Donna Mae (Peterson) Mickelson age 80 of Walnut Grove passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 24 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation is 4:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial is in Willow Lake Cemetery, rural Tracy. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Donna Mae (Peterson) Mickelson was born May 26, 1935 in Holly Township, Minnesota to Paul and Clara (Iverson) Peterson. She was baptized and confirmed at Willow Lake Lutheran Church, rural Tracy. Donna attended country school and later graduated from Tracy High School. On May 6, 1955, she married Duane “Sam” Mickelson at Willow Lake Lutheran Church. Donna worked at the Tracy Bank for a short time, and from 1969-2004, she and Sam ran the sale barn in Walnut Grove. Donna did the bookkeeping and was well known for her cooking there. She occasionally cooked at the school and worked in the office at Plum Creek campground which she thoroughly enjoyed. Donna managed the Walnut Grove Legion for several years and was involved with the Legion Auxiliary and Keenagers. She enjoyed playing cards, Bingo, and Scrabble, gardening, and cooking. Donna loved spending time with her sisters and Sunday Fun Day spent with her children and grandchildren. She became a resident of Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy in November 2013, where she passed away July 21, 2015 at the age of 80 years, 1 month and 26 days.
Donna is survived by her children: Brenda (Steve) Jans of Westbrook, Cindy (Rick) Davis of Milford, IA, Mary (Marvin) Sanow of Tracy, and David Mickelson of Walnut Grove; 9 grandchildren: Megan, Scott, Michael, Amanda, Joe, Dan, Cassandra, Logan, and Caitlyn; 7 great-grandchildren; and siblings: Evelyn Huset of Westbrook, Ginny (Bennie) Noethe of Bloomington, Merlyn (Ruth) Peterson of Springfield, and Shirley (Les) Bly of Sioux Falls, SD. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, great-grandson Orion Hanson, and brother-in-law Orville Huset.
Dear Cindy & Family,
Our most heartfelt sympathy to you and all your family at the loss of your beloved mother. It is so hard to give up that generation, but we know we will see them again one day. Donna leaves a wonderful legacy with her children and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Hugs to you. Love, Twila & Charlie
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy in your loss. Donna was one of the finest, hard-working employees we had at the bank. All one had to do was give her an assignment and leave it at that. You knew it would be done and done right. On May 13th of this year, we were at Prairie View and had the pleasure of visiting with her for a while. I never would have recognized her after so many years, but she had her attendant wheel her over to where we were at the time. She was a very special person.
Blessed be her memory!!!!
Donna was a sweet lady that could really cook. I have heard so many comments since her passing about how well she ran the kitchen at the sales barn and how good the food always was. My condolences to all of the family- she is now in heaven with Sammie and her pain is gone. Prayers to you all.
Dan Peterson