Donald Wigness

Donald Glenn Wigness was born on June 29, 1927, in Eidsvold Township, to John and Emma (Hansen) Wigness. After graduating from Minneota High School in 1945, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Naval Intelligence decoder in Washington D.C. In 1948, he was united in marriage to Marian Johnson in Minneota. The couple lived in Sioux Falls while Don attended Augustana College where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Business and History. Returning with his family to Minneota, Don worked as a wholesale floor-covering sales representative for a couple of years, a hospitalization insurance salesman for a year and then a Lutheran Brotherhood life insurance salesman for three years. When his father retired in 1955, Don and his brother Orville took over the family farm, which they operated until their retirement in 1987. In his younger years, Don was active in the community, serving as a Cub Scout Den Master, a Sunday School teacher at Hope Lutheran Church, a substitute bus driver for the Minneota Public School and a volunteer cement finisher when Minneota built the community swimming pool. Don enjoyed water skiing, gardening, bowling, hunting, fishing and spending time at Lake Cochran. But he especially enjoyed playing cards with family and good friends at the Roundup and later the Roundup Office, where he was one of the founders and over 30+ years participated in its operation until retiring as the club president at the end of 2008. Don died on Friday, February 20, 2009, after a brief stay at the Minneota Manor in Minneota. He is survived by his children Bruce Wigness of Minneapolis, Darcie (and John) Bass of Forest Lake, David (and Dawn) Wigness of Hastings, Gary (and Barbara) Wigness of Carver, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, siblings Gloria Kjorness of Marshall, Arby Wigness of Reno, NV, Orville (and Joyce) Wigness of Minneota, Marc (and Marion) Wignes of Ghent, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marian, an infant son, brother Warren, sister Vivian Krohling, brothers-in–law Robert KjornEss and Leon Krohling.