Donna Mae Bryant

February 18, 1932 – May 19, 2026

Donna Mae Bryant (née Lehn), age 94, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026, and was greeted in heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, along with her beloved family who had gone before her.

She lived a life defined by the four things that mattered most to her: faith, family, friends, and fun — and she poured herself wholeheartedly into all four.

Born on February 18, 1932, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Donna grew up in Dayton, MN, and graduated from Anoka High School in 1950. Always adventurous at heart, she spent the following summer working at Glacier National Park in Montana — a chapter she never forgot. While serving as a member of the Twin Cities Women Marine reserve platoon, Donna was deployed in August 1953 to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for two weeks of active-duty service. She served in the Women’s United States Marine Corp Reserve until 1954. She went on to build a distinguished career with the Bell Companies across Ohio and Minnesota, retiring from US West after 30 years of service.

A lifelong Catholic, Donna's faith was the bedrock of her life. She was a devoted member of her church choir — one of three choirs she belonged to — and found particular joy in offering her voice at funerals, a gift she gave freely to comfort grieving families and friends. That gift reached its highest stage in 2002 when she sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She prayed daily, read the Bible faithfully, and started every morning with the newspaper.

Donna was also a spirited and lifelong card player, belonging to many card clubs over the years. Her games of choice — 500, Pinochle, and Euchre — brought her together with friends and kept her sharp and social well into her nineties. She was a proud member of the Red Hats as well.

Donna loved babies more than almost anything else in the world. Her greatest happiness was rocking a newborn, and she never passed up a chance to hold one. In her final months, she was full of joy and anticipation for a new great-grandson (Caliebe) due to arrive in June 2026 — a bittersweet reminder of how life beautifully continues. She cherished traveling, gathering with the people she loved, and spending quiet mornings watching nature from the sunroom of her cabin on Knife Lake in Mora, Minnesota — a place that held a special piece of her heart.

Her four children didn't just love their mother — each of them counted her as their best friend. That says everything.

Donna is survived by her children Mark Bryant (Pam), Scott Bryant (Catherine), Jeff Bryant (Lynn), and Jill Hasz (Rick); her grandchildren Shane Bryant, Danielle Caliebe (Trevor), and

Elizabeth Mizuki (Dr. John); her great-grandchildren Hazel Bryant, Harmon Bryant, Jayce Bryant, and Bryson Caliebe; and a great-grandson due to arrive in June 2026. She is also survived by her twin sister Donna Rose, her sister Audrey (Don) Knudsen, and many beloved nephews, nieces, and friends.

She was preceded in death by five sisters and one brother.

A Celebration of Life is being planned by her children and is tentatively scheduled for October 2026. Family and friends will be notified of the date, time, and location.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Donna's memory be made to Smile Train (smiletrain.org) or Wounded Warriors Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).