Donald R. Whitman
FAIRMONT - Funeral service for Donald R. Whitman, 94, of Fairmont will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont.
Donald passed away Wednesday morning, Dec. 16, 2009, at his home in Fairmont. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. today and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont.
Donald Ray Whitman was born on Feb. 1, 1915, in East Chain Township, the son of Harry and Augusta (Zehm) Whitman. He attended country school and worked on the farm. In 1939, he married Viola Olson. For many years, Don farmed and worked as a horse ferrier. He retired in 1981 and in 1985 Don was named the Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year. In 1992, Don married Linda M. Brooks. Don remained active and continued to enjoy being around horses and spending time with his family. He was a member of the East Chain Methodist Church. Don was one of the founding members of the Fairmont Saddle Club, where he also served as president.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Brooks (Whitman) of Fairmont; son, Delbert Whitman and his wife, Mary, of Olivia, Minn.; daughter, Donna Wagner of Eagle Lake, Minn.; daughter, Becky Cselovszki and her husband, John, of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; daughter, Wendy Schermerhorn and her husband, Mark, of Blaine, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Delbert Jr., Matthew, Dawn, Jodi, Cassandra, Tianna, McKenzie, Marley and Anthony; six great-grandchildren, Ethan, Everett, Luke, Dylan and Eleanor; one brother, Lawrence Whitman of East Chain; sister-in-law, Bernice Whitman of Fairmont; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Augusta; four brothers, Jesse, Warren, Archie and Marlow, who died the evening before Donald; one sister, Florence Rowley and one grandson, Jake Schermerhorn.