Donna Mae Page

Vibrant, fun loving, and energetic are just a few of the words that come to mind when reflecting on the life of Donna Page. She had a special place in her heart for children, and through her work as a teacher she exemplified the notion that it is a career which is so much more than providing facts and information, as it is truly a matter of the heart. Although she experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer and saw so many amazing places, it was when surrounded by her loved ones that Donna was truly at peace. Her devotion to her children was unmatched, but she just may have argued that becoming a grandmother was her richest reward. Donna leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that will be a lasting treasure in the hearts and lives of those too numerous to count.The Roaring Twenties were a time to remember as innovation was taking us places we had never been. Cars became more affordable thanks to the assembly line, and with Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh pushing the limits in the world of flight, air travel was on the brink of unprecedented opportunities. Amidst this time of new discovery was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Harry and Merle (Hayes) Scoggins. The couple was awaiting the birth of their new baby, as the first whispers of the winter to come appeared on the horizon in the small town of St. Charles, Minnesota in 1923. Their wait was over when the baby girl they named Donna Mae was born on November 28th. In many ways Donna was a young girl of her generation. She was raised in rural St. Charles and attended local schools. Donna's high school years found her at St. Charles High School. After graduating from high school she continued her education, graduating from Winona Teacher's College. Later on Donna earned her Master's Degree in Library Science from Mankato State University.Throughout her career Donna threw her heart and soul into everything she did. Her teaching career began in country schools and later continued at Longfellow Elementary School in Rochester, Minnesota, where she taught fourth grade. After earning her master's degree, Donna became the librarian at the same school for several years. She later split her time working between several elementary schools in Rochester until her retirement. Donna found her work to be tremendously rewarding and enjoyed teaching for more than thirty years.New and exciting changes were in store for Donna when she met and later married a young man named Lyle Page. They exchanged their vows on January, 21, 1941, in Cresco, Iowa. Together they were blessed with the births of three children including Robert, Bruce, and Debra. Although their marriage later ended in divorce, Donna was forever grateful for the children they shared.As a mother Donna was an active part of her children's lives. A firm believer in education, she was very involved in their education, making sure they had everything they needed to succeed. Donna loved being with her children, and she was filled with unspeakable joy when grandchildren later arrived. As someone who loved to camp, she enjoyed camping at nearby Whipperwill Campground with her children and grandchildren. Donna also loved sharing her love for reading with her children and grandchildren.Donna found love again when she met Roy Hanson. She was on a scenic coach bus tour, Roy was the bus driver. After falling in love, they were married on August 3, 1983. Together they shared a love for traveling; after their marriage, the couple bought an RV and took it all over the country. Among Donna's most memorable trips were her two trips to Alaska as well as trips to Breezy Point Resort in Northern, Minnesota. She also enjoyed going down the road to Winona, often to visit her dear friends, Ruth and Richard Barry. In fact, visits with all of her friends was something she looked forward to as she always preferred to be on the move rather than at home. As one who liked to keep busy, when she wasn't off traveling somewhere Donna could often be found gardening or bowling, including on a league in St. Charles during her younger years. To relax and wind down she enjoyed reading.With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around her, Donna Page was a blessing in the lives of everyone she met. She could be very strong willed when it came to something she was passionate about, and one never needed to wonder what she was thinking as she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Deeply loved, Donna will be forever missed.Donna M. Page, of St. Charles, MN, died on Friday, January 16, 2015, surrounded by her family at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford, MN. Donna is survived by her three children: Robert (Marge) Page of Maple Grove, MN, Bruce Page, and Debra (Louis) Heim both of St. Charles. Five grandchildren: Matthew (Karin) Page, Kristen (Rodney) McCormick, Megan (Monte) Boyum, Louis (Alyssa) Heim, and Nicole Page, eight great-grandchildren, brother in law: Robert Laudon, and four step-children. Donna was preceded in death by her parents, husband: Roy, sister-in-law: Margaret Laudon, and beloved cousin: Shirley Cassel. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2015, at St. Charles United Church of Christ with Rev. Jason Chamberlain officiating. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles. Casket Bearers will be Matthew Page, Kristen McCormick, Megan Boyum, Louis Ryan Heim, Nicole Page, and Gavin Boyum. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles and one hour prior to the service at the church. Leave a memory of Donna, sign her online guestbook, and view her tribute video when it becomes available online at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/561162