Dona Hadland

Dona Hitterdal Olson Hadland, of Owatonna, formerly of Redwood Falls, passed away on August 15, 2017 at the age of 79 at Birchwood Cottage. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at Salem Lutheran Church in Hitterdal, MN. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 2:00. Interment will be at the Salem East Cemetery, Hitterdal following the service.

Dona was born on December 15, 1937, to Clifford and Martha Anderson Hitterdal. She grew up in Hitterdal, MN and graduated from Hitterdal High School in 1955. Dona attended Concordia College in Moorhead before graduating from North Dakota State University in 1959. She earned her Masters of Education from Mankato State University.

Dona started her teaching career in Northwood, ND. She also taught in public schools in Brandon, SD; Underwood, MN and retired from Wabasso Public School in 1998. She also worked as a Home Economist for Ottertail Power Company, demonstrated microwave ovens for Litton and had her Real Estate License.

Dona married John Olson on December 21, 1963 in Hitterdal, MN. They lived in Sioux Falls, SD, Fergus Falls, MN, and finally Redwood Falls, MN. After John was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she cared for him at home until he entered Sunwood Nursing Home in 1987. Dona later met and married Robert Hadland. They lived for a time in Bayfield, WI, Sun City West, AZ, and Northfield, MN.

Dona enjoyed singing, quilting, home decorating, traveling, and genealogy. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage and the fact she was a “Hitterdal from Hitterdal”. She was also very proud of all the boys she had the opportunity to teach in her Home Ec. classes over the years.

She is survived by her daughters, Michelle Jeff Huxford of Owatonna, MN, Melanie Doug Cook of Springfield, MN, and Andrea Randy Gerth of Kirkland, WA; grandchildren: Jessilyn Matt Stastny, Jillien Tom Haroldson, Ian Emily Huxford, Brandon Sandberg, Ryan Huxford, Derek Huxford, Jennifer Cook, MaKenna Cook, Connor Gerth and Nicholas Gerth; sister Connie Lowell Erickson of Fridley, MN; sister-in-law, Joanne Hitterdal of Moorhead, MN; brother-in-law, Vern Steffens of Faribault, MN; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Preceding her in death were husbands, John Olson and Robert Hadland; parents Clifford and Martha Hitterdal; brothers Duane Hitterdal and Ronald Hitterdal; sister-in-laws Delphine Hitterdal and Eleanor Steffens.