Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 270996
Title: Donna M. Skistad
Date: 10/15/1929-1/13/2023
Inscription/Marks: 10/15/1929
Summary: Donna Mae Skistad, 93, Tioga, ND, passed away peacefully January 13, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Her memorial service was held June 17, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church in Tioga. Donna Rahls was born October 15, 1929, in Bantry (McHenry County), ND, to Richard Julius and Edna Ava (McDonald) Rahlfs. She was baptized in the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Donna was raised in Bantry along with her thirteen siblings and graduated from Bantry Berwick High School. Donna married William A. Jones on August 8, 1945, and welcomed three children, Stormie, Dale and Pattie. While raising her children, Donna earned her licensed practical nursing degree from Wapheton State School of Science and was a nurse for the next 40 years. Sadly, her marriage to William (Bill) ended, but several years later Donna found love again and married Birger Skistad on October 17, 1965. They lived in Williston and Wheelock, ND, before moving to Tioga in 1970. Donna was a proud (Norwegian) farmer’s wife until Birger’s passing in 2009. Together, they raised three additional children, Kyle, Lori and Kory, on the farm. For the last year of her life Donna lived with her daughter Pattie. Donna loved her children dearly and felt so blessed to have most of them around her in her final days. Donna loved to play bridge, quilt, visit with family and friends, and go to the casino. She was very proud of her grandchildren and loved to spend time with them whenever possible or share stories with friends about their accomplishments. She was an amazing cook, devout member of Tioga’s Zion Lutheran Church and an avid reader. Donna was strong in faith and in her finally days was looking forward to taking one final journey to her “Heavenly Home.” She was also strong in her Democratic beliefs (which wasn’t always easy in ND!) and enjoyed nothing more than friendly political banter! Never one to discuss their generosity, we learned that Donna & Birger quietly donated to many worthy causes over the years, including various religious organizations, the fire department/ambulance, and sponsored children through her church so they would be able to attend summer camp each year for many years. Donna is survived by many dear family and friends, including sisters, Pat (Keith) Winslow and Joyce Priebe; children, Stormie (Butch) Remus, Pattie Biwer, Kyle (Sally) Skistad, Lori Skistad, and Kory (Veronica) Skistad; daughter-in-law, Toni Jones; grandchildren, Rick Wagner, Chad (Jessica) Jones, Kim (Johnny) Severence, Kema (Tim) Messenger, Donavon (Angie) Skistad, Kelly Skistad and Misty (Scott) Kaiser, Danika (Gabby) Longshore, Kailey Longshore, Kristian, Bergen and Brayden Skistad; great-grandchildren, Laurel and Mason Wagner, Dakota, Cassidy and Sidney Jones, Jacob, Jordan and Jesse Severence, Timmy and Nicholas Messenger; great-great-granddaughter, Addie Skistad; and numerous nieces and nephews. Donna was blessed to have many good friends; including dear friends, Jovi and Vivian Macasaet, Richard Presnnall, Kyle Germundson and Aurita Weyrauch who were all like family. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Edna (McDonald) Rahlfs; siblings, (Anna) Irene, Johnny, (Hazel) Fern, Harris, Verna, Duane, Donald, Edna, Shirley and Richard Rahlfs; William Jones; husband, Birger; mother-in-law, Laura Skistad; father-in-law, Olaf Skistad; brothers-in-law, Kjerulf and Oscar Skistad; son, Dale Jones; and son-in-law, David Biwer.
Red ID: FND_I_78487

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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