Donna Lilienthal

Donna Theodora Lilienthal, of Mora, Minnesota, passed away on October 29, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, surrounded by family, after a courageous 40-year battle with heart disease. She was 80 years old.
Donna was born on October 13, 1945, in Estherville, Iowa, to Donald and Agnes (Weiby) Edwards. She was the eldest of four siblings. Donna graduated from Armstrong High School in Armstrong, Iowa, in 1963, and went on to attend and graduate from Mankato Commercial College in Mankato, Minnesota.
After college, she moved to Fairmont, Minnesota, and began working at State Farm Insurance, where she developed her lifelong love of cars and became a true "motorhead." In September 1964, while cruising the streets of Fairmont in her 1959 Dodge, she met another 1959 Dodge-driven by Don Lilienthal. The two quickly fell in love, and Don proposed to Donna on Christmas night that same year at Pomroy Lake.
They were united in marriage on June 5, 1965, at the Lutheran Church in Armstrong, Iowa. That fall, they moved to a farm in Brook Park, Minnesota, where Donna quickly adapted to a whole new way of life. In May 1966, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and Donna joined him in Rhode Island later that year. When Don was deployed to Vietnam in April 1967, Donna was five months pregnant. She welcomed their daughter, Dawn Marie, on June 18, 1967, and Don returned home when Dawn was five months old.
After Don's discharge from the Navy in 1968, the family returned to Brook Park, Minnesota. They welcomed their son, Darren, on November 1, 1969. Donna worked as an Executive Secretary at Fingerhut until she and Don purchased Double D Garage in 1975. After ten years, they moved to Cyrus, Minnesota, where they owned and operated the Red Owl Grocery Store. Donna later returned to secretarial work and retired from DyCast Specialties in 2011.
After retirement, Donna and Don spent their winters in Apache Junction, Arizona, and their summers in Minnesota. In 2021, they moved back to Mora to be closer to family.
Throughout her life, Donna was known for her amazing cooking and baking-especially her bars and famous "crazy cake." She was an adventurous and capable woman who learned to snowmobile, drive a school bus, ride motorcycles, and even serve as Don's co-pilot in their family airplane. Together, they made many flights to visit family and friends.
Donna's pride and joy was her 1960 Impala, which she took to numerous car shows, earning several awards. Above all, she cherished time with her family-especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren-whether camping, attending fly-ins, or simply gathering at home.
Donna will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents, and brother Richard Edwards.
Donna is survived by her loving husband Donald; children, Dawn (Keith) Halvorson and Darren Lilienthal; grandchildren, Carissa Jacobson (Dustin), Kaitlyn Jacobson (Kyle), Koby Jacobson, David Lilienthal (Kaity), and Jada Lilienthal (Ross); great grandchildren, Christian, Sydney, and Elsie; sisters, Patricia (Steve) Watt and Deborah Lytle; sisters and brothers-in-law, Barb Carlson, Richard (Linda) Lilienthal, Ruth (Dwight) Anderson, Russell (Donna) Lilienthal Wendy Lilienthal, and Gayla (David) Olson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 3, 2025, at the Quamba Baptist Church with Pastor Dave Everson officiating.
Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church.
A luncheon will immediately follow the service.