Donard Thue Jr

Donard Arthur Thue, Jr, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019. Donard was born on October 10th 1934 to Donard and Inez Thue. Don grew up on a farm northwest of Walcott, ND where he attended and graduated from high school in 1952. After graduating, he enlisted in the army for two years and was stationed in Baumholder, Germany, where he served as a medic. After returning to the states, Don worked in Lafayette, Indiana at Brown Rubber for a short time before coming back to North Dakota, where he took the postal entrance exam and was hired as a postal railway mail clerk, a job that he so enjoyed. He then transitioned to working at the Moorhead Post Office and held multiple positions within the postal service, eventually named Postmaster at Dilworth, MN in 1978. He retired from the United States Postal Service in 1990. In 1958, Don met Carolyn, the love of his life and wife of almost 60 years at the wedding of their friends Wes and Gwen Myhre. They were married in 1959 and lived on 5th street south in Fargo for 45 years. It was here that they raised their three children, Todd Thue (Jessica Lamker), Savage, MN; Patty (Brad) Arett, Moorhead, MN; and Sara (Dan) Troftgruben, Peoria, AZ. They joined St. John Lutheran Church and were very active members of the congregation for more than 50 years. Don was also very active in the Elks Lodge #260 and was named Exalted Ruler in 1983. After retirement, Don and Carolyn purchased a cottage on Lake Lizzie, which became the gathering place for their children, grandchildren and many friends. They wintered in Sun City, Arizona for 20 years, where they enjoyed spending time with friends and attending many sporting events of their Arizona grandchildren. Don and Carolyn transitioned from their lake home to One Oak Place, where they continued to enjoy their new community of friends. Don was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and was cared for by Maple View Memory Care facility in Fargo. Don is survived by his wife Carolyn, his three children – Todd, Patty and Sara, six grandchildren – Jessica Arett (Robert Greer), Megan Marvig, Carly Arett (Chad Sandoval), Tony Troftgruben, Shayna Troftgruben and Evan Thue. He is also survived by his sister, Delores Hart (Cecil, OH). He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Harold and Parnell Thue. The family requests donations in memoriam to Memory Café of the Red River Valley, the Alzheimer’s Association and St. John Lutheran Church in Fargo.