Dona Rae Rutherford, age 97 of Grand Rapids, MN formerly of East Grand Forks, MN passed away on Friday, September 27, 2024 at the Grand Village Nursing Home.
Dona Rae Olimb was born March 19, 1927 in Oslo, MN the daughter of Lyle and Irma (Knoll) Olimb. She graduated from Oslo High School in 1945. She attended Deaconess School of Nursing in Grand Forks in 1948 and practiced nursing. On June 22, 1947 she married Edmun Rutherford at the Oslo Lutheran Church, Oslo, MN. They made their home in rural East Grand Forks for 30 years where they raised their three children. She was employed as a school nurse in East Grand Forks for ten years and as a nursing instructor at the Crookston School of Nursing for eight years. She also did staff nursing at the Deaconess and St. Michael’s hospital in Grand Forks and at Bethesda Hospital in Crookston retiring in 1980.
Edmun and Dona Rae purchased a home in Naples, FL in 1983 and became residents of the state in 1989. They returned to East Grand Forks in 2011 and moved into the Good Samaritan Senior Apartments in East Grand Forks, MN. They were members of the Key West Presbyterian Church where Dona Rae served as the organist for many years. Later they became members of the Mendenhall Presbyterian Church of East Grand Forks and associate members of the First Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL. Together, they loved to play duplicate bridge. Dona Rae’s interests were her family and their activities, gardening, golf, watching sports on TV and enjoyed her travels around the world.
She is survived by children, Peter (Laurel) Rutherford of Grey Eagle, MN, Bill (Molly MacGregor) Rutherford of Grand Rapids, MN, and Shelley (Neel Chlysta) Rutherford of Nevada City, CA, four grandchildren, Anna Knapp (Joe Hannon), Tyler (Amy) Rutherford, Casey (Alyssa) Rutherford, and Brenna (Justin Smith) Rutherford; six great-grandchildren, Melia, Aden, Jameson, Elliot, Eli, and Emma; sister Darlyne Crum of Canyon Lake, TX; and sister-in-law Janet Olimb of Grand Forks, ND. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Edmun Rutherford on September 10, 2021; brothers, Duane and Curtis Olimb and brother-in-law Darwin Crum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to either Mendenhall Presbyterian Church, St.Croix Hospice of Grand Rapids, MN or Grand Village of Grand Rapids, MN.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Mendenhall Presbyterian Church, 528 10th St. NW, East Grand Forks, MN.
VISITATION: 1 Hour Prior Funeral Service in Mendenhall Presbyterian Church.
INTERMENT: Nisbet Cemetery, rural East Grand Forks, MN.
ONLINE GUESTBOOK: www.dandahlfuneralhome.com
Arrangements By: Dahl Funeral Home, East Grand Forks, MN