Donald Westman

Donald Westman, age 92, of West Fargo, ND died Wednesday January 28th, 2026.

Don was born June 21, 1933, in Jamestown ND, the son of Oscar Westman and Anna Lindamen. At a young age the family moved to West Fargo ND where Don attended West Fargo High School. On October 18th, 1952, Don married his high school sweetheart Viriginia in Blessed Sacrament Church.

From the time Don was old enough to work he worked in a body shop. He spent his entire life perfecting the art of collision repair. He opened Dons Body Shop in the early 1950's and worked very hard to make the business successful. When Donnie Jr was old enough, he brought his son into the business, and they ran it together till dad retired in 1997.

Beyond the family business, Don found Trapshooting. Don and Virginia were founding members of the West Fargo Gun Club and when the club moved to Horace, they followed and was active for a few more years. In 1969 Don Sr was the North Dakota State Handicap Champion. That same year, Don Sr became a Life Member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. No matter how my father's memory would waver, he never forgot those days or the names of the friends he made there. How our father loved to relieve those days when he was surrounded by friends, his kids and doing what he loved.

The only thing that took a close second was fishing, ice and boat fishing. In the last few decades, he much preferred the hot sun to a slab of ice! Dad loved nothing more than just sitting in a boat catching "sunnies" all day long. The debate between my brother and father on whether they were of "keeper' size will forever bring a smile and laugh to all of us.

When my father finally retired, he also found a man named Bob Ross and his life forever changed. Little did he know he wasn't just a gifted car painter but a landscape painter!! "We don't make mistakes; we just have happy accidents!" was a motto dad lived by as he created paintings our family will cherish forever.

Don is survived by his one son Donald Jr (Roxanne), Mapleton ND, and 2 daughters Kathy (Jerry) Griggs Pflugerville TX, Debbie (Dr. Robert) Hasse, Davenport ND; 6 grandchildren: Donald III, Kristen, Katie, Stephanie, Christine, Jessica and 13 great grandchildren: DJ, Alex, Joey, Mariah, Isabelle, Mark, Arielle, Andraya, Evalyn, Briella, Grady, Wesley and June. One sister, Betty Williams of Whapeton, ND.

No service is planned

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

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