Services for Donald K. Braaten
Fri, 02/24/2023 - 3:43pm
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Donald K. Braaten, 95, of Bagley, Minnesota died on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at Cornerstone Nursing Home and Rehab.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Free Lutheran Church in Bagley, Minnesota with a visitation one hour prior. Visitation will also be held the evening before on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bagley, Minnesota. Interment will be held in the spring at Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley, Minnesota. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bagley assisted the family with arrangements.
Donald Kenneth Braaten was born on April 7th, 1927 to parents Alfred and Rosie (Siedel) Braaten in the Dunvilla-Franklin Lake area south of Pelican Rapids, MN. They lived on a rented farm and he attended Crystal Lake School District (District 232) until December of 1937. The young family moved to Clearwater County in the Holst Township area. They rented a farmstead north of Kings Corner and south of the Krans School District (District 142). Donald attended the Krans School for two years. They later moved a mile east. His Dad then purchased the farm two and a half miles east of Kings Corner in Holst Township. Donald then attended the Ruffy Brook School (District 64). Like most boys during the Depression, they attended school through the eighth grade as they were needed to help on the farm. As Donald grew older, his gift of mechanics surfaced early. He also cut wood pulp and firewood. He bought a 1928 A Ford Truck and hauled pulp wood for 75 cents a cord. He was able to get 1 ½ cords on the truck. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp on March 26, 1946 and was discharged on August 15th, 1947. He was stationed in Okinawa most of the time in the Motor Pool. After returning home he continued to help on the farm and cut and haul wood. It was not long after his discharge he notice someone to the west one mile from home. Her name was Ellen Thayer. They were married on January 26, 1949. Don and Ellen built a house on his father’s farm and it is still standing today. It took a week to dig the basement with a team of horses. In 1953 they purchased the Ed Bauman farm one mile to the north. There he milked cows, raised sheep, and continued to haul wood. Together they raised 8 children. There was also a steady stream of people coming to get their vehicles fixed. Donald worked for Milo Wilde in Shevlin, then Jasperson Chevrolet in Bagley. In 1964 the family moved from the farm to Bagley and he was employed by Strandlien Motors and he drove school bus. Donald was popular to drive the activity bus as he had installed a radio for the kids to listen to. In 1987 Strandlien Motors closed and Donald opened his own shop along with his son, Ernie and with Ellen being the bookkeeper. His sons Ross and Paul later joined the business. Donald was a member of the Irvin Blix American Legion Post No. 16 of Bagley and received his High School diploma in 2000 through a program for World War II Veterans who had left school to serve in the military. He was also given a “Quilt of Valor” in 2018. Donald continued to help at the shop after retirement. He always had a “project” of his own to work on and was close by to give advice to his sons. Fair time was special to Donald as he helped his sons and grandsons participate in the Demo Derbies. He was always there with the video camera and ready to help out. Donald was a member of Faith Lutheran Church for many years and later Grace Free Lutheran Church.
Donald is survived by two daughters, Daisy (Rick) Luggar of Shevlin and Shannon (Wade) Gray of Bagley; three sons, Jon (Vicki) Braaten of Bagley, Paul (Roberta) Braaten of Clearbrook, and Ernie Braaten of Bagley; daughter-in-law, Sharon Braaten of Bagley; brother and sister-in-law, Jerome and Betty Thayer of Menominee, WI; one niece, Jennie Thayer; one nephew, Sherman (Kelli) Thayer; 18 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws; his wife; his sons, Daniel, Jeremy Ross, and Kenneth; and one granddaughter, Janelle Faye Braaten.
Messages of condolence may be sent to ceasefuneralhome.com