Donna Mae Larson’s battle with Alzheimer’s ended October 16th, 2020 at home with her daughter in law and selfless caregiver Nancy Larson at her side when she took her last breath.
She had been under hospice care for some time. She was just two months short of her 94th birthday.
Donna was born at Dickey, North Dakota on December 11th, 1926 to Andreas and Lillian Millspaugh. She was raised in the Dickey area and attended school at Dickey and Adrian. She graduated from Dickey High School receiving required number of credits in three years’ time.
She was married to Roger Larson on April 18th, 1944 in Aberdeen, S.D. while Roger was home on leave while serving in the army in Japan and the Philippines. Roger and Donna farmed near Dickey in the James River valley, which they both loved, all their lives together. . She often called the James River valley the most beautiful place in the world. They had two children, Steve Larson, (wife Nancy), Dickey, N.D., and Mindy Larson, Hutchinson, MN.
Donna was very active in the farm activities, helping drive tractor and grain truck. Taking care of Livestock and raising countless bottle lambs each year and numerous pail calves. She referred to it as making her mad money. She raised a huge garden each year, enjoyed taking care of yard work and flowers. Her home was neat and she enjoyed decorating for the various holidays. She always had candles and decorations for the current time. The holidays themselves were filled with large dinner gatherings of both sides of the family. Roger and Donna enjoyed going about to various homes and playing cards, they also were members of a square dance club.
Donna worked one year as school cook at the Dickey school. She was very active in the Dickey United Methodist Church, serving as the junior class Sunday school teacher for approximately 22 years. She was UMYF youth leader for many years, also participating in Ladies Aid, Homemakers, and ladies choir, occasionally singing solos in church also. Bible studies at church and at home were a big part of her life.
She enjoyed her grandchildren and was an active sitter for them. She enjoyed her animals and dogs. Sewing, crocheting and cross stitching were also hobbies she enjoyed. Watching Lawrence Welk, the Minnesota Twins, various TV shows, and reading countless books were some of her past times. She enjoyed going for drives.
After her husbands death she stayed at the farm for almost a year until moving to Fargo, ND. She was then near her mother Lill and sister Eva. Donna, Eva and Jeanette would go to lunch together on their birthdays for a sister’s outing which they all enjoyed. While she lived in Fargo she attended the First United Methodist Church. Donna was a volunteer for 18 years while living in Fargo, at the Merit Care Hospital faithfully delivering flowers to patients’ rooms, seeing people from her home area at times. While in Fargo she was pleased to buy her first car on her own, a new 1988 Dodge Dynasty, which she drove everywhere. She enjoyed shopping and the mall. She worked at a fabric store for about a year. Donna went on a European tour to such places as Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and others which she had a wonderful time. At her 80th birthday party she informed Nancy that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Shortly after that Steve moved her home to the farm to be with them. Donna resided at assisted living and a memory care facility, but in the 14 year battle of the disease most of the time was spent at the farm home living with Steve and Nancy under their care.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; grandson, Seth Andrew Larson; great grandson, Seth Theodore Larson; brother, Milton Millspaugh; sister, Eunice Maisel; sister, Eva Roscoe.
She is survived by her sister, Jeanette McCleary; daughter, Melinda Larson and grandchildren Dakota Larson, Zachary Larson, and Dustin Stifter; son, Steve Larson (Nancy), and grandchildren, Daniel Larson (Stacey), Jared Larson , Alexis Larson Evert (Kyle), Lucas Larson (Natalie), and Shauna Larson Vorderbruggen (Ben); also 11 beautiful Great Grandchildren; and numerous Nieces and Nephews.
A memorial service will be held in Jamestown, N.D on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at Williams Funeral Home, Jamestown with Chaplin Dave of Red River Valley Hospice officiating. The service will be live streamed and accessed via the funeral home website by clicking on the following link: (Coming Soon)
Private Burial will be at a later date.
Memorials will be forwarded to Red River Valley Hospice.
Honorary pallbearers will be her six grandsons, Jared Larson, Lucas Larson, Daniel Larson, Dakota Larson, Zachary Larson, and Dustin Larson Stifter; also granddaughters Alexis Larson Evert, and Shauna Larson Vorderbruggen; her great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
We would also like to include the numerous young people who she helped along the way of developing their faith through her efforts as a Sunday school teacher and youth group leader.
We would also like to thank everyone at Red River Valley Hospice for all of their help and concern, you have become family.