Donald Raymond Stoa

Donald Raymond Stoa, 82, of Fergus Falls, comforted by his family, peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2014, at Lake Region Healthcare.

Don was born on July 7, 1932, in Fairdale, ND, the son of Selmer and Ella (Aune) Stoa. He grew up in Fairdale, graduating from Fairdale High School in 1950 where he played basketball and ran track. During his teenage years and after graduation he worked for his Uncle Andrew Aune at his service station in Fairdale.

In 1952 Don joined the US Army and completed Basic Training at Camp Chaffee, AR; Field Artillery Training at Ft Leonard Wood, MO, being assigned to the First Calvary Division. For the majority of Don’s service, he was stationed on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, and was discharged in 1954. He then moved to Maddock, ND, where he began working at the Farmers Union service station. In 1955 he began to work for Legreid Plumbing in Maddock, where he learned his trade.

On December 24, 1956, Don was engaged to be married and on June 16, 1957, he married the love of his life, Alva Nelson, at South Viking Church in Maddock. In 1959, 1961 and 1965 brought the births of their three children; Steven Lynn, Wayne Alan, and Joni Lynn. In 1969, the family moved to Fergus Falls where he continued his trade at the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, retiring in 1997.

In his retirement, Don & Alva enjoyed a number of long--‐distance RV camping trips; several to Branson, MO; through the Midwest and into the Ohio Valley; Washington, DC; Amish country in Pennsylvania: New York; and the New England states. Don’s lifelong fondness for woodworking and projects in the shop kept him busy constructing and shaping many pieces of beautiful furniture for their home. For several years, they toured the regional Craft Show circuit, selling their works under the Fine Line Crafts banner. Don loved HO-Scale model railroading, building & remodeling houses, and served as volunteer steam engineer (locomotive operator) for the “Laker Express Railroad” (a nearly 100-year-old narrow-gauge locomotive and tender) on the grounds of the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association in Dalton, MN, where Don was a long-time member. In his later years, Don enjoyed fine detailed scale modeling of military equipment from his era of Army service. Don was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, and participated with retired Minnesota State Employees. Don held a Masters Plumbers License in Minnesota and owned and operated Don Stoa Plumbing, where he worked alongside his son, Wayne.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brother and sister-in-law Sterling & Em Stoa; and sister and brother-in-law, Dolores & Jim Rice.

Survivors include his wife, Alva of Fergus Falls; children, Steven (Holly Wolhart) of St. Paul, Wayne (Teri) of Fergus Falls, and Joni (Adam) Swanson of Brooklyn Park; grandchildren, Amber, Lynaea, Tiffany, Cole, Tabitha and Haley; great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Cami, Natalie, Gavin, Rylie
and Landen; and siblings, Maynard (Bonnie) Stoa of Fairdale, ND, Marlys (Marvin) Beuning of Lincoln, NE and Douglas (Audrey) Stoa of Brooklyn Park.

Memorials preferred to American Lung Association, LRPTA, or donor’s choice.

Visitation: 2 to 4 pm Sunday, December 28, 2014 at the funeral home
Service: 11 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2014, at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls with Military participation by Fergus Falls VFW Post 612 and American Legion Post 30
Clergy: Reverends Saul Stensvaag and Stan Satre
Interment: First Lutheran North Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls