Gale M "McDonald" Minges

Gale Marie Minges, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, of Cedar Grove, Indiana, passed away on August 11, 2025. Born on January 15, 1940, in Hamilton, Ohio, Gale was the cherished daughter of Frank and Rachel Louise (nee Roever) McDonald. After her mom Rachel passed her dad married Ethel Roever and she raised Gale and her brother Jerry. She graduated from William Henry Harrison High School and later married the love of her life, Allen Minges. Together, they nurtured a family marked by love, laughter, and the gentle rhythms of farm life.
As a mother, Gale was a constant source of warmth and comfort. She raised four children-Allen Jr, David, Nancy, and Glen-creating a home where they always felt welcomed and cherished. Gale devoted her heart to the family farm, caring for chickens and barn cats, and assisting Allen during their nightly gator drives as they surveyed their land and found solace in the beauty of nature around them. Her vegetable garden flourished under her attentive care, providing abundant harvests that brought the family together at mealtime, steeped in love and tradition.
In recent years, Gale faced the challenges of Alzheimer's disease with quiet grace. Though her battle was long and taxing, those who loved her continued to see glimpses of her spirited smile and infectious laughter, reminders of the vibrant woman she always was.
Gale has been reunited with her beloved husband, Allen, and her devoted parents: Frank and Rachel Louise McDonald and Ethel McDonald and a infant great grandchild Mason Bower. She leaves behind a profound legacy of love and resilience in her children: Allen Jr (Cathy), David, Glen (Layne) Minges, and Nancy (Randy) Bower. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren: Scott Minges, Carrie (Wyatt) Baker, Andy (Kelly) Donathan, Amber (Kevin) Hensley, Ryan (Paxtyn) Bower, Zach & Branden Minges, and Drew (Mindy) Bower, as well as great-grandchildren Cole & Caylee Minges, Abby & Kaleb Donathan, Walker, Palmer & Payton Hensley, and Emmett, Liam, Scarlett & Raven Baker, and Avery Bower. Additionally, her brother Jerry (Peggy) McDonald, along with many nieces and nephews, will hold her memory dear.
Funeral services for Gale will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, with visitation beginning at 10 AM at Brater Winter Funeral Home, 201 S. Vine St., Harrison, OH 45030. A service honoring her life will commence at 12 PM, followed by her burial at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association, a cause close to Gale's heart. Donations can be brought to the funeral home during visitation, or made online through the funeral home's website.
Gale Marie Minges will be lovingly remembered for her unwavering spirit, nurturing heart, and the love she cultivated within her family. Her legacy shall forever bloom in the hearts of all who knew her.