Donnie was born on September 27, 1930 in Kellogg, Idaho to Mayo and Ann (Deluca) Rinaldi. He grew up in Kellogg graduating from Kellogg High School in 1948. During his high school career, Don was a 3 sport letterman in Football, Basketball and Track.
Upon high school graduation, Don attended North Idaho College of Education for 3 years. In college, Donnie was a member of the basketball team that played in the 1950 NAIB Regional Basketball tournament. On September 22, 1951, Donnie married Rose Mary Visintainer in Wallace, Idaho.
In 1954 Don joined the US Army and ended his time with the Army as a Gunnery Sergeant stationed at Hanford Nuclear Site. Donnie was honorably discharged in 1956 and returned to Kellogg where he and Rose settled to raise their family.
Donnie began refereeing high school football and basketball in 1952. Once he returned to refereeing after his stint with Uncle Sam, he realized he liked watching football too much to be an effective official. He stopped officiating football and focused on basketball at both high school and collegiate levels.
Donnie continued to referee through the 1976-1977 season. He worked 19 straight State Tournaments from A-1 through A-4. Donnie also refereed basketball games for North Idaho College and the Big Sky conference along with freshman games for the PAC-10. He was the commissioner of the North Idaho Officials for 3 years from 1974-1077. As commissioner he assigned officials for district sports programs.
Upon retirement from officiating, Donnie became a member of the Idaho High School Activities Association District 1 Board of Control from 1975 to 1977. In 1989 Donnie retired from Hoffman Mechanical Company where he had been employed as a Mechanical Superintendent for construction of fresh water and waste water treatment facilities throughout the northwest US & Alaska.
Upon retirement Don and Rose moved up the Coeur d’Alene River to their beloved home on Whitetail Loop near Prichard, Idaho.
Don and Rose are the proud parents of 5 children. They have 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.