Donna Cleland

Donna Mae Cleland, a longtime resident of Faribault, MN, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Mill City Senior Living at age 85. She had suffered a major stroke 4 years ago that left her quite handicapped and her health had worsened in the past few months.

Donna Mae, the eldest of eight children, was born on December 19, 1939, in Buffalo, Minnesota to Louise (Olson) Biegert and Robert W. Biegert and grew up on the family farm. She attended country school and then went on to Buffalo High School, graduating in 1958.

In 1960, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. She served mostly as a secretary in the Washington D.C. area. She was honorably discharged in 1965 and returned to Minnesota. Donna and her sister Vyonne rented an apartment in New Prague. In 1966 while at a dance at the Park Ballroom she met her future husband, Dennis Cleland. They began dating and were married at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in New Prague on July 1, 1967. 

They moved to Faribault at that time and Donna was employed over the first few years at several places in town, but she enjoyed working a number of years for the Faribault School District as a teacher’s aide. She also began her sewing and alterations business that she operated from her home which she did for many years until the time of her illness. 

Donna’s hobbies included doing crafts, reading, and cooking. She also loved to travel. Denny and Donna went camping several times each year with pop-up campers and over the years got to every state in the continental U.S. and most provinces of Canada. 

When they both were retired, they began to go on many foreign cruises and land tours. Donna especially enjoyed European river cruises.

Donna is survived by her husband Denny; her siblings, Loretta (Ron) Tuma of New Prague, MN, Martha Grunewald of South Haven, MN, Vyonne Rossman of Spring Hill, KS, Gary (Karen) Biegert of Buffalo, MN, and Noretta (Kevin) Efram of Ramsey, MN; and other relatives and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Robert Biegert; her son, Jimmy Cleland; and her brothers, Charles (Elaine) Biegert and Douglas Biegert. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault, followed by military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association. Interment will be at the St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault. Visitation will be held on Friday for one hour prior to the services at the church.