Donna Rae Ranstrom

Donna Ranstrom, 84, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND, surrounded by her family.

Donna was born on July 26, 1937, in Detroit Lakes, MN, to Raymond and Inger (Volden) Dahlberg. She grew up in rural Audubon on the shores of Little Cormorant Lake, and she had one sibling, Bruce. She attended country school and graduated from Audubon High School in 1955. After high school she went to business college in Moorhead and then began working at First State Bank in Audubon. She also worked at First National Bank in Moorhead, MN. On November 2, 1957, she married Lowell Ranstrom, and they had three children, Dean, Lane and Lyle. The family resided in Sabin, MN, from 1959 to 1964, then Moorhead, MN, from 1964 to 1972, and lastly Donna and Lowell settled on Little Cormorant Lake in Audubon, MN.

Donna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. When her children were older, she worked at the Shoe Inn in Detroit Lakes, MN, until her husband retired. Donna was very active in the Moorhead Baptist Church, the Audubon Chapel, and the First Baptist Church of Detroit Lakes. She had a deep faith in the Lord and looked forward to the day when she would see the Lord face-to-face and be reunited with her husband and other loved ones. Donna’s favorite hobby was traveling. Some of her travels included Germany, Scandinavia, and Alaska. Donna and Lowell also enjoyed many trips to Branson, MO. Donna always had the coffee pot on for friends, neighbors, and strangers. She and Lowell had a large garden, and they looked forward to a yearly camping adventure at the Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, MN.

Donna will be deeply missed by her children, Dean Ranstrom, Lane (Mike) Schlagel, and Lyle (Kellie) Ranstrom; her grandchildren, Lindsay (Nate) Anderson, Lacey (Tim) Vanderwerf, Hannah (Ian) Jackson, Nathan (Morgan) Schlagel, Hunter Ranstrom, Sarah Schlagel, Bailey Ranstrom, Ian Schlagel, and Tallyn Ranstrom; her great-grandchildren, Noah, Olive, Crew, and Hazel Anderson, Dawson, Harper and Sylvie Vanderwerf, and Ainsley Jackson; foster great granddaughter Summer; her sisters-in-law Gaye Harris and Ramona Ranstrom; her former brother-in-law Gary Harris; her brother-in-law Ed Gehrke; and many nieces and nephews. Donna is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lowell, her brother Bruce and sister-in-law JoAnn, one great-grandchild Dayton, her brother-in-law Grant Ranstrom and sister-in-law Ruth Ann Gehrke.

Donna lived a full life and was independent until the very end. She loved nothing more than being surrounded by her family and looked forward to every gathering and every opportunity to see them. She was the solid foundation for our family, one that could always be counted upon for everything.

Memorial Services will be on Saturday May 21, 2022; 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Audubon, MN. Arrangements have been entrusted to the West-Kjos Funeral Home of Detroit Lakes.