Damon Kelly McLaughlin was born on July 27, 1972 to Mark McLaughlin and Julie Bruggeman in Billings, MT. He grew up and attended schools in Billings and was very active in baseball, hockey and football as a child. Damon graduated from Billings West High School in 1990 and went on to attend Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa for a year. Damon returned to Billings and began working at the Par 3 Golf Course in Billings, MT. On January 1, 1994, Damon was united in marriage to Rachel Williamson in Billings. To this Union, two daughters were born Katlin and Ally. They made their home in Billings until 1998 when they moved to Sidney so Damon could begin work as the Ground Superintendent at the Sidney Country Club. Damon worked at the Sidney Country Club until 2009. He then went on to become the Grounds Superintendent and eventually the General Manager at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Williston, N.D. Damon met and began dating Jennifer DiFonzo in the spring of 2014. They spent many hours walking, talking, and getting to know each other before becoming engaged in the winter of 2014. Damon and Jennifer were united in marriage on November 28, 2015 at the Sidney Country Club and were very happily married until the time of his death. Damon became a grandfather in the fall of 2015 and he was so proud of his grandson Jett.
Damon was very active with the youth of Sidney. Upon moving to Sidney in 1998, Damon became involved with the Richland Youth Hockey Association. He worked with both the boys and girls’ programs throughout his years in hockey and won state championship titles in 2000, 2003, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He received Coach of the Year Honors in 2015 and was Co-Coach of the year in 2016. Damon served as a member of the hockey board for 8 years and served as president for 5 of those years. In the summer of 2005, Damon became the head coach of the Richland County Patriots. He continued this coaching through the summer of 2007 earning a trip to the state tournament where his team placed second. Damon then changed gears and tried his hand with girls’ fast pitch softball. He began working with the girls in the summer program and finally became the head coach of the High School Fast Pitch team in the spring of 2014. Damon continued to coach the High School Girls’ Fast pitch and was looking forward to a great season with hopes of a state tournament berth in the spring of 2017. Always wanting to be involved with kids, Damon then began working with the Sidney Middle School Football program this past fall. He was very proud of his work in this program and was always excited when he could teach new skills to his players and was so happy to be working with the kids. Damon always had the ability to get the most out of his players, and he will be forever missed but remembered for his coaching and mentoring style and abilities. Damon was a member of the Montana Officials Association for 12 years as a football official. He was also a member of the North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association, as well as, the Peaks and Prairies Golf Course Superintendents Association.
Damon died on Thursday afternoon, October 6, 2016 at the Sidney Health Center Emergency Room in Sidney, MT.
Surviving him are: his wife Jennifer McLaughlin, Sidney, MT; two daughters Katlin McLaughlin and Ally McLaughlin both of Sidney; his mother, Julie Bruggeman of Colorado Springs, CO; his father Mark (Diane) McLaughlin, Billings, MT; brother, Dustin (Jamie) McLaughlin, Glendive, MT; sisters, Erika McLaughlin, Joey McLaughlin, and Chelsea (Mike) Skaggs, all of Billings, MT, and sister, Kaycee (Spencer) Snelling, Helena, MT; his grandson , Jett Johnson; his nieces and nephews: Eli, Avery, Teagen, Harper, and Charlotte.
Damon is preceded in death by: paternal grandmother, Elvera McLaughlin, maternal grandparents, Margaret and Clayton Bruggeman, as well as, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorial Contribution