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Donavon Newnam

Nov. 25, 1932 - Dec. 27, 2019

Donavon Newnam, 87,

Minot died Friday, De-

cember 27, 2019 in a

Minot hospital.

Donavon Arthur was

born on November 25,

1932 in Mountrail Coun-

ty, ND to Zelnoe and

Susie (Lindley) Newnam.

He grew up in Mountrail

County until moving to

Minot with his family at

the age of seven.

Donavon attended

Minot Public Schools un-

til starting a job with the

Great Northern Railroad.

He worked in the round-

house and car shops until

he was drafted into the

US Army on March 12,

1953. He served his coun-

try overseas in Germany

until his honorable

discharge on March 3,

1955.

Donavon returned to

North Dakota and attend-

ed the ND State School of

Science in Wahpeton, ND.

He completed his degree

in auto body restoration

in 1958.

Donavon was united in

marriage to Adeline Ham-

ilton on November 2,

1958 at the Church of God

in Minot. They made their

home in Minot. Donavon

worked between the auto-

motive and railroad in-

dustries for many years.

He found his niche at

Westlie Motor Company

in the body shop prior to

opening his own business

in 1983, Don’s Body Shop,

which he owned and

operated until his retire-

ment in 2001.

Donavon was a member

of the Lighthouse Church

in Minot. Aside from his

love for cars, Donavon en-

joyed traveling, riding

motorcycle and spending

time with his family.

Donavon’s family in-

cludes his wife Adeline,

Minot; children Calvin

Newnam, Minot, ND,

Bonnie (Mark) Peters, Cas-

sadaga, NY, Byron

(Michaela) Newnam,

Minot, Nancy (Fred)

Seroski, Billings, MT, An-

ita Mekus, Fredonia, NY,

and Jack Newnam, Fos-

toria, OH; grandchildren

Holly Peters, Angelina,

Hailie, Grace and Caleb

Mekus, Wyatt and West-

ley Newnam; great grand-

son Noah Donavon Stru-

sa; siblings Zelma Mull

and Audrey Cordner, both

of Minot, ND along with

numerous nieces,

nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in

death by his parents and

sisters, Phyllis Sand,

Doris Gliege and Gloria

Polsfut, nephew Steve

Cordner and niece Cathy

Nielsen.

Funeral Service: 1:00

p.m. Friday, January 3,

2020 at West Minot

Church of God, Minot, ND

Burial: Sunset Memori-

al Gardens, Minot.

Visitation: Thursday,

January 2, 2020 from 3:00

p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

Memorials are pre-

ferred to Lighthouse

Church for missions or to

an organization of the

donor’s choice for local

charities.

Memories and con-

dolences can be shared at

www.thomasfamilyfunera

lhome.com