Donna Mae Thompson

To view a live stream of Donna’s funeral please follow this link just prior to the start of the 11:30 am memorial  service.

https://www.facebook.com/orlc.benson

Donna Mae Thompson, 90, of Benson, died on Thursday morning, February 2, 2023, at Scandi Haven Village in Benson. Visitation will be held from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson, followed by the funeral service at 11:30 am. Burial will follow the service at the Benson City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts can be to Agape Fund at Our Redeemer’s Church or Prairie Five Foodshelf- Benson.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband John in 2011. She is survived by her six children, Stephen (Noreen), Jeanne Martz, Mary Smith (Steve), Ruth (Lynn), James (Tammy), and foster son Scott, 14 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 3 half siblings, and many nieces and nephews.

Donna was born on July 16, 1932, in Minneapolis, at Minneapolis General Hospital. She was adopted at the age of five months by Arthur and Verna (Ostlund) Dahlgren through Lutheran Welfare Society. Donna was raised in south Minneapolis and NE Minneapolis where she attended Pillsbury School. Her family moved to south Minneapolis in 1941 and were active members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls. She was active in Lutheran League, choir, taught Sunday School, and was confirmed in 1948. Donna graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1950 and made many lifelong friends there and at Trinity Church. She attended Miss Woods Teacher’s Academy at Macalester College in St. Paul and taught first grade at Central Elementary in Richfield, MN for four years.

In 1956, after John graduated from Augsburg College, they moved to Benson where John was a teacher and coach, local council member, mayor, and county commissioner. Donna strongly supported his many civic, school, and volunteer positions. Donna and John were actively involved at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church and Donna sang in the senior choir and taught Sunday School. She took leadership positions in Circle Bible Study, Our Redeemer’s women’s group, Friendly Visitors, Coterie Study Club, Sons of Norway, and other groups. Donna and John were the owners of the Benson Car Wash and together shared garden produce with many neighbors and friends. Donna and John were very involved with helping five Vietnamese refugee families settle in Benson after the Vietnam War. They took in a foster son from Vietnam for 3 years while he finished high school and started college.

Donna enjoyed reading, playing the piano, singing, and helping her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She especially loved babies and young children. Her Christian Faith was strong, and she enjoyed serving her Lord and Savior all her life.  A special thank you to staff and friends at Scandi Haven Village for their many years of care and friendship. Thank you to CentraCare Hospice for their compassionate care and support of Donna and her family.