Donald Dale Werner

DONALD WERNER...

Donald Dale Werner was born on a farm west of Pipestone in Sweet Township on December 7, 1931 to Carl G. and Clara A. (Tolzmann) Werner. He was baptized on December 20, 1931, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended rural school district #3 (the first rural school in Pipestone County, which now stands near Moore Park in Pipestone) through the 8th grade, and graduated from Pipestone High School in 1949. He rode his 1942 Harley Davidson motorcycle during his high school days.

He worked for Barnes Trucking, Barnes Sand and Gravel and the Pipestone Livestock Barn as well as driving school bus. In earlier years, he also served on the Fountain Prairie Township Board for a number of years and sold Funk’s G seed corn.

He entered the United States Army in 1952 and served in Korea as a communications chief on the front lines. In June of 1954 he was honorably discharged.

He married Arlis L. Pedersen on July 25, 1954, at First Lutheran Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. They farmed in Fountain Prairie Township until health problems caused him to quit farming. However, farming always remained in his blood and he took great joy in being an integral part of Steve’s farming operation and was looking forward to running the combine yet again in 2017. He started driving motorcoach for Southwest Coaches and Tours of Marshall, Minnesota in March of 1981. He retired from full-time driving in 1992, but continued to drive part-time until 2006. He toured all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces except Newfoundland. Often he and Arlis went as a team on these tours with him driving and her tour guiding. They have traveled to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. They also enjoyed spending winters in Arizona for many years.

On Friday, September 15, 2017, Don died unexpectedly at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 85 years, nine months, and eight days.

He had a great love for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. For many years he and his wife and family would spend a week together in the Black Hills. He loved playing pinochle and shared that love with all his family. The family believed that he was invincible, until God called him home. Don was grateful for the promise of eternal life.

Grateful for having shared his life are his three children, Lynette (Rick) Ray of Montevideo, MN, David (Linda) Werner of Little Canada, MN, and Steven (Rae) Werner of Pipestone; grandchildren, Thomas (Kylee), Shane (Marie) and Tyler Ray, Brian (Lori), and Jason Werner, Dusti (Chase) Sabers, and Jeffrey and Michelle “Shelly” Werner; great-grandsons, Grant, Gage, and Jace Ray; and one brother, Vernon (Violet) Werner of Pipestone. He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlis in August 2013; his daughter-in-law, Rae Werner in April 2017; his mother, Clara in December 1976; his father, Carl in January 1983; and one brother, Marvin in March 2000.
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