Donald Emil Danielson

Donald Emil Danielson, born December 23, 1929, passed away at his home on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, in Buffalo, Minnesota, surrounded by his family. His death follows a battle with pancreatic cancer. Donald was born in Cloquet, Minnesota and grew up in Mahtowa, Minnesota. He graduated from Barnum High School in 1947. Donald obtained degrees from Trinity Seminar and Bible Institute in Minneapolis, North Park College in Chicago, and St. Paul Bible College in St. Paul. From 1952 to 1954, he served in the U.S. Army, as a communications specialist in the occupational forces in Germany. He married Phyllis Stillman on December 26, 1955 in St. Paul. After their marriage, they moved to Chicago and then to Mahtowa before returning to St. Paul in 1956. He entered the pastoral ministry in 1959. Donald served Evangelical Free Churches in Mont Nebo, Saskatchewan (1959-1963), Bassano, Alberto (1963-1966), Abbotsford, British Colombia (1966-1971), in Canada, as well as Billings, Montana (1971-1974), Sandstone, Minnesota (1974-1984), and Wesley and Upper Flat, Iowa (1984-1990). Concurrently with his pastoral ministry at Abbotsford, B.C., he served as athletic director, head basketball coach, and P.E. instructor at Trinity Junior College (now Trinity Western University) in Langley, British Colombia from 1966 - 1970. Donald loved coaching basketball and volunteered to coach the varsity boys' and girls' teams at the local high school in Bassano, Alberta. He coached the men's basketball team at Montana Institute of the Bible in Billings, Montana and also volunteered as a coach in Sandstone, Minnesota. After he retired from full-time ministry in 1990, Donald & Phyllis moved back to his childhood home in Mahtowa, Minnesota. While there he served the Evangelical Covenant Churches in Cotton, Minnesota (1990-1991), and Twig, Minnesota (1990-1994). Phyllis passed away February 6, 1994. From 2002 to 2004, Pastor Danielson filled the pulpit on Sundays at Kerrick Community Church. During this time, he also served as chaplain at Aftenro Home, in Duluth, Minnesota (1990-2004). In 2004, Donald moved to Buffalo, Minnesota where he met his wife Marge Spreiter and was married to her in 2006. Donald enjoyed playing in the Church softball league in his younger days, leading the EFCA Boys Youth Group Camping trips, participating in all of his Church's Choir and Bible Studies. He was an annual Camp Speaker at Grindstone Lake Bible Camp in Sandstone, Minnesota. Donald loved attending all of his children and grandchildren's sporting events, playing tennis and golf with family and friends. He was a huge fan of watching all of the Minnesota Professional and College sports teams, especially Gopher football and basketball, Twins and Vikings. He enjoyed family vacations, camping and hiking near Billings, Montana and the North Shore and visiting his twin brother, Reynold, in Portland, Oregon. He loved to drive to Alaska, Washington and Florida to visit his three oldest sons and his grandchildren. Donald also loved his weekly ROMEO (Real Old Men Eating Out) breakfast and singing in the Buffalo Covenant Victory Band. Donald Danielson was preceded in death by his parents, Emil "Merriam" & Anna Danielson; his wife, Phyllis Joy Danielson; brother, Reynold; and step grandson, Sean Harper. He is survived by his second wife, Marjorie; his seven children; Steven (Mireya), James (Velvet), Keith (Carla), Kevin, Sonja, Joy (Scott) and Gary; 12 grandchildren, Melissa, Melany, Michelle, Greta (Caleb), Leif, Olen, Karl, Anya, Lauren, Gunnar, Stone and River; one great-grandchild, Leila; four step grandchildren, Tyler (Allie), Tim (Erin), Megan (Ryan) and Andy; four step great-grandchildren, Ali, Kate, Jill and Leo. Donald is also survived by Marjorie's children; Susan, Nancy, Daniel, Jennifer and their families.