Donna Marie Hale September 26, 1928 - January 12, 2022

Donna Marie Hale passed away in her daughter’s home surrounded by family on January 12 2022 at 93 years old in Boise Idaho. She was born in Sleepy Eye Minnesota to Anne and John Windschitl on September 26^th, 1928. She was a cheerleader at St Mary’s High School where she graduated. Married to Charles Hale at St Mary’s Catholic Church on May 22^nd, 1947. Charles worked as a postal worker. On the side, they painted houses together to save money. They had three babies together. One, John Hale who died on the day of his birth along with a daughter who died in infancy. Another daughter, Linda Hale flourished and went to St. Mary’s School as well and became a nurse. Donna worked at the Ben Franklin store and Del Monte before becoming a secretary at St. Mary’s High School for many years. She got the job at Del Monte to help pay for their first television to watch football games on. Football was a very important part of her life. Her husband was the St Mary’s football coach for 18 years and after he passed Sundays were still always for watching football. Donna was a witness at the church for her brother Pat Windschitl and sister-in-law Judy Bond, she loved planning their ceremony and making the bouquet. She was very creative and always making something, including knitting, Christmas ornaments and so much more. Every summer Donna and Charles rented a cabin at Lake Hattie and loved to fish. They retired in 1985 where they moved to Apache Junction Arizona and ran a mobile home park. Donna finally convinced her husband to square dance, and they both enjoyed it tremendously. Too soon after retirement, Charles was diagnosed with cancer, and they returned to Sleepy Eye. In 1991, he passed away. Donna loved to can home grown vegetables and grow green grapes. As a devout catholic, she attended church at St. Mary’s on Sundays and took shifts performing adoration, which is praying over the eucharist. In the winter months, she would often spend time with her daughter and granddaughter in Arizona and Washington and then in Idaho. She loved her great grandchildren dearly. She is survived by her daughter Linda Hale of Boise Idaho, her brother and sister-in-law Pat and Judy Windschitl of Wentworth South Dakota, her granddaughter Emily Wolfe of Horseshoe Bend Idaho, Sam Wolfe a grandson in-law, and great grandchildren, Jack, Dalton, Muriel and Walter Wolfe, and many nieces and grand nieces and nephews. She will be buried in the St. Mary’s cemetery next to her husband Charles. Her spirit however has surely been lifted up on eagle’s wings and she is shining like the sun.