Donna Thompson

Donna G. Thompson, age 75, Grand Forks, ND, passed away peacefully with her husband at her side on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at Woodside Village, Grand Forks, ND. Donna Germayne Johnson was born October 8, 1932 in Hatton, ND, the daughter of Clarence and Bernice (Vigen) Johnson. She was baptized and confirmed at Little Forks Lutheran Church, Donna attended both country school and Hatton Elementary and Hatton High School. She and her siblings walked many times from their farm home to attend the rural school. While in high school, Donna worked at the drug store and at Woody's Café and stayed with her aunt in town. She married Gordon A. Stoa on October 30, 1951 at Crookston, MN. They made their home at Hatton, Hillsboro, and rural East Grand Forks, MN until moving to Grand Forks in 1957. On February 17, 1961 she married H. Harlow Thompson at St. Marks Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. They lived there until 1974 when the family moved to Woodbury, MN, and later to West St. Paul, MN. In 1984 they returned to Grand Forks, where she resided at the time of her death. Donna enjoyed working in her flower gardens. She also did many oil paintings over several years, including some special paintings on milk cans for the Hutterities. She enjoyed watching and feeding the birds. At one time she had a rather extensive doll collection, which she loved to share with her granddaughters. Donna was proud of her Norwegian heritage. She and Harlow shared an avid interest in family history. They have traced a common ancestry from the mid 1100's in Norway back to 0080 B. C. Donna has compiled and written three books. The first. "Our Norwegian Heritage" was on her Vigen-Holm families. The second, "From Norway They Sailed" was of her Johnson-Edwardson ancestry. Both are on file at various historical societies in North Dakota and Norway. She most recently completed the third, "The Ancestral History of My Three Sons", their Vigen-Johnson heritage. They enjoyed the many years at their lake home and pontooning on Lake Beltrami. They also shared many years golfing together. On one occasion a photo of them golfing at Valley Golf Course appeared on the front page of the East Grand Forks Exponent. They also enjoyed league bowling and Donna's top score of 249 was six pins higher than Harlow. Donna deeply believed in having a church home. She taught Sunday School at University Lutheran and in the early years at St. Marks she was active in promoting activities for the youth group and in the church library. It was Donna who urged Harlow to serve on the church council Donna was a loving wife and mother and was devoted to her family. She was so proud of all that her three sons had accomplished. Donna is survived by a loving family, her husband of 47 years, Harlow, three sons: Terry A. (Heather) Stoa, Decatur, IL, Jeffrey G. (Marcella) Stoa, Buxton, ND, and Scott H. Thompson, Forestville, MD. Four grandchildren: Kristin Stoa, Des Moines, IA, Ryan and Elizabeth Stoa Luedtke, Johnson Creek, WI. Brandon (Tricia) Stoa, Grand Forks, ND, Kassidy (Dustin) Robles, East Grand Forks, MN. One great granddaughter Jessa Robles, two great grandsons Justin Sanford and Dylan Heck. One brother: Dayle G. Johnson, Ely, Nevada. Two sisters: Doretta (Roland) Erickson, Casper, WY, Darlene (Terry) Carlson, Rochester, MN. Sister in law Betty Johnson, Denham Springs, LA. and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends will sorely miss her. Her parents and one brother, DuWayne A. Johnson in 2004, preceded her in death. Memorials are suggested to St. Mark's Lutheran Church.