Donald Leroy Underwood

Donald Leroy Underwood, 90, of Summerville, South Carolina, passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Born on July 13, 1936, in Elgin, ND, Don was the son of the late Mary Raugutt Underwood and the late Earl Underwood.

Don attended Elgin Community School until the age of 17, then he left high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He married Mary Kettering, a high school sweetheart, in 1954 at Pearl Harbor TH (Territory of Hawaii/ not a state at that time). Don served on a destroyer during the Korean War, then volunteered for submarine service and served on submarines during the Cold War.

Don retired from the Navy in 1974, and they moved to their lake home at Tenstrike, MN.

After military service, he attended college at North Dakota State University, Bottineau Branch, majoring in Wildlife, Ecology and Parks Management.

After college, he was employed by the North Dakota State Park Service and served as a State Parks Manager.

While with state parks, he attended the ND State Law Enforcement Academy to serve as a State Parks law enforcement officer.

Don retired from the Park Service in 1996 and moved to their lake home on Gull Lake, Tenstrike, MN.

Don and Mary enjoyed a life on the road, living and traveling in a motor home, volunteering as campground park hosts until 2007.

Coming off the road in their 80's they lived in several places in ND, TX and now SC where they live near their daughter, Jan and her family.

Donald is survived by his wife, Mary Underwood; daughter, Jan Fulton; sons, Donald Underwood (Rosemary) and Alan Underwood; grandchildren: Jack Fulton Jr. (Kimberly), Jennifer Fulton, Christopher Underwood, and Michael Underwood; great-grandchildren: Victoria McArn (William), Savannah Fulton, Justin Pruitt, and Kayla Fulton (Kaleb); and great-great-grandchildren: Caroline, Kensleigh, and Dutton.

The service will be held at later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation, 869 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843) 553-1511.