Donna May Lord

Donna May Lord, age 91, a longtime resident of Park Rapids, MN, entered the glory of Heaven on November 12, 2020 while on her way to Aitkin, MN after being released from the Sanford Health Bemidji Medical Center. Stella Irene Lindekugal (Donna Lord) was born in Fargo, ND on November 23, 1928. Evelyn, her birth mother, left her a tender letter to read when she could appreciate its significance. Shortly after that, Oscar and Laura Freeman, who had adopted her, came to get 'Donna May' and take her home to their ranch/farm near Steele, North Dakota... When Donna reached school age, her mother moved into town with her during the school term. When Donna was 12 or 13, the family moved from North Dakota to Park Rapids, Minnesota. Donna liked school and would have been happy becoming a dentist or a nurse... When she was 17, she met Charles Leonard Lord, who was a D-day, Navy veteran. They were smitten and got married on August 23, 1946. Donna worked at Dinyer drug store, while Charlie attended college to become an accounting teacher. Charlie's graduation gift was a baby girl, Julene Suzanne, born May 5, 1951. The family moved from Park Rapids to Red Lake Falls, MN during the school year, until Charlie got a teaching position in Park Rapids, three years later. Janelle Marie, their second daughter, was born on November 1, 1954. Donna worked part-time at Fick Drug after her girls were in school. She met her brother Ed for the first time and found out she had a half-brother, Art, as well. She was an only child until then. She was an active member of Faculty Wives and the Methodist Church. She loved to play bridge and go out dancing. Her pastimes included sewing for her daughters, their dolls, and herself; also knitting counted cross stitch and other needlework. The family went on trips out west, to national parks; the World's Fair in Seattle; Disneyland; and numerous places around the US and Canada, when the kids were growing up. In 1968 they lost their daughter, Janny to a tragic suicide at the age of 13. It was one of those things in life from which a family never fully recovers. After Jan's death, Donna got her dental assistant's license and went to work for Dr. Schuckhart. She loved her job assisting, and cleaning people’s teeth. After Vern retired, she continued to work with Dr. Schubert for several years. She also worked for the census bureau and selling Amera nail products through home demonstrations. Donna loved animals, especially her beloved poodle, Tyrone. She took care of her friends’ dogs over the years after losing Tyrone. Donna, Charlie, and Julie traveled to Israel and Egypt in 1985. Donna and Charlie also took trips to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji; and spent their retirement winters in Arizona; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and Florida. On December 30, 1986, their only grandchild, Kristal Élan Davis was born. Grandma made delightful clothes for Krista and thought of her as a little princess she needed to groom! Charlie, Donna, Julie, and Krista traveled to Toronto, Mt Rushmore, and the Wisconsin Dells when Krista was little. Charlie passed away on August 15, 2007, 8 days before their 60th wedding anniversary. Donna was bereft. She was languishing... A few months later, she met Lawrence Hoganson, a retired Methodist minister who tripped her trigger and brought her back to life. Donna never missed doing her part with the church rummage sale, every spring, and fall. She was always proud of how much money they made. She and Larry liked to go on road trips around the USA, and spend their winters in Florida. They enjoyed monthly jam sessions at Itasca Park and Akley. They also attended plays and concerts in the area and even went to an opera at the Ordway in St Paul. Larry and Donna had a commitment; they never married, but on the domestic plane, one couldn't tell the difference. Donna was a feeler, and when Larry died, part of her died. When her sister (in-law), Alice, died a year later, another part of her died. When her social life in the community died during the covid epidemic, it nearly killed her...Donna was a social being. She liked crowds and being in their midst. She missed her church dinners, of any denomination, she liked them all; the Legion dinners; the Senior Center activities; her bridge games, with the squabbling of 'some of those women'... she was, like: "come on you silly girls, lets get down to the serious business of playing bridge!” She ended up in the hospital, in Bemidji for almost a month, at about 10% of her power. She was so despondent about her future that she literally gave up the ghost on her way to the Aitkin nursing home on November 12... she was defiant! She refused to go anywhere other than Park Rapids! She is survived by her daughter, Julene Davis of Apple Valley, MN, her granddaughter Kristal Davis of Richfield, MN, and her brother Ed Evans of Port Orchard, Washington. Memorial services will be held in the spring or summer of 2021 when hopefully the worst of this horrible Covid-19 will be behind us. An announcement will be placed in this paper, or visit www.jonespearson.com or you can call the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home at 218-280-2400 for updated information.