Donald Grant Nutter

Donald Grant Nutter
15th Governor of Montana
In office January 4, 1961 – January 25, 1962
Lieutenant	Tim M. Babcock
Preceded by	J. Hugo Aronson
Succeeded by	Tim M. Babcock
Member of the Montana Senate from the 19th district
In office 1951–1959
Personal details
Born	November 28, 1915 Lambert, Montana
Died	January 25, 1962 (aged 46) Wolf Creek, Montana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Maxine Trotter
Children	John Nutter
Alma mater	University of Montana
Religion	Congregationalist
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1943 – 1945
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War II

Donald Grant Nutter (November 28, 1915 – January 25, 1962) was an American politician. A recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II, Nutter served in the state senate and as the chair of the state Republican Party prior to being elected the 15th Governor of Montana in 1960. After a year in office, he was killed in an airplane crash during a blizzard in January 1962.

Donald Nutter was born November 28, 1915, in Lambert, Montana, the second of three sons born to Chesley E. Nutter and Anne Grant (Wood) Nutter. The family moved to Sidney in 1918.

Nutter attended the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton for two years before transferring to University of Montana in Missoula in 1935. He left school after his father became ill to return to Sidney, where he entered public service in 1937 as the deputy clerk of the Richland County District Court. He held that position for a year, then served for another year as the undersheriff of Richland County.

Nutter met his wife, Maxine Trotter, at an ice cream shop where she worked with her parents. They were married in Lewistown on April 16, 1938 and had one son, John.

Following their wedding, Nutter entered the farm equipment business in Sidney. He did well and moved his young family to Glasgow, where he managed a farm equipment sales company for two years.

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