Donald Frigen

Monango - Donald James Frigen, 78, of Monango, ND, passed away August 25, 2023 at Benedictine Living Community, Ellendale, ND, where he had been a resident since February 2023.

He was born September 29, 1944 in Edgeley, ND to Benjamin and Johanna (Weizerich) Frigen. Shortly after birth, he moved to the family farm near Monango where he lived for the next 78 years. He attended school at Monango graduating from Monango High School with the class of 1962. After his father became ill, Don took over the family farm and began his lifelong career in farming. On June 4, 1965 he married the love of his life, Carol Dockter. They raised their two daughters, Nickie and Jennifer and worked side by side on the family farm. They had a grain operation and milked cows for 22 years. In 1986, they retired from dairy farming and started raising beef cattle and sheep. In 1997, they retired from grain farming, beginning his employment at the Ellendale Public School. He would continue to work there for the next 12 years. A job he thoroughly enjoyed. He fully retired from ranching in the winter of 2020.

Don was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ellendale and a former member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Monango, where he was Sunday school superintendent and taught Sunday school. He was a member of the Farm Credit Services Board, Monango Betterment Board, Weed Board and the Whitestone Battlefield Board.

Don loved sports and enjoyed playing amateur baseball and basketball for 18 years. He also loved fishing, hunting and his German Short Haired Pointer bird dogs with his favorite being "Sadie". What Don loved the most was spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. Don was a humble man who looked out and cared for others always helping folks whenever he could.

He will be forever loved and missed by his daughters, Nickie Gregg of Ellendale and Jennifer (Chad) Eckhardt of Junction City, WI; four grandchildren, Jacob Holzer, Porter Gregg, and Marisa and Caitlin Eckhardt; two sisters-in-law, Dolly Frigen of Yakima, WA and Laurie Frigen of Spooner, WI; and brothers and sisters in law, Neil & Marsha Dockter and Jackie & Ron Stoddard. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol (January 7, 2022), and two brothers, Marvin and Allen.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 1, 2023 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Ellendale. His memorial services will be Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Don's service will be live streamed on the Dahlstrom Funeral Home website www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com on his obituary page. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery near Monango.