Douglas James Erhart, 38, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2000, at the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital after a lifelong struggle with physical problems.

He was born on September 6, 1961, in Montpelier, the first child of James F. Erhart and Dorothy Ruth Swenson. When he was 1 year old his parents moved to Orange County, Calif., and later divorced. His mother, a registered nurse, chose to remain in California to raise her two sons. Douglas attended schools in the Anaheim City School District.

When he was 16 his mother passed away. After a short time in California and Washington he returned to Montpelier, to live with his maternal grandmother, Gladys Swenson, and his younger brother. The remainder of his life was spent in Montpelier.

He never married.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Douglas was a good young man with a quiet, unassuming nature, who rarely complained about his physical limitations. Even when a youth he was a caregiver to the mother he loved, when she was ill, and even more so as her illness progressed.

He loved to fish and go camping in the hills with his friends and family. His favorite time of year was fall when he could go to the hills for firewood with "Uncle Forrest." He enjoyed cooking, especially Dutch-oven cooking. He liked to do glass etchings and even knitted an afghan for himself. He enjoyed TV, his video games and music. His best pal was his old dog, "Sam."

Doug is survived by his father, of California; a brother, Michael (Chris) Erhart, and children of Roy, Utah; maternal aunts, Virginia (Forrest) Jacobsen of Montpelier, Cathlene (Robert) Ellsworth of Clearfield, Utah; cousins, Debra Mackey of Hyrum, Utah, Jeffery Jacobsen of Pocatello, Cynthia (Rick) Thomas of Bloomington, Jacquelyn (James) Case of Twin Falls, Brett (Dana) Jacobsen of Montpelier, Jon (Dana) Jacobsen of Paris, Idaho and their families; second cousin Priscilla Angeli of North Logan, Utah; and a great-uncle, Clarence "Stoney" Sorensen of Montpelier. He was preceded in death by his mother, infant brothers Scott and David, his maternal grandparents, Willis "Slim" and Gladys Swenson, a dear aunt, Helen Sorensen, an uncle, Richard Hughes, and cousin, Christopher Jacobsen.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb. 24, at noon in the Matthews Mortuary Chapel, where friends may call that morning from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Montpelier City Cemetery.