Donald Abernathey

Lansford

Donald Ray Abernathey, 92, Minot, formerly of Lansford, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Minot Trinity Hospital.

He was born Jan. 5, 1933, in the Turtle Mountains of Bottineau County to Ruth and William Abernathey. In 1943, the family moved to Sherwood, and in 1945 to Lansford. Donald attended schools in Souris, Williston, Sherwood and Lansford. On Nov. 26, 1950, Donald married Mildred Arlene Convis. Children born to this union are Ava Ann, Guy LaRay and Jay Lester Abernathey.

In 1950, he began farming, supplementing this labor of love with winter employment including: Sheffield Steel Company in Kansas City, Mo., Sagsveen Implement in Lansford, Lansford School bus driver, Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company in Tioga, AZ Portland Cement Company in Tucson, Ariz., and his custom combining company which followed the harvest from Oklahoma through Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Donald enjoyed hobbies of restoring antique furniture and vehicles/tractors, hunting, fishing and traveling. He was a member of the Lansford United Methodist Church, serving as a board member and officer. He served four years as the Lansford Township Assessor and clerk of the board (six years), clerk of the Blaine Township Board (six years), member and past president of the Lansford Commercial Club, member of the Lansford School Board (12 years) serving many years as president, member of the Lansford Development Board, Lansford Elevator Board, Lansford City Apartments Board and Donald was a Worshipful Brother Donald Abernathey, (Past Master), who joined Freemasonry on Oct. 25, 1955, at Lansford Lodge No. 82. A committed Mason, he became Worshipful Master of Lansford Lodge No. 82 in 1964.

Family: Wife of seventy-four years, Mildred Arlene (Convis) Abernathey, Minot; daughter, Ava Ann Abernathey, Bottineau; sons, Guy Abernathey, Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Jay (Rhonda) Abernathey, Lansford; grandchildren, Breanna (Luke) Melgaard, Scottsdale, Ariz., Ashley (Paul) Suckstorff, Scottsdale, Ariz., Jared (Caitlyn) Abernathey, Lansford, Andrew Abernathey, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Emily (Nathan) Elhard, Lansford, and Kylie Abernathey, Lansford; great-grandchildren, Jayden, Braxton and Brynlee Melgaard; Beckham, Josie and Nash Suckstorff; Leif and Soren Abernathey; Christian, James and August Abernathey; Colson, Lennon and Bowden Elhard; sister, Patricia (Jerome) Hanson, Williston; sister-in-law, Roma Abernathey, Hampton, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by: Parents, Ruth and William Abernathey; Lester Convis; brothers, Harold, Eugene, Duane, Norman, Robert, Larry, Douglas and David Abernathey; sister, Virginia Jones; and Douglas Trengen

Funeral: 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Trinity United Parish, Lansford.

Burial: Lansford Cemetery, Lansford.

Sharing of Memories Service (Open to the public): 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at the church.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, at the church. Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.

Memorials: Memorials preferred to the American Heart Association (American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692), or the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741)

(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by the Minot Daily News, November 25, 2025.