Donald Tank

Minot

Donald Tank, 94, Minot, ND, passed Monday, June 8, 2026, at Trinity Hospital, Minot.

Donald Duane Tank was born April 5, 1932, in Williston, ND, the son of Otto and Grace (Haynes) Tank. He grew up in Alexander, ND, where he attended grade and high school. Donald graduated from high school in 1950, and his first job was as a depot agent-operator for the Milwaukee Railroad in eastern Montana. He attended Carroll College in Helena, MT for one semester, then returned to the Great Northern Railway as a telegrapher, working relief jobs out of Great Falls, MT. He also worked for the Great Northern Railway and the Milwaukee Road in Washington state. In 1954 he returned to North Dakota, and was associated with the Massey-Harris and Chevrolet franchises at Watford City, ND as a parts man.

It was in Watford City that he met his future wife, Frances Haley. He asked her to dance at a barn dance in the Badlands, and the dancing went on over the next 50 plus years. They were married on February 19, 1955, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Park Rapids, MN.

The couple moved to Minot, ND in 1956, where Donald was employed by the Great Northern Railway as a relay office telegrapher; this along with other positions with the Great Northern and Burlington Northern Railroads, was to last for the next 42 years.

In 1965, he went back to college, as an “older than average” student, graduating with a Biology major and Chemistry minor in 1970 from Minot State University.

In 1995, he retired from the railroad, where he had spent the greater share of his working years. He and his wife Frances made a trip to northern Germany and the Baltic Sea area in 1995 to research family history and enjoy the countryside.

Square Dancing with Frances for close to 30 years brought the couple to know many friends and the enjoyment of traveling. Don’s other hobbies were area and railroad history, model railroading and general tinkering.

He had at various times been a member of the Mouse River Loop Genealogical Society, Minot Merry Mixers Square Dance Club and the Minot Round Dance Club. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge, Souris Valley Square Dance Club and held various offices in the North Dakota State Square and Round Dance Association.

His philanthropy included volunteering at Railroad Museum of Minot, an endowment fund with Minot Area Community Foundation, creating the Donald & Frances Tank Nursing Scholarship at Minot State University and contribution to the Lewis & Clark Trail Museum where an outbuilding was named in his honor.

He is survived by his daughters, Mary (Allen) Ferhadi, Lora (Peter) Friello, Carol (Millo) Wallace, Julie (Steve) Doughty; sons, Donald Tank Jr., Linus Tank, Terry Tank, Russell (Stella) Chumas, and Frank (Chandra) Tank; thirteen grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 59 years, Frances; first born infant son, Harrison; sister, Leah; brother, Errol.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, June 26, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.

Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot, ND.

Visitation: Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Vigil Prayer Service: Thursday at 6 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Souris Valley Humane Society.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, June 20, 2026.