Date of Birth:
Friday, March 16, 1945
Date of Death:
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Age:
75 years old

Donald “Donnie” H. King

Donald H. King of Chatfield, MN, formerly of Rochester, MN, died Sunday, June 14, 2020, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, MN, following an almost 3-year battle with brain cancer.

Donald, “Donnie,” was born on March 16, 1945 to Herbert and Agnes (Twedt) King in rural Racine, MN. He attended school in Hamilton, Racine and Stewartville. In 1962, he enlisted in US Army, trained as a rifleman. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Spring Valley, MN. He was an over-the-road truck driver until becoming a manager at Spring Valley Ready Mix. Later in his career, he was employed at Romac as a driver, and Rochester Brick as a dispatcher. Donnie was also a rental property owner and took great pride in the care and maintenance of those properties.

Always being a social butterfly, Donnie could strike up a conversation with anyone; he never met a stranger, only a friend he had not spoken to yet. Having driven many miles on the road, he loved travelling and going on cruises. He could give you directions to get anywhere across the United States. Going to the cabin in northern MN on the shores of Lake Sylvia was especially his favorite place to be. There he could take long four-wheeler rides and explore new trails. A farm boy at heart, he also enjoyed raising his beef calves in the summertime outside of Spring Valley. His greatest enjoyment came from spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Donnie is survived by his daughter, Dawn (Dave) Evans, of Superior, WI, and their children, Amy (Norm) Holt, and David (Amy) Evans, also of Superior, WI. In addition, he is survived by his life companion of 25 years, Dotty Leibold, of Chatfield, formerly of Spring Valley, MN and her children, Tara (Brian) Nolan of Chatfield, MN, and Mike (Tiffany) Leibold of Phoenix, AZ; grandchildren, Taylor, Dillon and Shelby Nolan, and great-grandchildren,  Macy, Allison and Weston Holt, and Savannah Evans. He is also survived by 3 brothers, Robert “Mark” King of California, Darrell Hansen and Dave King of Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard “Tex” King.

Due to the COVID pandemic, a small, private family service at Macken Funeral Home and burial at Hamilton Cemetery will take place later this week.

Memorials are preferred to the Chosen Valley Care Center.

“Keep on trucking, you old trucker!”