Edith Donley

Edith Ella Donley, 92, Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away peacefully at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes. Funeral Services for Edith will be held Tuesday, March 22 at 11AM in the Congregational Church-United Church of Christ, Detroit Lakes. Officiating will be Reverend Mark Kuether. Visitation will be held Monday, March 21 at David Donehower Funeral Home from 5PM-7PM. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to services on Tuesday. Interment will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery, Detroit Lakes. Edith Ella Bevins was born at the Rademacher farm east of Ogema on July 16, 1923, the eldest of 10 children to William and Helen (Disterhoft) Bevins. Around 1926, the family moved into Ogema. Edith graduated from Waubun High School in 1941 and completed bookkeeping class at the Detroit Lakes Business College. Edith met Orville Donley through a mutual friend. When Orville travelled west to begin working at the Kaiser Shipyards in Vancouver, WA, Edith soon followed and too began work at the same shipyards. On January 15, 1944, they were united in marriage by a local congregational minister in Vancouver. After the WWII, they moved back to the Detroit Lakes area.

They started their careers in the restaurant business in 1949. Shortly thereafter they purchased Don's Café in Perham. In 1953 they sold the café and moved back to Detroit Lakes. Edith held bookkeeping positions at the Greystone Hotel, Phoenix Loan and Erie Jr. She later worked at Diamonds and finished her career with Lakes Sport Shop, retiring in 2002. Edith was a longtime member of the Congregational Church in Detroit Lakes. She volunteered her time teaching Sunday school and served as Treasurer of the Guild, church clerk and church treasurer. Edith enjoyed the challenges of her job, but kept a wonderful balance of work, family and faith, always making sure family was her top priority. She enjoyed embroidery, tatting, and hardanger. Every new baby in the family received a personally decorated quilt from Edith. She kept up with the world through magazines, newspapers and a good book. She loved cooking and baking. Her summers were busy canning and freezing berries and vegetables from Orville's garden. She always made everything from "scratch" which included homemade bread, cakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls, strawberry pie and "Oh the fudge"! Her grandchildren enjoyed staying with Grandma and Papa whenever they had the chance. Edith is survived by her two children: Donald (Joann) Donley of Groton, SD and Kathy (Jerry) Disse of Detroit Lakes along with 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. In addition she is survived by one brother: Lester (Elenora) Bevins of West St. Paul, MN, and two sisters: Donna Aarness of Fergus Falls, MN and Doris Mercerier of Surprise, AZ. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Orville (1988), brothers: Willie, Robert and Alvin, sisters: Ruth Kertscher, Florence Olson and Delores Kiviaho.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

Visitation
Monday, March 21, 2016
Service
Tuesday, March 22, 2016

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