Cleo Donath

Funeral Service for Cleo Donath, 97, formerly of Herman, Minnesota will be held Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ranney Funeral Home in Herman, Minnesota with Rev. Carl Berner officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Cleos Grandchildren. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Cleo Madglena Pierre was born on May 11, 1913 to Henry and Cathern (Diedrick) Pierre on a farm five miles west of New Hampton, Iowa. Cleo survived small pox and scarlet fever as a very young child. She worked hard on the family farm in her youth. The family raised chickens, dairy cows, and had horses. Cleo was quoted as saying her youth was full of church, farm and chores . In 1931, she moved with her family to a farm west of Collis, Minnesota. Cleo married Harry Donath on June 18, 1934. To this union five children were born: Mary Lou, Harry, Robert, Beverly and Judy. All of her children were born at home, none in a hospital. One son, Robert, passed away at the age of 13 from injuries received in a farm accident. The couple resided in Traverse County where Harry worked for the county for over 30 years. Cleo worked various jobs from cleaning work, working at a locker plant, to working as a midwife. She also kept very busy raising her family. The family always had a very large garden she tended to. Cleo canned vegetables, made jellies and applesauce. She was a wonderful cook. Harry passed away March 4, 1984. Mary Lou passed away January 24, 2000. Cleo was a resident at the Rosholt Care Center in Rosholt, South Dakota for the past five and a half years . She passed away on May 16, 2010 at the Care Center. Cleo is survived by three children: Harry (Angel) Donath of Jackson, Georgia, Beverly Nelson(special friend Gary Klettke) of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, and Judy Myrum of Sisseton, South Dakota, one sister: Edna Pate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fourteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren and fifteen great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son: Robert, daughter: Mary Lou, granddaughter: Brenda and great-grandson: Mikey.