Donald Riski

Donald John (DJ) Riski, 85, of Niagara, ND, died April 2, 2010, in Northwood, ND, surrounded by family, after a long courageous battle with heart disease. He was the oldest son of John and Amelia (Paschke) Riski, and was born November 23, 1924 in Ardoch, ND. He attended school in Minto, ND. He entered the U.S. Army at 18 years of age and was in a tank destroyer battalion in the South Pacific during WWII. After the service, Donald went to Florida to work as a plantation manager for several years. He then moved back to ND where he was employed by the ND State Highway Dept. In 1954, he married Evelyn Strassburg and they purchased the Niagara Lockers Meat Plant, which they operated for 47 years. Don also served as mayor of Niagara for several years. Don loved fishing and hunting, and organized many, many fishing and hunting trips to Canada for himself and his friends. Another hobby after retirement included maintaining a huge vegetable garden through 2009, where he claimed to have raised the best potatoes and garlic in the land. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Ted Valerius Post 97 in Larimore and an elder at the Arvilla Presbyterian Church. He took great pride in his grandchildren. He is survived by his extraordinary wife of 56 years, Evelyn, Niagara, ND; daughter, Linda (Bob Lundeen), Bloomington, MN; son, Todd (girlfriend Krista), Seattle, WA and special daughter, Michelle (Matt) Locken, Pekin, ND. He also is survived by 4 grandsons, DJ (wife Dina) Lundeen of Tampa, FL, Christopher Ahl, Beau and Karl Locken, all of Pekin, ND; 4 granddaughters, Anne and Tess Riski, Seattle, WA; Riley Lundeen, Bloomington, MN and Echo Locken of Pekin, ND; 2 brothers, Jim, MN and John (wife Twyla), Minto, ND; 4 sisters, Christine Purser, Minto, ND, Bette Umhoeffer, CA, Margaret Elder, CO and Anne Gerlach, NE; 2 aunts, Irene Eblen, Hillsboro, ND and Sister Bernadine Paschke , Crookston, MN. Donald is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Paul, Dennis and Adolph "Joe" and sisters, Adeline Riski and Patricia Kerrian.