Dona L. Sens passed away Saturday, March 16, 2024 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, MN, where she had been for the past few weeks following a fall which caused a broken leg.  Prior to entering St. Luke’s, Dona was highly independent and lived in her own home, where she had been a resident of Bricelyn for 80 years.  She was 101, and just 19 days away from adding another year.

Dona Lorene (Smith) Sens was born April 4, 1922 to Charles and Marie (Armstrong) Smith in Spirit Lake, IA.  Dona had problems with the spelling of her name her entire life.  She was named after one of her mother’s brothers, Don and in keeping with that an A was added to make it Dona.  Shortly after Dona’s birth the new little family moved to Wells, MN, where she was soon joined by a brother.  Charlie, as her father was usually called, worked on a road crew for some time before the family moved to a farm which they purchased in the Alden, MN area.  Dona over the years was joined by six more siblings!

She attended Alden Consolidated School from which she graduated in 1940.  Following graduation, she went to work in Albert Lea, MN as secretary/bookkeeper for a men’s clothing store.

She then met Harold Sens (who had just graduated from Dunwoody Institute as a master electrician) one night at Walnut Lake Ballroom and evidently was impressed enough to accept a date, which led to marriage on January 17, 1942.  They were wed in a judge’s chambers at 10:00 PM.

Following marriage, the couple moved in with Harold’s parents on a farm in the Rice Lake area (which is actually north and a little east of Bricelyn). While Harold was busy as an electrician, Dona was awaiting the birth of their first child, Nancy on Oct. 23, 1942.

After a couple years with her in-laws, she wanted her own home. (I don’t imagine 2 very strong-willed dare I say stubborn women got on too well in one house!).  So, Harold & Dona purchased the hardware store in Bricelyn.  The store had a small one-bedroom apartment over the store which became home! Dona managed the hardware store (Sens Hardware) while Harold continued for the remainder of his life as an electrician.  The small family of three rapidly expanded with the arrival of twin sons, Charles and Thomas on April 6, 1949 requiring more room than their cozy one- bedroom apartment.  They built a home in the northwest corner of Bricelyn in 1950.  Shortly after moving into the new home Ginny was added to the family on November 11, 1954.

In 1954 they sold the hardware store, though Harold continued electrical work.  Selling the hardware store did not mean that Dona would become a “June Cleaver” stay at home mother!  She never liked cooking but was very fussy about a clean house and doing laundry often.  Dad once made the comment he was afraid to get up during the night for any reason because he would come back and Mom would be changing the bedding!  That was a family joke for years!  Dona did the bookkeeping for the electrical business and running errands for electrical supplies when needed.  She was office secretary for Bricelyn Lutheran Church for 12 years, served as president of Ladies Auxiliary 3 different times and treasurer for Legion Auxiliary for 40 years.  She also served on the board of St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center when it was in its beginning stages and said the was where she wanted to go if necessary.

Harold and Dona loved to dance and went every chance they could to dance to the Big Bands of the 40’s and 50’s (Glenn Miller, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw).  Even though Dona claimed Harold had 2 left feet!  Dona also enjoyed playing bridge and belonged to a bridge club hosted at different club members homes every 2 weeks until club went from 4 tables to none as they lost members.  She also enjoyed any social gathering where she could visit.

In a very strange twist of fate Harold (after 4 months of suffering from cancer) passed away on their 44th wedding anniversary, January 17, 1986 only a very few minutes away from the 10:00 PM time they were married.

Dona will join a very large group of loved ones-husband, Harold, son Charles, parents Charles and Marie Smith, siblings Daryl (Sam) and wife Janice (Dotty) Smith.  Maxine (Max) and husband Dean Rogness, Eileen (Babe) Leland, Jackie Smith in infancy, Roger Peterson (brother-in-law), mother and father-in-law William and Ida Sens, brother-in-law Melvin (Mildred) Sens, sister-in-law Verlin (Mildred) Draheim (and yes, the 2 Mildred’s is correct, one was always Melvin’s Mildred and one was our Mildred) and many in-laws and friends.  When you live 102 years, everyone you knew has probably gone before you.

To miss her Dona leaves behind 3 children- daughter Nancy Steen, son Thomas Sens, daughter Ginny (Darrell) Eastvold, 7 grandchildren-Shelley (Jim) Volz, Chad Steen, Jody (Jeff) Olson, Renae (Chris) Schenk, Jon Sens, Darin (Shanna) Eastvold, Todd (Sharon) Eastvold, 16 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, sister Charlotte (Rosie) Peterson, brother Bruce (Bud) Smith and many, many nieces and nephews.

All of Dona’s siblings had nicknames from childhood and several known only by their nickname their entire life with the exception of Dona.  When asked once why she did not have a nickname she said it was because her name was already spelled differently, and she did not have any older sisters or brothers to give her one!

Dona will be laid to rest in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery on her 102nd birthday, Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM.