Donna Jean Ludtke

Published 4:08 pm Thursday, May 29, 2025

Donna Jean Ludtke, age 97 of Albert Lea passed away peacefully on May 19^th 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran community.  Donna was born on September 1^st, 1927 to Christine and Edwin Ingvaldson.  She was raised alongside her brother, Elwood and three sisters, Irene, Jennelly and Karen. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1945 and worked as a dental assistant for many years after high school.  She got “on the job training’  On September 26^th, 1948 she married Arthur Ludtke at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea where she was a lifelong member having been baptized and confirmed there.  After they married, they made their home in Clarks Grove, MN where they owned and operated the Clarks Grove Elevator until 1986.They sold the elevator and their house and moved to Albert Lea.

One of Donna’s gifts was leadership. She was very good at being in charge and leading a group. In 1965, Donna was elected to be president of the church council being the first woman to hold this office, and she was also the first woman to hold a seat on the Lutheran Synod Board.  She was president of FLCW, several times, she helped with the planning of Holidays Ahead, every year, as her Circle 21, worked diligently to provide homemade crafts for that Big Event. She led the kitchen crew in providing a nice lunch. She loved the kitchen and providing meals on a moment’s notice! She always had the coffee pot on and always had a hot dish or two in the freezer.  Her gift of hospitality was “off the charts” as she loved company and cooking and setting a nice table. Even at St. John’s, she was always cutting out recipes from magazines.

Donna and Art had many friends. They were in Card clubs, loved boating, and enjoyed going out to dinner with friends, laughing much, and retelling the same stories.

She and Art were married almost 71 years. They had three children, Craig, Paul (deceased), and Kristin.  She was a caretaker, and motherhood suited her well.  Family was very important to her and being a “Nana” and Great “Nana” was pure joy. She loved family gatherings, always adding her spark!

Left to cherish her memory are her two remaining, children Craig (Brenda) Ludtke and Kristin (Gil) Irey, her 7 grandchildren, Mollee (Joe) Tscholl,  Marcus (Jordi) Ludtke,  Jamee (Derek) Bohlen,  Jacob (Shannyn) Irey, Brent Ludtke, Brianna (Christian) Swanberg, Brooke Ludtke (Mike Mazzuca), her 9 great-grand children, Griffin and Tanner Ludtke, Nash and Nolyn Ludtke, Andrew, Seth and Zack Tscholl, Brooks and Ella Bohlen, William and Henry Swanberg, sister Karen (Tom) Hovde, and daughter-in-law Kathy Ludtke.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Ludtke; her parents Christine and Edwin Ingvaldson; her son Paul Ludtke; siblings Irene (Herm) Myre, Elwood (Norma) Ingvaldson, Jennelly (Robert) Groe; parents-in-law Arthur (Pearl) Ludtke Sr.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marlene (Roger) Behle.