Donald Floyd Knapper

Donald Knapper age 69 of Balaton, MN died Monday, February 15, 2010 at the Tyler Hospital. Services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Balaton United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 11:00 to 1:00 PM Saturday at the church prior to the service. Interment will be in the Lakeside Cemetery at a later date in the spring. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements. Donald Floyd Knapper was born March 25, 1940 to Floyd and Ann (Ellingson) Knapper on a farm south of Revere, MN, Cottonwood County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Balaton United Methodist Church and attended Balaton High School, graduating in 1958. He entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. Sam in San Antonio, TX, where he met his wife. On January 19, 1963 Don married Margaret “Peggy” Kinstle in San Antonio. Later that spring of 1963 Don received his honorable discharge and they returned to Minnesota. They made their home in Pipestone, MN for a short time and then lived in Lubbock, TX, Security, CO, and Humboldt, IA, before he returned to Balaton in 1979. Over the years, Don worked for Schwann’s of Marshall, MN, where he was a salesman, a trainer, a truck driver and helped develop new territories. Most recently he had drove truck for CPS of Brookings, SD. Don was a member of the Balaton United Methodist Church and enjoyed horse shows, rodeos, country music and watching the television show, HeeHaw. He also collected belt buckles and liked being around people as a salesman and at auctions and sales, but what he really loved was spending time with his grandchildren. Recently, Don entered the Tyler Hospice in Tyler, MN, and then was a patient of the Tyler Hospital, where he died Monday, February 15, 2010 at the age of 69. Don is survived by his one son, Terry Knapper of Sioux Falls, SD; three daughters, Jody Knapper and Lisa Knapper both of Windom, MN, and Amy Knapper of Worthington, MN; four grandchildren, Andre, Isaac, Julian, and Brooklyn; two sisters, Betty (Lester) Chandler and Colleen (Mike) Wreath both of Balaton, MN; one brother, Gary (Noy) Knapper of Austin, TX; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. His parents, mother of his children, Peggy and one brother, Bob preceded him in death.