Donna M. Bahr

Obituary

Donna Marie Bahr was born on June 15, 1947, in Ames, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jay and Irvia (Jochumsen) Ferguson. Donna started her education in Ames and was a graduate of the Ames High School Class of 1965. She furthered her education at Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria, Minnesota. As a single mother of four children and taking care of the farm, Donna completed the program to be a medical secretary. After graduating from that program, she was employed by Todd County Public Health in Long Prairie and then became interested in the world of social work. She went back to school at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, enrolling in their weekend college program to receive her bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Donna completed this program and then moved to Paynesville, Minnesota.

After several years working at a nursing home as a social worker in Annandale, she became a student again and enrolled at Saint Cloud State University to obtain a Master’s Degree for Family and Marriage Therapy. She then worked at the Catholic Children’s Home in St Cloud before opening her own counseling office in Belgrade, Minnesota. She later moved her business to a home office in Paynesville.

Donna continued working as a therapist and decided to again go back to school and complete a doctorate degree from Saint John’s University. She reached the highest level of education by receiving a Doctorate of Psychology. She retired at the age of 74 as “Dr. Donna” and provided therapy to patients through telehealth.

Donna was a hardworking, intelligent, strong and beautiful woman who achieved the highest level of education. She was a single mother of four children who was raised in the city but brought up her children on a farm in Long Prairie. Donna and her children took care of chickens, cows, horses, pigs, dogs and cats. She enjoyed working with the pigs, recognizing how smart they were. She helped deliver piglets and took the runts inside the house when they wouldn’t have survived with the rest of the litter. She took care of people with the same passion.

Donna was an amazing player of cribbage with a competitive spirit. While playing her favorite card game, she kept her eye on others to catch anyone who might be trying to cheat.

She absolutely loved searching antique stores for the next “new to her” piece of furniture or knick knack that she could decorate her Victorian home with in Paynesville and then in Granite Falls, Minnesota. She had every area of her home filled with pictures, couches, chairs, vases, rugs, buffets, dolls and quilts. The young grandchildren were not always impressed with her antique dolls that were standing next to each other or laying on the quilts.

Donna was often accompanied by her dogs whom she adored. First there was Ginger, a beautiful red lab that Donna took everywhere. After Ginger passed, Rufus came into Donna’s home and took up a lot of space as an Irish Wolfhound mix.

Donna’s 4 children gave her 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren to fill her heart with joy! A few of the grandchildren wanted to share some thoughts and memories about their beautiful grandmother.

Hunter wanted everyone to know, "This one goes out to my #1 girl, the real OG, the silent date, the woman who always kept my fun conversation going, and a beloved badass, Grandma Bahr. I always loved going to her Victorian house in Paynesville. Felt like going back in time. Thought I’d see Abraham Lincoln. The bedrooms upstairs scared me to death as a kid with all 70 different dolls she had placed facing the beds. Wanted us to grow up tough. The homemade bread she made was amazing, I can taste it now. As a kid you really think of grandparents as just grandparents. As I grew older, I came to realize how elegant Donna really was. She was and still is a product of beauty. Her style was unmatched, no cap. Stubborn, but beautiful. Beautifully stubborn. She’d be smiling and shaking her head if I told her that. She raised some wonderful people, including my strong Mom of course. Always puts me back in my seat that Grandma reached the highest level of education possible. A doctorate in psychology. Did I say badass? I’m going back to school for my Environmental Science degree at SCSU in the Fall. One of the many things I learned and inherited from my #1 girl is perseverance. I’ll have a Bachelors, and I’ll be receiving it through integrity and grit. Because that’s how she lived. While she lived in the St. Cloud area, I knew I had to appreciate the opportunity. I took Donna on more dates than my girlfriends ever had. Once she starts eating you gotta realize the only one you’ll be talking to is yourself. Loved her food. I could go on & on but I’ll end it with this. Grandma, even though you hated growing old I always thought you were young and beautiful. You loved to drive, wouldn’t take a walker even if it was made from Lamborghini, you made the best bread, treated thousands of people with your vast experience in psychology, and you made me one proud grandson. I love you, I know you love me, and I’ll miss you as much as we both know. Until our next date, I’ll be thinking of you and living a life you’d be proud of. Bye for now and I’ll see you again."

Ezra said, “I'll always remember how Grandma was unapologetic for being herself and staying true to what she believed. I'll miss talking with her.”

This is what Skye had to share, “I remember Grandma always had a good presence, she always seemed relaxed and was calm all the time. It was always nice talking to her, she was usually funny too. She will be missed.”

Landon shared, “I will always remember Grandma Bahr as one of the kindest, funniest, and certainly one of the most determined people I know. While she wasn’t my grandma by blood, she still treated me like I was her grandson and I’m forever grateful to have had her in my life.”

Donna is survived by her:
Children, Gregg (Amy) Johnson,
Michelle (Mike) Kiefer,
Jennifer Loining,
Patrick (Soury) Duckson;
Grandchildren, Ethan Johnson, Hunter Breidenbach, Mason Breidenbach, Skye Breidenbach, Logan Kiefer (Karly), Landon Kiefer, Isaac Clavero (Amber), Ezra Clavero, Lydia Clavero, Moriah Clavero, Brayden Duckson (Sarah), Cheyanne Lineburg (Cody), Elisha Duckson;
9 Great-grandchildren;
Siblings, Jayanne Jones,
John (Chrissy) Ferguson,
Heidi Justison;
Many other relatives and friends.

Donna was preceded in death by her Parents, Jay and Irvia Ferguson; Grandson, Michael Jayson Johnson; Sister, Marlene Garrey; Brother-in-law, Larry Jones.