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1925 Donald 2011

Donald D. Palmer

December 22, 1925 — October 3, 2011

Marshall: Donald Palmer, age 85, of Marshall, passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Luverne on Monday, October 3, 2011. Funeral services will be 10 A.M. Saturday, October 8th at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Marshall Cemetery with military honors furnished by American Legion Post 113. Visitation will be 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service Friday at the Hamilton Funeral Home. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, one hour prior to the service. Donald D. was born at home in Fairfax, Minnesota on December 22, 1925 to Herbert and Alma (Kiehn) Palmer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He grew up in Fairfax, and while at school participated in a municipal drum and bugle corps.
He wanted to be a pilot and enlisted in the Navy’s V-12 aviation training program in 1943, his senior year at Fairfax High School. After graduation, his naval training was completed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Forida where he learned to fly the Navy’s SB2C “Helldiver” dive bomber.
In 1946 he joined the air group assign to the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa in Tokyo Bay. He flew his aircraft from that carrier for a year before returning to the U.S..
After his service in the Navy, Don took a position with Northwester Bell Telephone in 1951. Donald transferred to the telephone office in Marshall, where he met the love of his life, Joan Lamberton. They were united in marriage April 7, 1956 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax. Together they raised their six children: Deb, Bill. Doug. Donna. Rob, and Ann.
Don worked for the telephone Company for 42 years before retiring in 1989. The loves of his life were his family and flying for many years where always looked at the world from a pilot’s perspective. His other enjoyments included supporting the accomplishments of “the kids”, camping, remodeling, and building projects around home.
Don was a faithful member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshall where he was a soloist, in the choir, church council member and usher. He also was a member of American Legion Post 113, Marshall Pilots Club and Marshall Area Men’s Chorus.
Don passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Luverne on Monday, October 3, 2011. He had reached the age of 85 years, 9 months and 12 days.
Among those who shared Don’s life are his wife, Joan of Marshall; children, Deb (and Shaun Sommerer) Palmer of Tucson, AZ, Donna (and Mark) Schmidt of Pueblo West, CO, Rob (and Amy) Palmer of Willmar, Ann (and Gustavo) Estrada, Bill (and Kathy) Palmer, and Doug (and Laurie) Palmer all of Marshall; 15 grandchildren; and one great granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
Blessed Be The Memory Of Don Palmer
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