Donald Lalonde Jr.
June 23, 1927 — March 21, 2015
Donald Wallace LaLonde Jr.
Donald W. LaLonde Jr., a resident of the Iron Range area for the past 50 years, died Saturday, March 21, 2015, at Essentia St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. He was born on June 23, 1927, to Donald W. and Blossom (Holland) LaLonde Sr. in Detroit, MI. Donald proudly served his country during WWII and Korea from 1945 to1949 and later from 1951 to 1953 in the U.S. Navy where he achieved a ranking of Fire Controlman 1 st Class. During that time, Donald was united in marriage with Betty Jane Amyotte on September 23, 1950. Later, with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he was employed with Pickands-Mather in Hibbing where he retired after 30 plus years of service. Donald was a member of the National Honorary Geography Fraternity, Gamma Theta Phi and was a member of various mineral clubs. He was a deacon at several churchs throughout his lifetime. His hobbies included mineral and fossil collecting, genealogy, duck hunting, and traveling, but there were three pastimes he enjoyed the most: spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, camping and fishing in the BWCA, and teaching.
He is survived by his seven children: Donald W. (Tessie) LaLonde III, Hibbing, Benjamin (Mary) LaLonde, Champlin, MN, Deborah (Anthony) Richey, Rochester, MN, Jeffrey (Delores) LaLonde, Anoka, MN, Vicki (Mark) Carey, Evart, MI, Carolyn (Robert) Warner, Melrose, FL, and Brian (Rebecca) LaLonde, Winston-Salem, NC; two siblings, Joy Ozan, Duluth, MN, and Bonnie (Steve) LaLonde, Hawaii; 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Sr., and Blossom; his wife, Betty Jane LaLonde in October of 2014; two brothers, Lawrence and Theodore; and two sisters, Janette and Nancy.
Funeral services for Don will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, March 26, 2015, at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing. The Rev. Aaron Reini will officiate. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing. V isitation will then continue from 9 AM until the 10 AM funeral service at the funeral home on Thursday. Interment will be on Friday, March 27, 2015, at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. Arrangements are with Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit us at www.doughertyofhibbing.com