Donald Valnes

ROSLYN – Donald Valnes 81 of Roslyn passed away Tuesday April 18, 2017 at Strand Kjorsvig Living Center in Roslyn. Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M. Saturday April 22, 2017 at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Burial will be at the Saron Church Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 7 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Donald Elmer Soren Valnes was born on December 31, 1935 to Elmer and Selma (Bendickson) Valnes on a farm near Eden, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Buffalo Lake Lutheran Church. He attended country school at Buffalo Lake where his sister was a teacher. He was a humble content man who loved his parents whom he farmed with and made his home for most of his working life. He also spent several years working for the Green Thumb program at State Parks in the area. He enjoyed his years living in Webster at Pleasant View Apartments. Retiring from the farm, he enjoyed playing cards and visiting with residents. When his health began to fail he moved to Strand-Kjorsvig Living Center at Roslyn in March 2012. He loved his siblings; his brother, Lloyd Valnes and sister, Violet Thuringer and all the nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and the great-grands. And, of course, all the cousins and hearing about their accomplishments, their growing up and listening to their voices on the phone. He appreciated getting together with family and friends, especially when he could eat fried chicken, green bean casserole and drink Mountain Dew pop! He was an avid basketball fan at local games and on television. He spent many a good hour listening to old time fiddlers, watching threshing bees, auctions, rodeos, old western movies and TV shows. He also enjoyed his church and reading his Bible. Keeping his relationship with God was important to him. He will be remembered for his Norwegian jokes, sense of humor and care and concern for his family. A long-time farmer, loyal son and kind man passed away quietly on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Roslyn, South Dakota at the age of 81 years, 3 months and 18 days. He will be missed by all his nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Violet Thuringer, brother-in-law, George Thuringer and his brother, Lloyd Valnes.