Donald "Sonny" M. Weed

Donald M. Weed, 85 of Jud formerly of Devils Lake, ND passed away at his home on Thursday morning, August 23, 2018.

Donald Monroe, son of Monroe and Vera (Davidson) Weed was born on November 22, 1932 at Devils Lake, ND. He was reared on the family farm in Grand Harbor Township and attended Devils Lake Public School. He farmed with his Dad and also helped several area farmers.

On October 11, 1952, Donald was united in marriage to Ila Pulst at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. They quickly established their home in Dry Lake Township, began the farming operation as a newly married couple, and then Donald was called to serve his country. He entered the US Army on July 15, 1953 and proudly served during the Korean War, receiving an honorable discharge on May 22, 1955.

Donald returned to the farm and he and Ila farmed side by side and together raised their children and are thrilled to be grandparents. Eventually they moved the operation to Fresh Water Township and worked the land until retiring in 1989. The retirement was from farming, not from hard work, and they moved to Soldotna, Alaska and managed a Senior Housing Complex and also the Discovery Campground in Captain Cook State Park until 2010 when they decided to move to the small, peaceful town of Jud, North Dakota and called it home.

Donald was never idle and work was frequently combined with other work, including 2 years custom combining starting in Nebraska and working north, planting shelter belts on his farmsteads, and mowing the town of Jud and beyond. The day the John Deere Zero Turn Riding Lawnmower arrived in Jud, it never stopped. And it was on that mower that the Lord called him home.

Donald did enjoy fun times too, including hunting, camping, fishing on the Sheyenne River, whittling, fireworks on the 4^th of July, making up ditties to sing to his family and membership in the Devils Lake Elks Lodge and VFW Club. He and Ila enjoyed winters in Arizona for several years and the friends they made there. And you always knew you were special to Donald “Sonny” when he gave you a nickname.

“A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant and a time to reap what is planted.” Rest in peace our dear husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, brother, uncle and friend.

Donald is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Ila; children Rick “Zeke” (Lillian) Weed, Soldotna, AK, Randy “Bug” Weed, Tok, AK, Bonnie “Bubbles” (Steve) Heit, Bismarck, ND, Kathy “Cootie” (Ron) Volk, Valley City, ND, Patty “Porky” (Bruce) Besse also of Soldotna, Mary Lou “Ugg” (Al) Holtz, Ypsilanti, ND and Lori Ann “Babe” (Barry) Schwan, Devils Lake; 20 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; sisters Helen Mae Hanson and Dorothy (Glenn) Hodous all of Devils Lake; sisters-in-law Lois Weed and Carol Weed also Devils Lake; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son Rodney (twin to Bonnie); great granddaughter Paisley Masset; brothers Richard Weed and Raymond Weed; in-laws Arthur and Sadie Pulst; nephews Gordon Pulst and Rusty Weed; niece Karla Carlson

Funeral Services for Donald will be held on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Lori Broschat officiating. Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team.

Donald is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.