Don was born February 27, 1927, to Martin Toft and Sarah (Richardson) Toft on the family farm in Humbolt, South Dakota. He grew up a typical farm boy of that era. He graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls in 1945 and went directly into the Army. He served in the European Theatre initially and was spared from going to the Pacific Theatre by the ending of the war. He was honorably discharged, and a highlight of his service was playing baseball for an Army team named the Berlin Bears. Don also played baseball after the war for the Vermillion Eagles and for the Sioux Falls Canary’s.