Donna Poach

Donna Poach

Donna Poach, age 95, a resident of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, died Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Riverfront on Main, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

Donna Mae Poach was born to Herbert and Vera (Jones) Plunkett on January 8, 1931, on the very day her family moved into their new home in Bowden, North Dakota, after moving from Roanoke, Virginia.Donna attended country school in Heaton, North Dakota. She remembered the severe storms of those early years and how the family eventually got a new wood stove where they would burn wood to keep their feet warm. She also remembered waiting for her brother Charles to be born on Christmas Day so that she, Audrey, and James could go into the bedroom to get their Christmas presents. They were not very happy about having to wait to open them!When Donna was six years old, she was sent by train all by herself to Fargo for surgery on her leg after contracting polio. On the train, she met two traveling entertainers, Lula Bell and Scotty, who were kind to her and gave her candy. She spent the night at an orphanage before going to St. Luke's Hospital the next morning. Her doctor, Dr. Swanson, carried her with him on his rounds and gave her a stick of gum every day.Growing up on the farm, Donna's job included plucking feathers from chickens—a chore that may explain why she never cared much for chicken noodle soup!After graduating from high school, Donna attended the State School of Science in Wahpeton. Before graduating, she was hired by her boss, Bill Wyatt, as a secretary for an insurance company. She walked miles to work, even in high heels.Donna met Clifford Poach, and they were married on August 16, 1958. They were blessed with three sons, Troy, Tom, and Trent. Donna always said that raising her boys was the best part of her life.The family initially lived in a newer home in South Fargo, but Donna eventually decided she wanted to raise her boys on the farm. When Peter and Edna Anderson came to their South Fargo home to help with the paperwork, Edna famously asked, "You are giving up this beautiful home for a 1896 farmhouse?"That old farmhouse had a lot of history, and Donna made it the best it could be. Her least favorite chore was cleaning out the peony bushes, where the snakes liked to hide. She joked that whenever she was weeding, her boys stayed clear because they certainly did not want to help.Donna loved her country neighbors and cherished the dances, card parties, and gatherings that brought the community together. She also loved having a large vegetable garden and spending time canning the produce she grew. She worked at Karen's Corner for a time before taking on what she considered the greatest job she ever had: caring for her grandchildren. She provided daycare for Tanner and Taylor Poach, Erin Hagen, and later Dylan and McKale Evenson. Her joy and love for children were always evident.When her grandson Trevor was born, the shopping began. Donna would always arrive with the cutest pajamas, swim trunks, beach towels, and clothes, and she spent many weekends traveling to spend time with him.Donna was a longtime member of Grove Lake Church, where her faith and friendships with her church family were deeply important to her. She donated many of her sewing projects to the bazaar, along with her famous pies, which always sold out quickly. She also cross–stitched many towels and treasured her beloved circle of church ladies.Donna's final home was Riverfront on Main. The family would like to thank the staff there for the loving care they provided to Donna, as well as Vista Hospice for helping her and her family throughout her final journey.Donna had a heart of gold and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.Donna is survived by her sons, Troy and Stacy (Carlson) Poach, Tom and Sharon Poach, and Trent Poach; grandchildren Tanner and Karrissa Poach, Taylor and Jessi Poach, Trevor Poach, and Erin Roberts (Hagen); great–grandchildren Talia and Pierce Poach; step–grandchildren Sean and Vi Kooren and Oakley Carlson; and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert in 1973 and Vera in 1982; siblings Audrey in 2009, Charles in 2011, and James in 2013; daughter–in–law Julie Poach in 2011; and granddaughter Paige Poach in 1990.Visitation was on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life at 2:00 p.m. at Grove Lake Lutheran Church, Pelican Rapids, MN. Pastor Beth Monke was the officiant.

Burial will be at Grove Lake Cemetery, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.