Donna Ellen Ludford

Donna (Shier) Ludford, 87, died unexpectedly with her loving husband sitting beside her on Sunday morning, May 25, at her home in St. Anthony Village. Donna was a caring and talented mother devoted to her family. She always valued her time with her husband, her son and two daughters, her four grandchildren and great granddaughter. She admired their achievements and closely followed their comings and goings.
Donna Ellen Shier was born October 18, 1937, at the old Ancker hospital in St. Paul. She graduated in 1955 from Wilson High School in St. Paul and in the fall entered the University of Minnesota where she met her future husband, Lowell Ludford, during a dance at the University. They were married October 19, 1957, at Hamline United Methodist Church in St. Paul and made their first home in Falcon Heights before moving to St. Anthony Village in 1961.
At first, Donna started work as an office secretary, mastering typewriting and shorthand (later, medical shorthand). Returning to the University of Minnesota, Donna earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in both nutrition and nursing. Her RN came first after two years of nursing education at Anoka Ramsey Community College.
Donna was the first person in her family and the first woman in her extended family to earn a college degree.
Donna was an accomplished pianist and had been encouraged to obtain a degree in music but declined. However, she enjoyed playing for Job's Daughters and church services. Her nursing career took her to several hospitals and nursing homes but primarily she worked as a public health nurse for Ramsey County. Later, she served as a volunteer disaster services nurse for the Minneapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Donna was a good cook and her two daughters followed her lead. Her meals were always nutritious. Donna also was a good housekeeper and a fine seamstress. She made some of her own clothes and clothes for her children. Later in life she became a quilter and then mastered the technical procedures for computer-aided machine quilting and made several lovely quilts for members of her family on her Bernina 800 quilter.
Donna loved to travel. As a girl she went on several motor trips with her parents to visit relatives in Canada. After her marriage, she and her husband traveled throughout Europe, Canada and the United States, visiting many of the most popular sight-seeing locations.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Everett W. Shier, who was born and raised in Canada, and Ellen D. (Moore) Shier; her brothers Alfred, Lester, Lewis, John and Lawrence. Surviving her are her husband of 67 years, Lowell, her daughter Linda Ludford Drilling (Lloyd), daughter Pamela Ludford Finnerty (Kevin), son Warren Ludford (Stefania), grandchildren Joseph and Jack Drilling (Jera), Nicholas and Ava Ludford, and great granddaughter, Elaine Louise Drilling.
A funeral service for Donna will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 9 at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 County Road C2, Roseville, MN 55113. Visitation one hour before and Sunday evening from 4 to 7 pm at the Washburn-McReavy Northeast Chapel, 29th and Johnson Street Northeast, Minneapolis, MN.
Memorials preferred to Centennial United Methodist Church.