on July 18th, 1964. Together they moved to Norman where Don attended Oklahoma University and graduated in 1967 with a Juris Doctorate with honors, as a member of the Law Review, Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi. Don and Judy moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he became a very accomplished attorney as a partner at Huffman, Arrington, Kihle, Gaberino & Dunn. Don was a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and received the Golden Gavel Award for his work on Law Day and the Liberty Bell Award as Chairman of the OBA Constitution Bicentennial Committee. During this time Don became a father of four. Because of his children he began to pursue new adventures including scuba diving and backpacking. He coached many of the baseball, softball and soccer teams his children participated in and became very involved in Boy Scouts serving as Cub Master, District Chairman, Camporee Chairman and receiving the Vigil Honor from the Order of the Arrow. He was also awarded the Silver Beaver in 1994, the highest national honor given from the Boy Scouts of America. Don was very involved in the Tulsa community and felt blessed by the life long friendships he developed through his association with the Tulsa Running Club, Tulsa Ski Club, Southern Hills Country Club, Rotary and the Q Club. At age 66, Don was ready to hang up his hat as an attorney and began the life of a retiree. For many years he and Judy would travel, play golf together and spend time at their condo in Penderais, New Mexico. When Judy was stricken with Alzheimer’s, Don became her caretaker and was by her side until the time of her death earlier this year. Don was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Judy and his parents, Linnie and Art Kihle. He is survived by his brothers, twin Kenneth Kihle and his wife LeAnn, Galen Kihle and his wife Verla; his children, John Kevin Kihle, Anna Kirsten Kihle, Kathryn Kihle Pribish and Robert Kurte Kihle; his son and daughter-in laws, Lara Lane Kihle, Brendan Radley Pribish and Marcy Spence Kihle; and his grandchildren Alex, Aden, Pierce and Hudson. A Memorial Celebration of Don Kihle’s life will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, November 3rd at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the “Alzheimer’s Association Research Fund” P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011. Ninde Brookside Chapel 918-742-5556. www.ninde.com