Donna Nelson
May 3, 1938 ~ December 17, 2018
Donna M. Nelson was born in Litchfield, Minnesota on May 3, 1938 to Curtiss and Alma (Haider) Nelson. Donna passed away at Essentia Hospital on December 17, 2018. She attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from Red Wing Central High School in 1956. Donna attended the University of Minnesota and worked at the College of Education for several years. She worked in the Human Resources Department of Super Valu in Hopkins, MN and was transferred to their Fargo Distribution Center where she was the Director of Human Resources until her retirement.
The focus of Donna’s life was her commitment to family, church and community. To her brothers and sisters, she was the one person you knew would never turn down a request for help. For her nieces and nephews, she was the doting aunt, quick with words of praise and love. She lived her life in a way that spoke volumes about her Catholic Christian Faith.
Donna was very active at the St. Paul Newman Center at North Dakota State University, Holy Cross Parish in West Fargo and Holy Spirit Parish where she volunteered in the office and was Head Usher for the 9:00 A.M. Mass.
Donna is survived by her sister, Barbara Diercks of Red Wing, MN, brother Robert (Karmen) Nelson of Mesa, AZ and sister Shirley (James) Macho of Farmington, MN and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by special friends, Dennis, Janet and Ryan Gemar of Fargo, ND and Jacob, Becca and Jackson Holman of Grain Valley, MO.
Donna was preceded in death by her mother and father, as well as her brother and sister-in-law, LaMonte & Rita Nelson.
A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, January 18, 2019 with Very Rev. Ross Laframboise as celebrant. Visitation will be held an hour before the Mass. Interment will be in Red Wing, MN on Saturday, January 19th with Chaplain Jim Leith officiating.
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May you find comfort and rest, my dear friend
Donna – what a dear friend, with a GREAT sense of humor and always willing to “go the extra mile”. I just can’t imagine our FA History group with out you!!!!! Dear friend, know you will be missed by sooooo many. Blessings to you. Z
Donna was a patient of mine at Meritcare and Essentia when I was still working in healthcare. She would also seek me out when she worked at Hallmark. She was always asking about my daughter (I was a single Mom for a period of time) and continued to ask. She was easy to talk with and I looked forward to her visits.
I will miss our little talks. She was certainly a blessing to many.
To the loved ones of Donna:
I was blessed with the opportunity of working with Donna for years at SuperValu, and then continued as a friend after leaving there. Her smile and genuine personality made her someone you wanted to be with. She was always asking about how our boys were…she treated them very special when they were little. Donna touched my heart and will remain there. My thoughts and prayers are for you all.
Kris & Tom Thompson
Donna was a dear neighbor to my parents for several years, and was always so pleasant and friendly. My love and sympathy to family
It was my honor to know Donna back in the late 1970’s and 1980’s when she and I and about 20 others were the only “personnel officers” in the FM area. We witnessed the growth of “personnel” into “Human Resources” and HR into corporate board rooms all over Fargo Moorhead. She was one of the nicest individuals I have ever known and her family has my most sincere condolences upon her passing. God bless her memory.
Donna was a dear friend for nearly 40 years. We meet through Human Resources. We shared the joy of traveling together in Europe and the British Isles. I remember her joy at seeing the Pope when we were in Rome. When we attended the Passion Play in Germany, I was shocked that they were not singing in English. She leaned over to me and said, “we are in Germany, you know.” We both laughed! She was a delight to be with and will be dearly missed. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends.
Rest in peace Donna, you have been a true friend. You will be greatly missed at Fine Arts and very much so at Holy Spirit. Barb & Paul Rudh
Donna was a very caring and loving person! I am so sorry to learn of Donna’s death.
I worked with Donna at the west acres Hallmark, she a had wonderful sense of humor! She also was a great judge of character and will be greatly missed!
You will enjoy the wonderful music in your new home, and I will be searching for my seat at the FM Symphony with out your guiding smile and wave. Miss you.
We met Donna at St Paul’s Newman Center in Fargo. She shared her birthday with my dad, and was an “adopted” grandma (“Grandma D”) to our children. She will be missed but not forgotten. May she rest in peace.
We say good-bye to you today. We have lost a special friend. We loved you like family. what a truly great friend you were to us and our family.You were confirmation sponser for our daughter Jenna. What a great experience she had with you on the journey, lots of fun and laughter. I will miss our monthly lunches that lasted 2-3 hrs and your good advice. Thank you for being my friend. Rest in peace! Bob & Deb Schultz, Jenna Schultz, & Jason, Jackie, Daryn, Harper. Reston Schultz.
Donna, was a kind, supportive, faithful and a gracious woman. My family was blessed with her presence in our lives. She was a treasure and a gift to our family. Stephen and Jane DuBord-Hill
I enjoyed meeting Donna through Bronson
She was a spe ial lady with great faith. I am sending Holy Spirit money for a mass. Cheryl Hager
I met Donna through Bronson. A special faithful lady. Sending money to Holy Spirit for a mass. Sorry for your loss. Cheryl Hager