Donna Streifel

In Loving Memory of
 Donna A. Streifel
 
    Donna Arlene (Alexander) Streifel, age 93, passed away on February 12, 2024, at the Nelson County Health Center in McVille, ND.  

There will be visitation at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, February 23, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. 

   Donna was born to Thomas and Alice (Ritteman) Alexander on January 3, 1931, on the family farm in Irvine Township, Benson County, ND.  She was one of 10 children.
    Donna spent her childhood on the farm northeast of Leeds, ND, where she attended Irvine Consolidated country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Leeds High School with the class of 1949.  She also attended one year of business courses at Devils Lake Junior College.  She worked at the First National Bank in Devils Lake before meeting her future husband, Nicholas “Nick” Streifel.  They were united in marriage on October 11, 1951, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake.  They made their home in Minot, ND, where they started their family with a daughter and later returned to Devils Lake where they were blessed with four more children.  Donna and Nick owned and operated Leeds Laundromat for many years and Donna worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses.  She also worked as a CNA at Lake Region Lutheran Home before becoming an administrative secretary at Lake Region Corporation for over 30 years, retiring at the age of 81. 
    Donna was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and she enjoyed being a Den Mother for her sons Cub Scout troop for several years.  She was a member of a local birthday club for 50+ years and one of her favorite daily rituals was meeting up with her “special” friends for a cup of coffee at the White House Cafe.  She loved reading, gardening, music and dancing.  Her greatest joys in life were her family and friends, and she loved them with all her heart and soul. 

                Donna suffered many losses the last eight years of her life, losing four of her children, and the last two years  she had several health issues which she handled courageously.  She had faithfully trusted in the Lord and Heaven has gained a beautiful new angel.

                Survivors include:  her daughter, Laurie Walski (Randy Engen) Tolna, ND; her sister, Ruth Alexander, Devils Lake; one son-in-law, Allan Hansen, Starkweather, ND; two daughters-in-law, Rita Streifel, Minot, and Chris Streifel, Gillette, WY; 11 grandchildren, Cara (Kevin) Thompson, Jed (Brittany) Hansen, Caleb (Tina) Hansen, Seth Hansen, Heather (Jeff) Mitchell, Ashley (Terry) Peterson, Callie Jo (Chris) Hoffert, Josh Streifel, Brandon Walski, Meghan (Cole) Dimmler, Sierra Streifel; 21 great-grandchildren; other relatives  and friends.

                Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Nick, on June 25, 2000, one daughter, Cyndee Hansen, three sons, Cordell, Kerry and Jason Streifel, her parents, four brothers, John, Thomas, Kenneth, and Marvin, four sisters, Shirley Olson, Alice Schneider, Naomi Lauinger and Margaret Zeigler, one son-in-law, John Walski, her grandparents, several in-laws, nephews and nieces.