Donna Lee Stebner

Donna Lee Stebner, age 79, of Midway Township, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025, after an 11-month battle with Ovarian Cancer. Donna was born to Russell Harnell and Lillian (Karjalainen) Harnell and raised in Twig, MN. Donna earned the nicknames "Happy Donna" and "Disco Donna" due to her zest for life and the joy that she brought others. Donna was a 1963 graduate of Proctor High School and played clarinet in Mr. Moody's Marching Band and got to perform at the Seattle World's Fair and at the Orange Bowl. During her lifetime, Donna worked at Target, Duluth Camera, and retired from Hermantown Menard's where she loved to share a joke with those who came through her register lane. Donna enjoyed spending the last several winters in Cape Canaveral, FL, with her former husband, Ron, where she biked, swam laps, and walked the beach. In the summer months, Donna loved being at her daughter's lake home on Little Grand Lake spending time on the pontoon and swimming with the grandkids and great grandkids.
Donna is predeceased by her parents; brothers, Charles Harnell and Raymond Harnell; nephew, Brian Harnell; and niece, Terri Harnell; husband, Gordon Stebner; and fiance' Richard Cheslak.
Donna is survived by her best friend and former husband, Ron Johnson of Cape Canaveral FL and Fredenberg, MN; daughter, Sherri (Greg) Schrecengost, of Saginaw; son, Steven Johnson, of Midway Township; daughter, Kristine (Sebastian) Rodriguez, of Las Vegas; three grandchildren Shawn (Greg) Yardley of Esko, Morgan Perrault of Hermantown, and Derek (Rebekka) Schrecengost of Cloquet; and five great-grandchildren, Brayden Peck, Nora and Loren Yardley, and Landen and Ellie Schrecengost; sister, Sally (Jerry) Ford of Hoyt Lakes; brother, Ken Harnell of Saginaw; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, good friends, and her Bethlehem Lutheran and Pine Hill Lutheran Church families.
Very special thanks go out to Todd, Kim and the Essentia Hospice team for their exceptional care and the many friends and family members who brought so much love and support. Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at Noon on July 9, 2025, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Twig. Lunch to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Pine Hill Lutheran Church.