Don Dougherty

Don Dean Dougherty passed away at home on August 6, 2025. He was born on a farm in Jasper County, IA on July 20, 1931 to Charles and Martha Dougherty.

Charles and Martha had five children, Richard (1928), Don (1931), Robert (1933), Joann (1935), and Gene (1939).

Martha passed away in 1944. In 1947 when Don was 16, Charles moved to Marshalltown to work at Lenox leaving the kids behind to tend to the farm. Richard and Don would farm, and Robert would make dinner. Don said they ate a lot of canned beans. Aunt Laura came to the farm and took Joann and Gene to live with her. The older boys continued to run the farm but also continued to attend school. Don graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1949.

In November 1950, Don was drafted into the Army. After basic training, he went to Leadership School then OCS (Officer Candidate School) training in El Paso, Texas and became a 2nd Lt in Anti-aircraft Artillery. Don was stationed in Korea from 1952-1953. He was honorably discharged in August 1953 at Ft. Ord, California. He remained in the Army reserve unit until 1959.

In May of 1955, Don’s brother Richard died leaving behind a wife and 3 children. Being the caring and wonderful man that he was, Don stepped in to help with his brother's family eventually falling in love with the four of them. On September 4, 1956, Don and Dolly (Ramey) were married in Carson City.

Don and his family stayed in California where he attended Compton College for his AA then transferred to UCLA graduating in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Don and his family moved several times for his work; Downey, CA, Whittier, CA, La Mirada, CA, then Phoenix, AZ, Kent WA, back to Cupertino, CA then finally to Minnesota in 1968. When asked his favorite place, he always said Phoenix.

Don worked at Uniroyal Tire as a credit manager from 1958-1970. He also worked at Cominco and Conagra before retiring in 1992.

In Minnesota he lived in New Hope until August 1980. He had purchased a Capp home in Minnetonka, and he planned to build the house and sell it. With the help of family, he finished it and realized it was more work than he expected so he sold the New Hope house and moved to Minnetonka.

Don was a devoted husband and father. Don and Dolly enjoyed square dancing, traveling, and visiting with family. They loved spending time in northern Minnesota on summer vacations fishing and enjoying the outdoors. But most of all they loved hosting the holidays, making it a special time for the family.

Dolly passed away at home in July of 2010 after 54 years of marriage. Don took excellent care of her every day for 18 months while she was in hospice care.

In April 2011 Don met Dawn Bjornstad in exercise class. They started dating and did a lot of traveling together from cruises to road trips, they enjoyed many adventures together. In 2018 they even traveled to Ireland, one of Don’s bucket list places.

In October 2023, Don moved to Shorewood with his daughter Sharon, son-in-law Tom, and 4-legged granddaughter Trixie. At 92 he had slowed down a bit and needed more help. He still enjoyed birthdays, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day as well as visits with Dawn on Sunday.

Don was a very kind and gentle soul, cared for and loved by many. He will be missed greatly.

He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Martha (McGrew) Dougherty, brothers, Richard, Robert (Merle), Gene and sister Joann, son David and daughter Connie.

Survived by: Daughter Sharon (Tom) Starks, granddaughter Rachel (Evan) Cutler, grandson Patrick (Kristi) Dougherty, daughter-in-law Katie Dougherty, great grandchildren Dahlia, Jonah and Marlowe Cutler, Evan and Charlie Dougherty, 4-legged granddaughter Trixie, companion Dawn Bjornstad and many cherished and loved nephews and nieces.

Don’s family is very grateful for the caring staff of Ridgeview Hospice and Assisting Hands (VA) during his time of need. Thank you for the work that you do.

Services will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 1200 1st Street NE, Faribault, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Lunch will follow the service then burial at Maple Lawn Cemetery in Faribault, with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.

The recording of the service can be found through the Christ Lutheran Church YouTube page: Don Dougherty funeral service

In lieu of flowers, Don wanted donations to go to Boys and Girls Club of America.