Donna Rae Balerud
Nov. 8, 1933-Jan. 17, 2020
Donna Rae Balerud, 86,
Minot, passed away on
Friday, January 17, 2020,
in her home.
Donna Rae Lee was
born on November 8,
1933, a daughter of Julius
and Alma (Olson) Lee in
Minot ND. She was rais-
ed and educated in the
Verendrye, ND, where she
attended country school,
then moving to Velva
High School, where she
graduated in 1952.
On August 15, 1953,
Donna Rae was united in
marriage to Elroy Balerud
at First Lutheran Church
in Minot ND. They made
their home in Minot,
where she was a
homemaker raising their
son, Lee, and for time 2
very close nieces, Toni
and Jacque Bennett.
She was a member of
First Lutheran Church,
where she taught Sunday
School and was involved
in the Ladies Circle.
Donna Rae loved and
enjoyed children. She
loved having them around
her to nurture, teach and
guide. Donna was ex-
tremely close and in-
volved with her nieces
and nephews and later
her grandchildren Erin
and Brynn Balerud and
loved having them at her
home, sometimes staying
for extended periods of
time. She also enjoyed
sporting events and trips
with her husband, broth-
ers, sisters and their fami-
lies around the Country
and to both coasts.
Donna greatly appreci-
ated nature and grew
flowers as habitat and
provided food and shelter
for area wild birds to be
sure they could nest in
her yard. She loved her
fragrant lilacs and had her
yard bordered with hol-
lyhocks for the hum-
mingbirds that she loved
to watch disappearing
into and coming out of the
large flowers on the tall
stems. She believed in
taking care of what she
was blessed with and was
known to have her favor-
ite birdhouses repaired
time and time again over
many years.
Those who shared in
her life:
Husband of 66 years,
Elroy Balerud; Children:
Lee (Carole Wiekamp)
Balerud; Grandchildren:
Erin (Chris Rummel)
Balerud and Brynn
Balerud (Karver Balerud);
Great-grandchildren:
Karver Balerud, Payton
Enquist, Thomas Teague;
Sisters: Avis Booth, Vir-
ginia Bayne, Janice (Jim)
Bennett; Sister-in-law:
Delores Lee; and several
nieces and nephews also
survive.
Donna Rae was preced-
ed in death by her
Parents; Grandson: An-
drew Balerud; Brothers:
Howard Lee & Donald
Lee; Nephew: Perry Lee;
and Brothers-in-law: Tom
Booth & John Bayne.
Visitation: Thursday,
January 23, 2020, from 10
until 11 am at Thompson-
Larson Funeral Home
Chapel, Minot.
Funeral Service: Thurs-
day, January 23, 2020, at
11 am at Thompson- Lar-
son Funeral Home
Chapel.
Burial: Thursday, Janu-
ary 23, 2020, following
the service at Rosehill
Memorial Cemetery.
Thompson-Larson Fun-
eral Home, Minot