Donna Fonder

Donna Fonder, age 78 of Erskine, MN passed away on Saturday, January 18th at her home in Erskine. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, January 30th at 2:00 PM at Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston, MN with Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Family and friends will gather for one hour before the memorial service at the funeral home in Fosston. The Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements.Donna Ruth Gilman was born at Pine Ridge, South Dakota to Malcolm D. and Agnes J. (Gifford) Gilman on September 26, 1935. Her father taught school to the native children at Pine Ridge and cooked. Her mother worked as a professional seamstress there; in downtown Fargo and for special orders.Donna also grew up in Montana and Alaska; graduated high school in Fargo and taught Sunday School at the United Methodist Church in Fargo.She met and married Darrel Fremont Fonder in the month of March and they had five children together. Darrel worked and retired from Northwestern Bell Telephone and worked at Ace Hardware in Detroit Lakes after retirement.Donna excelled as a waitress and homemaker. She enjoyed travel; lived in Nevada, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii and the past 15 years back in Fargo and Erskine, MN. She loved life and the presence of beauty. She also enjoyed reading, movies and baking.She was loved very much by her family and many friends.On Saturday, January 18, 2014 Donna passed away at her home in Erskine at the age of 78 years.She is survived by a brother and family in Fargo, four sisters, four children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and one son.