Donna Siblerud, 80, Hartland

Published 11:05 am Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Memorial services for Donna Siblerud, 80, of Hartland will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the service beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Siblerud

Siblerud

Donna Paulina Siblerud died peacefully at the age of 80 on Jan. 20, 2014, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

She was born on March 2, 1933, in Scarville, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Inga (Flattum) Dahl. Donna was baptized in Iowa at Silver Lake Lutheran Church in Silver Lake Township. In 1936, she moved with her family to Albert Lea, where she attended Albert Lea schools and was confirmed at First Lutheran Church.

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As a young woman, Donna was a waitress at Hotel Albert in Albert Lea. On Feb. 14, 1953, she was united in marriage to Ronald Siblerud and they were married for 60 years. She was a homemaker and a devoted, loving mother to their two daughters, Cheryl and Rhonda, while also being a wonderful and supportive wife. Her husband, Ronald Siblerud, lead construction crews for Bob & Ron Builders and constructed a significant volume of new homes in Albert Lea in the 1950s through the early 1980s. Donna had an outstanding gift for interior decorating and this gift helped to sell homes. Her home always looked as if it were ready for a prospective buyer to see — sparkling clean and tastefully decorated.

Donna always put her family first throughout her life and her love for family members was evident in her many acts of kindness. She was a loving grandmother to her two grandchildren, Amber and Ashley, and her great-grandchild, Faith. Donna adored children and her nieces and nephews were also blessed by the loving attention she gave to them. During the 1970s, she organized her sisters to care for both of their parents at home up until their passing. Additionally, she helped her sister, JoAnn, remain in her home from 2001 to 2006 until her passing. Her ability and willingness to help elderly family members remain in their homes was a gift her daughter, Cheryl, possessed as well. Cheryl became Donna’s primary caregiver after her stroke in 2006 and enabled her to live at home until the day of her passing.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald, of Hartland; daughter, Cheryl, of Hartland; grandchildren Amber (and special friend Zachariah Crail) and Ashley (and special friend Shaun Lyngaas), all of Albert Lea; great-grandchild, Faith Kay Crail, of Albert Lea; and her sister, Ilene Blowers, of Austin.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Rhonda Kay Koziolek; and by her siblings Phyllis, Kathleen, Orva, Noreen and JoAnn.