Obituary of Dona Marie Mindemann

Dona Marie Mindemann aged 75 died Tuesday, June 9th at her residence in Burnsville, MN. She had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was under the care of St. Croix Hospice. Dona was born on March 9th, 1945 to Mildred and Fred Mindemann of rural Barney, ND. The family moved to Kindred, ND in 1950 where Dona attended Kindred Public Schools graduating as Valedictorian of her 1962 high school class. She attended the UND-Grand Forks earning a B.S. degree.

She taught English in Hatton, ND and Robbinsdale, MN before beginning her career in computer technology with Northwestern Nat’l Life Ins. Co., and Sperry-UNIVAC.

She married Jim Heidbrink in 1980 and together they had a son-Derek, and a daughter-Carrie. Dona loved her lake home on Star Lake in Otter Tail County, MN. There she spent much time gardening and enjoying lake life with her family. Dona was a life-long cat lover most of which were black. She enjoyed travelling, and was a quick wit, extremely intelligent, articulate, and well read.

Dona was preceded in death by her parents Fred & Mildred in 1985, and older sister Kay in 2010. She is survived by a son, Derek (Cheryl) Heidbrink of Plymouth, MN; a daughter, Carrie of Burnsville, MN; a grand-daughter Karyn Wood of Spring Valley, WI; former husband, James Heidbrink of Burnsville, and her brother, Lee (Becky) Mindemann of Dent, MN. Private services will be held. Memorials may be sent to the Sierra Club Foundation.