Donna Scholtes

DONNA SCHOLTES, age 90, of Wilmont, died Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center. She was born February 4, 1934, in Osceola County, IA, to Paul and Elsie (Koenen) Zierke. She graduated from Worthington High School. In her high school years and prior to marriage, Donna worked at the Ben Franklin store in Worthington, MN.
Donna married Rodney Scholtes on May 3, 1953, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont. She traveled with Rodney while he was in the military. The couple moved to Wilmont in 1955, when Donna began working at the Scholtes General Store. Donna also worked at Sears and Huiskens. Donna and Rodney bought Scholtes General Store from his father, Leo Scholtes, on April 1 1968. Rod and Donna were 3rd generation owners. Donna operated Scholtes Stores which supplied meat, groceries, clothing, and toys as well as gifts for all occasions for many years. She retired in 2005.
She was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Wilmont; the Catholic Daughters of America; active in the Wilmont Booster Club where she served as an officer of the board. Donna also was active with the Wilmont Family Recreation Center and served on the board. She enjoyed camping, bowling, snowmobiling, playing cards, spending time with her family and taking trips to the casino. Donna was an avid Minnesota Twins fan.
Donna is survived by her husband, Rodney Scholtes, Wilmont; five children, Lowell (Pam) Scholtes, Slayton; Pat Balk, Worthington; Cindy (Jeff) Kennedy, Pea Ridge, AR; Wes (Patty) Scholtes, Worthington; and Stacey Morrison, Wilmont; fourteen grandchildren, Doug (Karrie) Scholtes, Rebecca Prins, Chantell (Lindsey) Paxton, Michelle (Josh) Hall, Dallas Balk, Stephanie (Nick) Pederson, Samantha (Brayden) Wolle, Brett (Katy) Pospisil, Rylan Scholtes, Tyson Scholtes, and Tommy, Serenity, Reese & Olivia Morrison; fourteen great-grandchildren, Brayden, Alizaye, Evangelina, Beckham, Ella, Madi, Asher, Fyscher, Kaiya, Ava, Hudson, Frank, Leo and Henry; a brother, Dennis (Janet) Zierke, Worthington; and a brother-in-law, Maynard Maas, Owatonna.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Don Balk; four sisters, Doris Markman, Darlene Wiese, Diane Maas and Dixie Rigby; an infant sister, Glory Ann; and a brother, Daryl Zierke.
Visitation will be from 2-5 pm, with Parish Prayers at 2 pm, Sunday, September 22 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, in Wilmont, officiate by Monsignor Richard Colletti. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Wilmont.
Dingmann Funeral Home, in Wilmont, is in charge of arrangements.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Donna (Zierke) Scholtes, please visit our floral store.