Donald R. Moeller

DONALD ROBERT MOELLER was born November 10, 1933 to Emil and Dorothy (Beine) Moeller in Luverne, Minnesota. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Ellsworth in Kanaranzi Township, Rock County, Minnesota. He received his education in Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1952. Donald continued helping on the family farm until he enlisted in the Army in November of 1953. After basic training he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Unit and was stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was transferred to a new, then unknown, unit called the 77th Special Group Airborne, also known as “The Green Berets.” He served in Special Forces until he was discharged in 1956. He returned home to Minnesota and the farm. While attending a dance at the Arcota Ballroom he met the love of his life, Bonnie Benthin. On July 20, 1958 the couple was united in marriage at Grace Lutheran Church in Watertown, South Dakota. They started their life together on his family farm and worked the land, like his father and grandfather before him. They raised their three boys on the farm, Scott, Mike and Troy. In the mid-80’s Don left farming and started up his own business, Moeller Spraying Service, which he operated for the next twenty years. Eventually his passion for woodworking evolved into another business venture and “Kanaranzi Creek” was born; which specialized in wildlife calls. He made duck, goose and turkey calls from local trees he occasionally cut down himself. In November of 2013, Don was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia. On Sunday, June 8, 2014, he went to be with his Lord at the Sanford Luverne Hospital at the age of 80 years, 6 months and 28 days.

Don was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. He served on several ministries and visited residents at the Mary Jane Brown Home and the MN Vet’s Home. He loved the fellowship he found at Grace Men’s Bible Study on Wednesday mornings. Don also volunteered many months at the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He belonged to the Luverne American Legion Post #478 and was a past member of the Rock County Sportsman’s Club, where he was very active in his earlier days. He was a founding member of the Dakota Territory Gun Collector’s Association. Don was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed anything he could do to be outside. Since his youth, Don hunted ducks, geese, pheasant and deer along the Kanaranzi Creek located near the homestead. He also enjoyed fishing and collecting duck and goose calls. He had a beautifully kept yard and was particularly passionate about his roses. Don’s family and his faith were very important to him and being with his grandchildren brought him tremendous joy.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Bonnie of rural Ellsworth, Minnesota; his three sons, Scott Moeller of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Michael and his wife Jackie Moeller of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Troy Moeller of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; two grandchildren, Mikayla and Matthew; and a sister, Helen Lee of Newtown, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by his infant twins, Beth and Bruce; his parents Emil and Dorothy Moeller; and three infant siblings.

Memorials preferred and can be directed toward the Sanford Luverne Hospice Program.