Donald Leroy Rysdahl

June 17, 1931 – March 8, 2021

Donald Leroy Rysdahl was born in Clarkfield, Minnesota, on June 17, 1931. He went home to rest with his Lord and Savior on March 8, 2021, in Moses Lake, Washington.

Donald graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1949, and was married to Elna Irene Pedersen Oct. 28, 1951. They were members of the Clarkfield Lutheran Church, where they raised their family. He loved to read and take walks. His hobbies were fishing, gardening and singing. He was always active in his church choir and belonged to the Norsemen’s Chorus and the Cascade Chorus of Barbershop Harmony.

The family relocated to Eugene, Oregon, in 1968. There, Donald was elected president of the local carpenters union as well as serving on the apprenticeship board. Donald and Elna moved to Moses Lake, Washington, in 2002. There, he was a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church and resided at the Blue Goose Care Center until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Judith Rysdahl and a brother Alton Rysdahl, all from Clarkfield; his wife of 60 years Elna “Ellie” Rysdahl and two daughters Marcia Jean and Julie Marie.

He is survived by a brother George Rysdahl; his sisters Janice Sheldahl, Loretta Grudt and Dorothy Marian; his son Neal Rysdahl of Chicago, Illinois, and his daughters Dawn Lesterson of Kasilof, Alaska and Paula Rysdahl of Spokane, Washington. He also leaves behind six grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren.

There will be an outdoor private family graveside service at the Clarkfield Lutheran Church Cemetery on April 17, 2021.