Thief River Falls - Audrey Elaine Donarski, 60, of Thief River Falls died on Thursday, May 15, 1997 at Dakota-Heartland Hosptial in Fargo, ND.
Mass of Christain Burial was held on Monday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church with Father Bob LaPlante presiding. Carol Amundson was the organist. The cantor was Jane Mattson. Audrey's sons, Wendell, Joe, John, David, Marc and Paul were the casketbearers. Burial was in St. Bernard's Cemetery. Green Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Audrey Elaine Donarski was born September 17, 1936 in Strandquist, the daughter of Arthur and Olive (Selma) Steen Kleinwachter. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Strandquist. Following her highschool graduation, she worked at the Warren Hopspital as a nurse's aid. On April 19, 1954 she was united in marriage to Stanley Donarski in Strandquist. The couple bought a farm in Smiley Township, Pennington County where they continue to farm today. In l983, Audrey enrolled in the Secretarial program at the Technical College in Thief River Falls graduating in l985. She worked part time as desk clerk for the Holiday Motel and was a Shakley and later a Watkins dealer.
She was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church where she was a Council member, a member of St. Jude & Johannna Circle, and president of St. Bernard's Church Guild. Audrey was also active in the homemakers club and was a choir director at St. Bernard's.
Audrey enjoyed baking, gardening, cooking, canning, sewing and crafts and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her husband, Stanley of Thief River Falls; eleven chilidren, Bernadette (Jerry) Raguse of Harwood, ND, Wendell of Thief River Falls, Cathy Beverford of Oxnard, CA, Joe (Cammie) of Stanwood, WA, John and his fiance, Jenny of Thief River Falls, David (Camela) of Santa Cruz, CA, Lucy (Lonnie) Schermerhorn of Tacoma, WA, Ann (Wayne) Swenson of Harvey, ND, Diana Donarski of Thief River Falls, Marc of St. Paul and Paul of Thief River Falls; 13 grandchildren; her father, Art Kleinvachter of Strandquist; seven brothers, Wallace of Strandquist, Laures (Theresa) of Stephen, Eugene (Dianne) of Strandquist, Leland (Barb) of Blaine, Clare (Laure) of Wahpeton, ND, Harvey of Breckenridge and Tom (Kim) of Grafton, ND; numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother; two sisters, Theresa and Shirley; and many aunts and uncles.