Donna J. Settingsgard

Donna J. Settingsgard, age 84, resident of Park River, ND, formerly of Edmore, ND, died Monday, May 16, 2016 at First Care Health Center in Park River, ND.

Donna Joyce Preston was born July 23, 1931 at Langdon, ND, the daughter of Omer and Eva (Wilcox) Preston. She lived at Fairdale, ND, attended school there and cared for her grandmother, until she met Grant Settingsgard. They were married September 17, 1949 at the Lutheran parsonage in Edmore. They lived and farmed in the area until purchasing the Settingsgard family farmstead, where they raised their 4 children. Donna was active in the community and the church. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and baking. The cellar was always full of peach & pear sauce, chokecherry syrup, and rhubarb jam. She made delicious lefse and was famous for her fresh buns and pickles, at least among her grandchildren. She was an excellent seamstress. A couple brides were blessed to wear wedding dresses made by Donna. She sewed many clothes for the grandkids, all in bright colors, from culottes to cumber buns, often with matching outfits for siblings. She made clothes for herself as well, including many fashionable blazers. She loved to quilt and made beautiful quilts to give as treasured gifts. In later years she quilted with the church ladies to make mission quilts for those in need. In October of 2013, Donna & Grant moved to Park River.

Donna will be deeply missed by her husband, Grant; 2 sons, Lee & his wife, Barb and Kendal & his special friend, Marcia Ness; 7 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; 7 sisters, Lucine Renskers, Kathryn Osmundson, Lorraine Brownlee, Janice Bahr, Naomi Erickson, Penny Huffman, and Candy Kilpela; and a brother, Omer Preston.

She was preceded in death by parents; 2 daughters, Colleen and Glenna; 2 sisters, Gwenith “Gwen” Mouton and Vivan Fisher; and 4 brothers, Ernest, Lanny, Rodger, and John in infancy.

The Funeral Service will be held at Concordia Lutheran Church, Edmore, ND, on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating will be the Reverend Don Reynolds. The organist will be Lois Myrvik with special music by the High Plains Trio. Interment will be in the Edmore Cemetery. Serving as casketbearers will be all of Donna’s grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday at the church, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.