Madonna Hysjullien

Madonna Mary (Spain)

Hysjullien, 92, died in her

home surrounded by her

loving family on August 1,

2021. Donna was born to

her parents Robert and

Edna Spain on June 8th,

1929. She graduated from

St Leo’s High school in

Minot, North Dakota and

went on to receive her ele-

mentary education degree

from Minot State Teach-

ers College. It was there

she met the love of her

life Wayne Francis Hysju-

lien. They shared a love of

music and math and each

other’s company for the

next 70 years.

After a few years in Up-

sala, Minnesota where

Wayne (Hysh) taught high

school math, they moved

to Hibbing where they

have lived and thrived for

the last 60 plus years. In

addition to mothering

their seven children, Don-

na founded and led the

Hibbing Parents Nursery

School for 22 years. A

gifted seamstress, Donna

designed and sewed cos-

tumes for productions at

Hibbing High School as

well as the local commun-ity theater. Her beautiful

quilts and sweaters are

family treasures. She also

assisted her husband with

Math Team activities as

part of his Hibbing High

School teaching duties.

Donna was active in

civic activities. She was

the current president of

the Hibbing branch of the

General Federation of

Women, an organization

which provides many im-

portant community ser-

vices and about which she

was passionate. She and

Hysh were avid support-

ers of HHS sports teams,

delivered Meals on

Wheels, and won the

Lion’s Club award for out-

standing community ser-

vice. Donna was always

active in the Blessed Sa-

crament Catholic Church,

singing in the church

choir and other activities.

Her faith was inspiration-

al – she was always ready

with prayers for all.

As the mother of a large

family, Donna’s focus was

always on being a loving,

involved and positive

force in their lives. She

never failed to remember

a birthday or anniversary

as her family grew ex-

ponentially through the

years. For the last 10

years, in honor of family

members lost to cancer,

Donna hosted the R-cubed

triathlon/concert

fund-raiser for the Angel

Fund which supports

cancer patients in north-

ern Minnesota.

Donna is preceded in

death by her parents,

Robert and Edna Spain,

her brother Bobby Spain,

her daughter Roxane Hys-

julien Demillo and her

husband Mark DeMillo,

her son Jamie Hysjulien

and her grandson Aane

Dove.

She is survived by her

husband Wayne Hysju-

lien, her sister Linda

Spain (Michael Ingram),

her children: Robert Kim

Hysjulien (Laura), Rebec-

ca Dove (Robert) , Chery

Hysjulien (Randy Hed-

berg), Niki Hysjulien (Tim

Johnson), Holly Hysjulien

(Lori Gustafson), her

daughter-in-law Nikki

Vangsnes, 18 grandchil-

dren, 32 great grandchil-

dren (more on the way),

and two nephews. She

will be thoroughly

mourned and seriously

missed by all who knew

her.

Donna Hysjulien, by

her nature, lived a life of

acceptance, love and faith

that impacted and in-

spired every life she

touched.

Funeral services for

Donna will be 11:00 am,

Friday, August 6, 2021 at

Blessed Sacrament

Catholic Church of Hib-

bing. The Rev. Fr. Trevor

Peterson will celebrate the

Mass of Christian Burial.

Visitation will be one

hour prior to the funeral

Mass at the church on Fri-

day. Interment will be in

Maple Hill Cemetery of

Hibbing. Arrangements

are with the Dougherty

Funeral Home of Hibbing.

Memorial Contribu-

tions: please support the

Angel Fund. Donations

may be made through

www.hysjulien.com

To leave an online mes-

sage of condolence, please

visit us at;

www.doughertyof

hibbing.com.