Donald Odegaard

Donald W. Odegaard, 77, Mapleton, ND, died Tuesday, February 25, 2003, in ManorCare Health Services, Fargo. Donald Wesley Odegaard was born January 23, 1926 to Lottie and Ingvold Odegaard at Horace, ND. Donald attended school at Horace and worked on the family farm until June 1943 when he entered the U.S. Navy. Donald served aboard the USS Lloyd E. Acree and at the U.S. Navy Base 3002 located near the Somain Islands in the South Pacific. After his discharge on February 21, 1946, Donald returned to Horace. On February 14, 1949, he married Irene Severson and they moved to Fort Worth, TX, where Donald attended Barber School and worked for an airplane factory. Donald and Irene returned to West Fargo in 1952 where Donald started working for the Union Stockyards through 1972. In 1956, they moved to Mapleton, where they resided until their deaths. In 1972, Donald worked at the Red Owl Warehouse in Fargo, where he worked until his retirement in 1988. After retirement Donald filled his time with growing beautiful flower gardens and enjoying the company of his grandchildren. Donald also found great pleasure in cooking Sunday dinner for his family and baking cookies every Saturday for his grandchildren, their friends, and his neighbors. He is preceded in death by his wife, Irene; one sister, Adele; and two brothers in World War II, Wallace in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and Robert, who died on his return from the Bikini Islands. Donald is survived by three daughters, Pam (Mike) Dahl, Cindy (Marv) Skar, and Becky (Randy) Unterseher, all of Fargo; four sons, Wally (Mary Beth), West Fargo, Danny, Fargo, Kevin (Cindy), Mapleton, and Jody (Jacki), Fargo; two sisters, Ilene Stensrud, Oxbow, ND, and Marion Ferch, West Fargo; and one brother, Arthur ?Wimpy?, West Fargo. Donald is also survived by 14 grandchildren who were his pride and joy: Chris (Jamie), Stephanie, and Jacob Dahl; Ethan, Erin, Adam, and Jared Odegaard; Joe and Loni Skar; Bobbi and Katie Unterseher; Richelle (Russ) and Chad Andel; and Melissa (Chad) Nesemeier; and one great-grandchild, Hunter Dahl. The family would like to give thanks to the many special people who took care of Donald at Manorcare in Fargo, with a special thanks to Nicole, Charity, Faith, Carol, and special therapy staff who brought smiles to his face in difficult times. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 AM in St. John Lutheran Church at Bonanzaville in West Fargo. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Horace, in the spring. Arrangements by Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo.