Cover photo for Donamaye Amdahl's Obituary
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1928 Donamaye 2017

Donamaye Amdahl

February 5, 1928 — August 1, 2017

DONAMAYE (ANDERSON) AMDAHL was born February 5, 1928 in Marquette, Michigan to Henning and Thelma Anderson. She is survived by her younger sister, Barbara Lee (Anderson) Allin. They grew up in a loving Christian home by the shores of Lake Superior. As a young girl, she loved to design and make her own clothes, draw, perform in local plays, sing, dance, and ice skate.
She graduated from Gravaeret High School in 1945, and Northern Michigan University (Marquette, MI) in 1949 with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and an Associates degree from the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis in 1951. L.B.I. is where she met her husband, Oliver (Ollie) Amdahl, Jr. (from Flandreau, SD). They were married August 11, 1951 in her hometown of Marquette, MI. They had their first child, Becky, in 1953 while living in Minneapolis. After Ollie finished his college degree in Sociology from Augsburg College in 1953, they moved back to Flandreau, and eventually to the Amdahl Homestead, east of Trent, SD. It was there their family grew with the addition of Tim, Matt, Mim, Jacquetta, and Sam.
Donamaye was very active in her church, and many Christian gatherings throughout her life. She was a Luther League advisor, 4-H helper, lead church choirs, taught Sunday school, WELCA, and Bible studies. Donamaye loved art in many forms: sewing, fashion design, architecture, interior design, music, poetry, reading and writing, drawing, and pottery to name a few. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She enjoyed Swedish cuisine, mid-west hot dishes - one being her own version of a Yooper pasty - and was always asking her family what they would like to eat when visiting her.
She was an Upper Peninsula of Michigan girl who loved her Great Lakes Shores dearly but happily exchanged them for the beauty of the Great Plains, it's big skies and beautiful sunsets, because she got to share them with her warm hearted, friendly, ever smiling, South Dakotan, Ollie. They loved each other dearly. Each year they made the long journey from Flandreau, SD to Gwinn, MI to vacation at her beloved MaPaDaBa, the cabin her father built after WWII. It meant so much to both of them to spend that precious time on Mehl Lake with their children each summer. It is a tradition that is carried on to this day with their children and grandchildren.
Donamaye was a mother of 6, a grandmother of 18, and a great-grandmother of 23 (and counting). She will forever be known as one who had un-conditional love for every member of her family, and an unwavering desire to instill Biblical Truths into children's young lives. She prayed for their futures, and to one day make their hearts, Christ's home. She was a kind sister, friend and neighbor, wonderful wife, and a nurturing mother and grandmother. She will be deeply missed, but has left behind her a great legacy. Donamaye passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the age of 89 years, five months, and 26 days.
She is lovingly remembered by her six children, Rebecca Amdahl Wittstruck of Pipestone, MN, Tim (Marcia) Amdahl of Rapid City, SD, Matthew (Sharon) Amdahl of Flandreau, SD, Mim (Rick) Amdahl Newman of Marquette, MI, Sam Amdahl of Rapid City, and Jacquetta (Hugh) Amdahl Page of Mishawaka, IN; 18 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Barbara Lee (Anderson) Allin of Portland, OR. She was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver; and her parents.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, August 4, 2017

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Hartquist Funeral Home - Pipestone Chapel

710 SE 4th St. , Pipestone, MN 56164

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Service

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

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Burial

Augustana Swedish Cemetery - Rural Flandreau

, Flandreau, SD 57028

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