Donna Rose Falksen (Fjeldberg), 77, passed away on July 30, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Born on April 29, 1947, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, she spent her early years there and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1965. Both of her parents passed away as she graduated high school.

Donna Falksen

Around this time, she met her husband, Dale, and they married on October 8, 1966. In December of that year, she became a military wife when Dale enlisted in the Navy. While he served, they spent time on both US coasts but returned to Albert Lea after his service where they built a house north of town and raised their two daughters.

Donna’s professional life was marked by her meticulous organizational skills and dedication. Her career spanned several administrative positions with many school districts and professional education institutions. Upon retiring from her last position, she took care of her first two grandchildren – a role she executed with great love and pride. It was in volunteering in their kindergarten classrooms that she discovered too late that she would have loved to have been a kindergarten teacher.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Donna had a vibrant array of hobbies. She played piano, assembled jigsaw puzzles, gardened, and sang lead as a member of two Sweet Adeline Choruses alongside her oldest daughter. Donna also cherished time with her beloved dachshunds, her husband and her daughters and was known for spoiling her grandchildren. She loved relaxing with a crossword puzzle and with word searches in later life.

Donna is survived by her husband, Dale Falksen of Riverside, MO; daughters, Debra (John) French of Kansas City, MO, and Kristin Knoke of Ogden, IA; and brother, Philip (Rhonda) Fjeldberg of Lake Crystal, MN, along with seven grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Hjalmer and Ethel (Erickson) Fjeldberg, brother David Fjeldberg, and grandson Andrew Knoke.

A celebration of life will be held in the near future to honor Donna.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Donna’s memory to the PKD Foundation, Mid America Transplant, or Catholic Community Hospice, organizations that were close to her heart.

She will be missed for her contagious smile and friendly personality and for being sister, wife, mom, grandma, and best friend.